A Tornado? In Birmingham? In The United Kingdom? Unthinkable!
Yes, in July 2005 (while I was putting finishing touches to my cave-house in Spain) my house, along with many of my neighbours' houses was struck by a powerful tornado that literally tore up the streets. Leaving people homeless as their homes were bulldozered (with all their possessions inside).
Thankfully, my house was still, pretty much intact and won't be being demolished but I work from a home office. I have lots of critical data and information on my computer - marketing information, accounts information, key contacts, books in progress to name a few. If my house was bulldozered (and I didn't have an adequate off-site backup system) I would have lost the lot. As it was, I was still able to access my key files even from Spain.
But how would you fare? What if your computer went kaput this very minute? What if a freak accident, theft, or natural disaster literally destroyed your computer and you lost all your files? Would you be able to get back up and running with minimal fuss or would your business be crippled for a long time to come?
No one wants to think about it, but in light of recent world events it makes sense for every company to have in place a business continuity plan. This might include installing a backup generator for power, having a second office available for re-location, and ensuring your insurance policy is current, relevant and up to date.
Some of the above may be more applicable for larger companies, however one element that's 100% critical for ALL businesses regardless of size, is to keep an up to date copy of your computer files.
Files can be lost instantly by a power surge, fire, flood, theft, virus and of course the most common risk - human error (i.e. accidental deletion)!
This information is the lifeblood of your business, and needs to be backed up regularly. Unlike your office or the computer itself, your computer files cannot be replaced, yet without them you have no business.
For most companies, files to be kept safe will include:
* Databases
* Client records
* Presentations
* Invoices
* Emails
* Historical work archives
* Research
* Digital photos
A simple risk assessment question to ask yourself:
"How long would my business survive if the files on my computer disappeared right now?"
Unless you have a current 'back-up' or copy of your information it is quite likely that your business will cease to operate for some time, if not indefinitely soon after. In our business our database (of people like you) is extremely important. It's taken years to build up and is irreplaceable. Which is why we have taken active steps to protect it.
There are a number of ways for you to make back up copies of your information, and these methods can be divided into 2 main categories.
1. Manual processes, which use recordable media such as tapes or disks.
2. Online backup services, which use your Internet connection to transfer data.
Manual processes rely on you carrying out the backup, rotating the media and then removing it off-site every day. Consequently they can be labour intensive, costly and in addition the media can be unreliable (i.e disks can be scratched). You don't need me to tell you that doing it this way is certainly not lean. It's a boring, time consuming, yet critical task, that's not automated (but should be) that simply gets in the way of you doing your real work while putting you at unnecessary risk. See the 'Pain or Gain' chart in your free Lean Marketing Detox eBook for a recap.
For this reason, many companies are now signing up to online solutions, which via a small piece of software backup your information securely and automatically each day for you.
Furthermore your information is stored safely off-site so if and when disaster strikes your files are completely safe and can be instantly restored to any machine.
It's human nature to think, "it'll never happen to me", however it is more accurate to think, "when will this happen to me?"
Don't gamble with your business, back it up today and keep it safe.
For our online data backup we use and recommend www.DepositIt.com, why not check them out and make sure to set up a backup plan as soon as you can. You never know when disaster will strike!
'Dangerous' Debbie Jenkins
debs@debbiejenkins.com
(c) Copyright 2005 www.BookShaker.com
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Data Recovery: Beginners Tips
Right now you probably in a lot of mental pain, and all you're concerned about is recovering your data as quickly as possible - so we'll refrain from comments on the wisdom of regular back ups. The time for preventative measures has gone - the issue at hand is data recovery.
First - a simple tip could save you a lot of money. Take out your rolodex and get hold of your tech-savvy friends. If you're in luck, they'll offer to help, and if you're really lucky, they might even have some disk recovery software.
If you're out of luck, then get out your wallet or purse out now... because this is going to cost you. Also, be prepared for a lot of time being wasted - data recovery can take a long time.
