Tech Talk: Computer Back-Ups
The Avoidable Business Risk, Part 2
Now that your backup procedures are second nature, what steps are you taking to verify that the data is recoverable and usable? Creating a backup of your data is only the halfway mark. There are other steps that must to be followed to ensure that, in the event of a catastrophe, you do not lose data.
The first thing that should happen after a backup job completes is a test restore of at least three random files. These files need to come from different folders within the job and should vary in their file types, i.e, documents, pictures, videos, etc. By recovering the data in this manner, you are verifying that there is less of a chance that the data was corrupted during the backup process. Using different locations and file types allows for a more accurate sample of all the data. All that is left is to open the files to make sure they are usable.
The next process, and in my opinion, the most important, is the movement of the data from the local office to an offsite location. This step is vital due to the fact that one backup that is stored at your location is susceptible to any disaster that can occur there. By keeping a local copy as well as a copy that leaves your office, you have provided yourself with redundancy in the event of a disaster.
You should never put yourself in a position where data loss is a huge possibility. Although there is no fool proof method for data retention, having a plan that protects your data is imperative. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your data is safeguarded.
Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Write David W. Weatherholt at david@waconsult.com
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