What You Should Know About Data Backup

Unfortunately when the conversation is about your computer data backups, we tend to be complacent. In fact, it is better to consult a reliable local computer service company for advice on selecting and maintaining your computer data backups. But, unless you are going to employ a full-time PC support personnel, it's really important that you have basic understanding of the major issues with computer data backups.

You can't afford to undermine the value of backup. Can you imagine the loss you've to bear if a virus erases a critical document, a power surge that put your whole computer network on hold or you lose your laptop in the airport?

What you do to prepare for such event?

• Test your computer data backups regularly and monitor their log files.
• Security for your computer data backup information may not always imply security from theft or intrusion. It may mean to protect it from similar damage that has affected your main file system. If you store backup files on the same computer hard drive as the original files, if something happens to the hard drive, your backup files will be lost as well.
• Use backup utility programs that offer controls that a "copy" utility does not. They will document what is copied, they will offer the ability to copy all data or only what has changed. People have a strong tendency with a computer data backup system to set it and forget it. Automation clearly has many benefits, but a totally hands-off approach can be very dangerous if no one is overseeing your computer data backup process. Most will also offer options for encryption and compression of data. If you backup to a 2nd disk drive, you have the added insurance of recovery of data if your primary disk drive fails.
• If your data is sensitive, you want to be certain that it is encrypted with a key that you control, that only you can change the key, that the web-site is secure from break-in, that it will continue to operate 24x7 without interruption, that it has 24x7 monitoring onsite, that it has 24x7 technical support, and that it has its own off-site backup. Otherwise, even a free service may be too expensive if you lose your data or if it is compromised.

Make sure you adopt these backup protocols. You can learn more about data backup here. You will have a peace of mind when you know that your data is always safe no matter what happens.