| Data backup has been an essential part of | | | | storage. Data is also always encrypted for off-site |
| business since contracts were signed with a sharp | | | | storage. Encrypting data is simply the process of |
| stick in wet clay. Things have changed slightly | | | | converting data into code. It converts back |
| from the days when even a caveman could do it. | | | | automatically when you are ready to use it. When |
| Now-a-days, unless you've done your best to | | | | the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and |
| keep up with technology, it's pretty unlikely a | | | | Blowfish RSA 448 (Encryption algorithms) are |
| caveman would be able to write code, design | | | | data storage is verifiably compliant with Federal |
| logos or simply refine last weekends photos. | | | | laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPPA. This |
| Fortunately you don't have to know how to do | | | | quality type of storage is required for medical, |
| any of that to keep vital information safe from | | | | legal and other professions where patient/client |
| being forever lost in an information black hole. | | | | information must be retained at the highest |
| Technology has advanced and modern data | | | | standards. |
| backup has become on-line and off-site. With | | | | The manipulation of data helps with efficient |
| these modern systems it's important to | | | | storage and is necessary due to constant |
| understand some basic objectives. | | | | updates. The frequency of data updates is |
| Recovery Point - This is the point in time just | | | | important in determining the accuracy and value |
| prior and as close as possible to the data loss | | | | of the recovery process that follows any IT |
| event. | | | | disaster. Remember - if it can happen (and even if |
| Recovery Time - The amount of time | | | | it seems imppossible) it will. Some update daily |
| between data loss and recovery of business | | | | while other storage facilities boast of hourly |
| functions. | | | | updates. The state-of-the-art data backup for a |
| This brings us to the other side of the data | | | | busy enterprise needs to be done three or four |
| backup coin; the recovery process. | | | | times per hour. This is essential to performing |
| Disaster Recovery | | | | efficiently. |
| Natural Disaster is just one example of how you | | | | Data Backup + Disaster Recovery = Business |
| can lose vital information. There are also technical | | | | Continuity |
| disasters. Maybe your hard drive crashes, a disk | | | | Along with the accurate retrieval of archived |
| breaks, or heaven forbid your kids find their way | | | | information and system files, it's possible to obtain |
| to your work. Let's face it, anything can happen; | | | | data from damaged hardware, corrupted files, or |
| and usually things happen when you least expect | | | | secondary storage. These files often cannot be |
| them to. It's called Murphy's Law right? | | | | accessed due to logic structure damage. Journaling |
| So how can you prevent this from happening - | | | | file systems, with their consistency rollback |
| again? | | | | feature, are making the effects of such logical |
| Backup data storage | | | | damage trivial. |
| To efficiently manage and store large amounts of | | | | Business Continuity Planning |
| data it must first undergo certain manipulations. | | | | The basic needs for business continuity planning |
| Standard practices include: | | | | are essential for operating in a productive business |
| Compression - This method shrinks the data | | | | atmosphere. Things you can do to optimize your |
| source. | | | | business are: |
| De-duplication - Removing redundant data (a | | | | Define functional emergency response |
| common set of system files for a dozen | | | | Develop process for crisis management |
| workstations). | | | | Blueprint smooth operational continuity and |
| Re-factoring - Consolidating data backups is | | | | recovery |
| one of the many advantages of the | | | | Manage and direct data backup, recovery and |
| best-practices method of data backup called | | | | business continuity |
| incremental-forever. | | | | Once the first three are accomplished the ongoing |
| These are some of the cutting-edge techniques | | | | management becomes the most important |
| used to minimize data size and prepare it for | | | | aspect of the process of business continuity. |