| It is easy to see that data is the foundation of a | | | | of these pitfalls can be eliminated. It is setting up a |
| successful business. While most businesses back up | | | | climate controlled media vault that poses the biggest |
| their data to removable media, tapes or USB drives | | | | expense for a small business. They are expensive to |
| being the most common, many businesses leave the | | | | build because they are not designed for the limited |
| backup tapes right next to the server. The risk they fail | | | | space that a small business would require. |
| to foresee is destruction of the office by fire or flood. | | | | To avoid these problems, many businesses outsource |
| Both the server and the backup will be useless if the | | | | their tape rotation to an offsite tape storage provider. |
| room no longer exists. Unfortunately, some owners | | | | On a regular schedule a uniformed employee rotates |
| discover that getting back up and running is beyond | | | | the backup tapes from the business location. Once the |
| their cash reserves. | | | | tape is picked up it is scanned into a tracking system |
| A data recovery plan should include creating backup | | | | just like an overnight delivery service uses. The tapes |
| tapes and then storing them in an offsite storage | | | | are transported in un-marked vans and stored in |
| location. The tapes should be rotated regularly, handled | | | | secured, climate controlled vaults. A tape rotation |
| properly, and stored in a secure, climate controlled | | | | service also offers twenty four hour access to the |
| facility. This provides insurance and gives the business | | | | tapes and delivery to a recovery location of the |
| continuity after a disaster. | | | | business' choosing. |
| While this may seem like an easy process, the pitfalls | | | | A second solution is to use an online storage service. |
| for not doing it properly are deep. Tapes not securely | | | | The data is backed up, encrypted, and then sent via |
| transported and inventoried may come up missing or | | | | the internet to a secure location. The issues with |
| be stolen. Unaccounted for backup tapes is a data | | | | transportation are eliminated as long as the data is |
| breach. This breach must be disclosed to those | | | | properly encrypted. With small amounts of data this is |
| affected by laws in thirty-six states. This bad press | | | | a good solution but loses it economic benefits as the |
| can be as damaging as losing the data. | | | | volume of information grows. The business just needs |
| A second pitfall is how the tapes are stored. Without | | | | to make sure there is large bandwidth at the recovery |
| the proper environmental controls of a media vault, | | | | location. |
| moisture and temperature fluctuations will degrade | | | | Even more important for the small business owner can |
| tapes and leave them un-readable. A worst case | | | | be the consulting a service will offer. How to set up |
| scenario is counting on a tape that can't be read after | | | | backup software and hardware can be a mystery to |
| a server fails. Tapes must be stored properly and | | | | the uninitiated. This disaster recovery expertise helps |
| changed out occasionally. | | | | assure that the data is saved correctly and when |
| A third pitfall that may seem trivial but is also crucial is | | | | needed will be easily loaded onto a replacement |
| the ability to physically access the tapes. Backup tapes | | | | server. |
| are useless if they can't be found or returned. A | | | | No matter what solution you choose, make sure your |
| vacation or the inability to reach the employee who | | | | business data is backed up periodically and stored in a |
| stores the tapes can leave the company in a lurch until | | | | secure offsite location. |
| they are located. | | | | Record Nations provides offsite tape storage and |
| With attention to detail and good communication two | | | | online backup service to businesses nationwide. |