The first thing to establish is what exactly is wrong with your hard disk:
Let's see if we can eliminate the worst scenario. Listen closely to your hard drive - is it making any sort of weird noise, such as scratching, scraping, ticking etc?
If so, then your drive is physically damaged and the only hope that you have is to take it to a data recovery service where experts might be able to get your data off for you. These services are expensive and time consuming - so you need to make a judgement call as to the value of data on the disk:
If your hard disk sounds OK, then you stand a decent chance of recovering data yourself.
First you'll need to download some software to help you out.
Unfortunately, the better software utilities are not free, but the good news is that many allow you to try them out to see they can access the data. There are some freeware versions available but generally speaking these are not easy to use - no user interface / little documentation, or they are not very effective.
There's a list of recommended software on our site - http://www.recoverdatafiles.com - compare the different options then download a few of the trial versions.
Your next steps will be based on how your hard drive/s were setup:
Hopefully these tips will enable you to get all your important files back.
Once you've had some time to recover, please take a look at the various articles on our website - our goal is to make it one of the best resources on data recovery.
For the past 20 years, Jeff Walters' interest has been in making the most effective use of a business's information assets. He has lead several data-to-information projects : ABC Costing, analytical CRM, datamart /data warehouse development, and Balanced Scorecard.
For help with data-related projects, contact Jeff Walters through either site: Data Recovery, or Customer Relationship Management
First - a simple tip could save you a lot of money. Take out your rolodex and get hold of your tech-savvy friends. If you're in luck, they'll offer to help, and if you're really lucky, they might even have some disk recovery software.
If you're out of luck, then get out your wallet or purse out now... because this is going to cost you. Also, be prepared for a lot of time being wasted - data recovery can take a long time.
The first thing to establish is what exactly is wrong with your hard disk:
- Either your computer won't boot up, or
- Your computer boots up OK but you can't see one of your other drives.
Let's see if we can eliminate the worst scenario. Listen closely to your hard drive - is it making any sort of weird noise, such as scratching, scraping, ticking etc?
If so, then your drive is physically damaged and the only hope that you have is to take it to a data recovery service where experts might be able to get your data off for you. These services are expensive and time consuming - so you need to make a judgement call as to the value of data on the disk:
- If it's only your saved game data or downloaded music files you would like back, you're probably better off kicking yourself for not backing up, and accepting the data loss.
- If, on the other hand, it's a book or other type of information product that you've been working on for years, then send it to a data recovery service for an evaluation and quote - it usually costs nothing.
If your hard disk sounds OK, then you stand a decent chance of recovering data yourself.
First you'll need to download some software to help you out.
Unfortunately, the better software utilities are not free, but the good news is that many allow you to try them out to see they can access the data. There are some freeware versions available but generally speaking these are not easy to use - no user interface / little documentation, or they are not very effective.
There's a list of recommended software on our site - http://www.recoverdatafiles.com - compare the different options then download a few of the trial versions.
Your next steps will be based on how your hard drive/s were setup:
- If you only have a single hard drive that has not been partitioned or split into different "logical" drives, you'll probably need to attach the hard drive to another computer that has enough space to store all your data. This can be quite technical so if you don't have the skills please get a computer savvy friend to help out.
Another option is to purchase an external USB hard drive case. You can then simply slot the hard drive into the case and plug it into another PC using a USB port. - If you have a multiple drive setup and your computer boots up fine, then it will merely be a case of getting the downloaded software to read the files and then copy them to another drive - provided you have a drive with enough space on it. If not, you'll need to attach the hard drive to another machine with enough spare capacity.
- The scenario where you have a multiple drive setup, where the problem drive is the one that contains your operating system files is more tricky.
Look for a data recovery software package that has a boot disk option available. What this means is that when you start your computer with the boot disk in it, it will automatically run the data recovery program without trying to start windows. You should be able to see your files and then copy them across to another drive.
Hopefully these tips will enable you to get all your important files back.
Once you've had some time to recover, please take a look at the various articles on our website - our goal is to make it one of the best resources on data recovery.
