What is the Right Backup Software and Recovery Solution?
If you read my last blog entry, you probably know my answer. If not, here it is… It doesn’t matter. As long as you are aware of the realistic benefits and limitations of your backup process and are comfortable with them, then it is what is right for you. I italicize “realistic” because that may be where you need to focus.
All too often we come across business owners that tell us their IT company ensures them that they will be up in running within four hours of a disaster. After discussing it further, I find out that they are using tape backups, external hard drives using Windows built-in backup program , or some other process. With a small amount of data and under ideal conditions, maybe four hours is possible, but realistic, most likely not. Chances are, it may take much longer.
Tape or some other backup process may be perfectly OK for your business as long as you are knowledgeable about the realistic failure rates, time to recovery, limitations of the process and end cost to perform the recovery. When the correct questions are asked, most business owners would probably not feel comfortable with an honest response.
Failures never occur at opportune times. Having knowledge of the recovery process along with realistic time to recovery is vital for properly planning for a worst case scenario. More importantly, it is vital for ensuring that a minor failure does not turn into a worst case scenario. Your business’s data is one of its most important assets and having the knowledge about how your critical data is cared for is vital. Talk frankly with your IT service provider. Ask specific questions and have them take you step by step through the process. One of two things will come of it, you will either be more confident in their level of service and commitment or, you will know that major changes need to be made.