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Backups
So, where is my data?
It was Jim who first noticed there was a problem
when he tried to log into his accounting system Monday morning. The screen
showed one of those ominous looking errors that indicated some data was gone.
A quick conversation with L. Kianoff technical support concluded restoring from
the Friday back up would be the best way to get him and the system up and
running quickly. You do have a back up from Friday, right?
Jim, who works at a local manufacturing company, had
been diligent about insisting there be a tape for nightly back ups. He and his
staff routinely checked the computer backup log for errors. None were ever
indicated. Unfortunately, Jim and his staff came to find out that while
the backup tape was running, it wasn't being recorded. When the back up
was needed, the tape was blank.
The moral: Don’t always take the computer at its
word that the backup from last night was successful.
Computers are vulnerable to data corruption, power
fluctuations and viruses and just
as important to having a back up is being sure it is capturing all the data you
need. Some tips:
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Periodically restore your backup tapes partially or totally to ensure that
the information is there
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Tapes don't last forever. Rotate in new tapes periodically.
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If you use an off site service for back ups, schedule time for them to come
on-site and periodically restore of your data.
Having the assurance that you have a clean backup
that can be restored is the difference between being behind for a day and being
behind for weeks. How often should you check your back ups? That depends.
How long can your organization function without its history and data? At a
minimum, we recommend you establish a periodic maintenance schedule to be sure
your back ups are working, including occasionally restoring from the back up to
be sure the data is there. For more information on making sure you have a
good back up, please contact our office at 205-592-9990 to schedule a Business
Review that will help identify needs and develop a plan to protect you and your
business.
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