For the past 20 years, Jeff Walters' interest has been in making the most effective use of a business's information assets. He has lead several data-to-information projects : ABC Costing, analytical CRM, datamart /data warehouse development, and Balanced Scorecard.
For help with data-related projects, contact Jeff Walters through either site: Data Recovery, or Customer Relationship Management
How to Effectively Back Up Your Data
What to backup, and what to lose
The oldest "computer expression" is that there are two kinds of computer users, those that backup their data and those that will. Often, it takes a "data disaster" to compel otherwise responsible people to make a regular habit of backing up their data. Still, the majority of computer users do not back up their data.
According to Computer World, the annual cost to recover lost data per laptop is over $800.00 per year. This amounts to billions of dollars per year spent nationally to recover (or not recover) data that has been lost due to users not backing up their data. Critical data files are often stored on personal computers and laptops and often not subject to regular backup.
If backup is so important, then why don't most people do it?
The truth is, backing up data from your computer to CDs, memory sticks, other computers, and network hard drives is inconvenient. It takes time out of a busy day. Most backup utilities require the users attention to start, monitor, and close the process. Backup takes time from the user that can be better spent doing something else. Backup is boring, since it may disable or tie up your computer while the backup is taking place.
So what data should I back up?
The simple answer is any file that you would miss if you did not have it. This includes documents, presentations, spreadsheets, accounting data, and other data files. Also include your Favorites folder, telephone directory, appointment calendar, and tasks. It may also include pictures, music, family video, and any other data that is significant, especially if lost.
Look at all of the programs that you use regularly. Find the data files that these programs and mark these for regular backup. Often these files are not behind your MY Documents folder.
For example, if you use Quicken or QuickBooks, the important data files are saved in a folder behind the Quicken or QuickBooks program. In Microsoft Windows XP, these files could be under Documents and Settings/user/Application Data. In addition, the Application Data file may also contain important information that aids in your ability to use many of your favorite programs. If you do not know how to get to these files, consult an expert to help you determine what files to choose for regular backup.
How often should I back up?
Think of this question another way ? if my hard disk crashed, or I dropped my laptop, or it got stolen at the airport, how much time will it take me to re-create the active data that I just lost? What would it cost you to lose a day's worth of data and to recreate it? How much time would it take to reconfigure your computer with the tools, configurations, short cuts, and links that you have spent years accumulating? Remember the Computer World data, the average cost per laptop for lost data is $800.00 per year. What is your billing rate? How much will it cost you to start over?
Some of us use our computers the entire day. That means that if we back up daily, then the most time that we would spend redoing the work would be less than a day's worth of time. If you are an occasional user, then you may need to backup less frequently.
Once you have made your list, then you are ready to back up. Here is my partial list of backup files that would cause me great pain if they were not backed up:Outlook.pst - Emails, Tasks, Contacts, and Calendar
My Documents - Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Quickbooks
Favorites (these are my Internet bookmarks that I have spent years building up)
Documents and Settings/user/application data (be selective here. You will most likely not need temporary files generated from web pages).
Goldmine data files and email attachments
What's the Solution?
The solution is to find a backup solution that is invisible to the user and does not create a "backup event" that must be scheduled from a person's busy day. So hold this thought for the moment.
Once you have determined which files to back up regularly, you must decide where to store this data. In the early days of computing, we used to back up to floppy disks. Now, our files are huge and often too large for floppy disks. CD ROMs are popular for backup and will now hold over 750 MB of data. DVDs can also be used for backup and how many times more data than CD ROMS.
At the beginning of this article, I said that backup is inconvenient and that is why most people don't do it. Therefore lets find solutions that are convenient. Not just convenient, but invisible like an insurance policy that just works.
If you are a lone computer user and are not on a network, the best solution is to get an external hard drive that plugs into your USB port. These data storage devices are relatively cheap for the benefit that they provide. Follow this link for examples of these products: http://www.google.com/froogle?q=USB+Hard+drive. If you are using Windows XP, then you can use the Windows Synchronize utility found in XP. To use, copy all of your data to the external drive. Then install the Windows Synchronize utility to automatically keep your files up to date when you plug the external drive into your computer. When you travel with your laptop computer, leave the USB hard drive at home. Never carry it in your computer bag. If you are backing up your desktop, take the USB hard drive with you ? or at least store it at a location separate from your desktop in case of fire or other disaster.
