Undervaluing & losing data
#004: Failing to backup data and other accident recovery plan oversights
How often do you backup your data? How often should you? Common sense dictates that whenever you get to the stage that if you lost what you have you’d be devastated, backup is overdue.
USB sticks are great for backing up data wherever you are. However, they don’t guarantee anything: recently I lost mine, which was absolutely devastating. Thankfully, I had some of it backed up, but there’s still some that’s gone for ever. Don’t fall victim to the same mistake!
Say you backup once daily at midnight - the usual frequency for most businesses. Imagine the scenario where you get to 2pm and a virus destroys your hard drive. Now you’ve lost all the work you’ve done that day. If that’s not a problem for you, you don’t need to amend your backup programme.
Much more likely, it would be a big issue. If this applies to you, you need to rethink the frequency of your backups! Imagine how much time you can save simply by backing up regularly. You’ll also need to make sure you can restore data from the backup quickly and easily; it’s not enough to backup regularly. Few companies test their backups, which can be a fatal mistake - after all, there’s no point having a set of blank tapes!
Sound obvious? Sure is, but even geeks like myself overlook these things. Often we forget how easy it is to lose data and how irreplaceable our data can be.
Learning from my mistakes
I’ve learnt of a new gadget due out in July - Bluetrek Serenity, a mini tracking device that helps locate your chosen objects by emitting a beeping noise when you move more than 30 feet from them. It’ll cost around £68, which is rather steep. However, if your data is priceless, then it’s definitely worth it.
Can’t wait that long? You needn’t - Loc8tor, another tracking device, is out now for £60.
Key differences between Loc8tor and Serenity are:
- Loc8tor features a radar to point out the location of your almost-lost items
- Serenity beeps faster as you get closer to the item
- Loc8tor’s main unit is much bigger than Serenity’s
Tracking device reviews
The main reason more companies don’t backup more frequently is because backing up takes time itself, both of the IT person doing the backup, and of the server as it copys the data.
Data backups are in a very poor state generally; the hardware is slow, the TCO high, policies are non-existent and the software is awful.
Unfortunately, as hard drive capacity continues to grow, off-line permanent storage simply can’t keep up.