If you are on a network, such as a home or business network, set aside some backup space on a hard drive on the network or on another computer. Hard drives are cheap. If you need more space than is available, buy another hard drive and install it on another computer. Use Windows Synchronize utility to keep the data synced.
If you use a laptop or work in different locations, a new product called BeInSync automatically makes the connection over the Internet between your laptop and a designated target computer for syncing files. BeInSync updates, automatically and invisibly any and all files designated for syncing. It even allows you to sync files with friends and business associates. Since it works in the background, it does not require a backup event and impose itself on the user's busy day.
Follow this link to get more information on BeInSync: http://www.beinsync.com/?rfrid=BIS-P-1038. One important note about BeInSync is that it will sync everything in the My Document folder. Move My Music, My Videos, and other large folders out of the My Documents before enabling BeInSync.
What's the bottom line on backup?
The bottom line on backup is that it is absolutely necessary for everyone that has something to lose if his or her computer was lost, stolen, or simply failed from regular use. There is a wide variety of solutions in the marketplace to keep your data backed up. Spend the time to explore and implement your back up solution. If you are not technical, hire an expert to create a solution that works for you. It will be some of the best money that you will spend.
Eric Guth and Joel Gering are owners of http://www.ProtectMyLaptop.com and SecureTrieve and are experts in the areas of computer troubleshooting and creating and maintaining networks for small businesses and homes. They have over 25 years of hands on experience in data management, data security, and remote data recovery.
The oldest "computer expression" is that there are two kinds of computer users, those that backup their data and those that will. Often, it takes a "data disaster" to compel otherwise responsible people to make a regular habit of backing up their data. Still, the majority of computer users do not back up their data.
According to Computer World, the annual cost to recover lost data per laptop is over $800.00 per year. This amounts to billions of dollars per year spent nationally to recover (or not recover) data that has been lost due to users not backing up their data. Critical data files are often stored on personal computers and laptops and often not subject to regular backup.
If backup is so important, then why don't most people do it?
The truth is, backing up data from your computer to CDs, memory sticks, other computers, and network hard drives is inconvenient. It takes time out of a busy day. Most backup utilities require the users attention to start, monitor, and close the process. Backup takes time from the user that can be better spent doing something else. Backup is boring, since it may disable or tie up your computer while the backup is taking place.
So what data should I back up?
The simple answer is any file that you would miss if you did not have it. This includes documents, presentations, spreadsheets, accounting data, and other data files. Also include your Favorites folder, telephone directory, appointment calendar, and tasks. It may also include pictures, music, family video, and any other data that is significant, especially if lost.
Look at all of the programs that you use regularly. Find the data files that these programs and mark these for regular backup. Often these files are not behind your MY Documents folder.
For example, if you use Quicken or QuickBooks, the important data files are saved in a folder behind the Quicken or QuickBooks program. In Microsoft Windows XP, these files could be under Documents and Settings/user/Application Data. In addition, the Application Data file may also contain important information that aids in your ability to use many of your favorite programs. If you do not know how to get to these files, consult an expert to help you determine what files to choose for regular backup.
How often should I back up?
Think of this question another way ? if my hard disk crashed, or I dropped my laptop, or it got stolen at the airport, how much time will it take me to re-create the active data that I just lost? What would it cost you to lose a day's worth of data and to recreate it? How much time would it take to reconfigure your computer with the tools, configurations, short cuts, and links that you have spent years accumulating? Remember the Computer World data, the average cost per laptop for lost data is $800.00 per year. What is your billing rate? How much will it cost you to start over?
Some of us use our computers the entire day. That means that if we back up daily, then the most time that we would spend redoing the work would be less than a day's worth of time. If you are an occasional user, then you may need to backup less frequently.
Once you have made your list, then you are ready to back up. Here is my partial list of backup files that would cause me great pain if they were not backed up:
What's the Solution?
The solution is to find a backup solution that is invisible to the user and does not create a "backup event" that must be scheduled from a person's busy day. So hold this thought for the moment.
Once you have determined which files to back up regularly, you must decide where to store this data. In the early days of computing, we used to back up to floppy disks. Now, our files are huge and often too large for floppy disks. CD ROMs are popular for backup and will now hold over 750 MB of data. DVDs can also be used for backup and how many times more data than CD ROMS.
At the beginning of this article, I said that backup is inconvenient and that is why most people don't do it. Therefore lets find solutions that are convenient. Not just convenient, but invisible like an insurance policy that just works.
If you are a lone computer user and are not on a network, the best solution is to get an external hard drive that plugs into your USB port. These data storage devices are relatively cheap for the benefit that they provide. Follow this link for examples of these products: http://www.google.com/froogle?q=USB+Hard+drive. If you are using Windows XP, then you can use the Windows Synchronize utility found in XP. To use, copy all of your data to the external drive. Then install the Windows Synchronize utility to automatically keep your files up to date when you plug the external drive into your computer. When you travel with your laptop computer, leave the USB hard drive at home. Never carry it in your computer bag. If you are backing up your desktop, take the USB hard drive with you ? or at least store it at a location separate from your desktop in case of fire or other disaster.
If you are on a network, such as a home or business network, set aside some backup space on a hard drive on the network or on another computer. Hard drives are cheap. If you need more space than is available, buy another hard drive and install it on another computer. Use Windows Synchronize utility to keep the data synced.
If you use a laptop or work in different locations, a new product called BeInSync automatically makes the connection over the Internet between your laptop and a designated target computer for syncing files. BeInSync updates, automatically and invisibly any and all files designated for syncing. It even allows you to sync files with friends and business associates. Since it works in the background, it does not require a backup event and impose itself on the user's busy day.
Follow this link to get more information on BeInSync: http://www.beinsync.com/?rfrid=BIS-P-1038. One important note about BeInSync is that it will sync everything in the My Document folder. Move My Music, My Videos, and other large folders out of the My Documents before enabling BeInSync.
What's the bottom line on backup?
The bottom line on backup is that it is absolutely necessary for everyone that has something to lose if his or her computer was lost, stolen, or simply failed from regular use. There is a wide variety of solutions in the marketplace to keep your data backed up. Spend the time to explore and implement your back up solution. If you are not technical, hire an expert to create a solution that works for you. It will be some of the best money that you will spend.
Eric Guth and Joel Gering are owners of http://www.ProtectMyLaptop.com and SecureTrieve and are experts in the areas of computer troubleshooting and creating and maintaining networks for small businesses and homes. They have over 25 years of hands on experience in data management, data security, and remote data recovery.
Its All In The Planning - Surviving Disaster
ITS ALL IN THE PLANNING - PREPARING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE
* Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for what.
* Appoint deputies for key roles.
* Use checklists that people can follow easily.
* Include clear, direct instructions for the crucial first hour after an incident.
* Include a list of things that do not need to be considered until after the first hour.
* Agree how often you will check your plan to ensure it is always a "living document". Update it to reflect changes in personnel and in the risks you may face.
* A good plan will be simple without being simplistic. You can't plan in detail for every event. Remember that people need to be able to react quickly in an emergency; there will be no time to read lots of detail.
* Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if just one floor is flooded.
FIVE STEPS TO GET ROUND DISRUPTION
Step 1 Analyse your Business
Step 2 Assess the Risks
Step 3 Develop your Strategy
Step 4 Develop your Plan
Step 5 Rehearse your Plan
People to contact who can give you advice:
Archival Record Management plc: info@armplc.com
AXA Insurance:axa4business.co.uk
Norwich Union: nu-riskservices.co.uk
The Federation of Small Businesses: contact local branch
Institute of Directors: 020 7766 8766
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management plc who looks after the data that other businesses create; in a controlled & safe environment.He can be contacted on 0207 703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
* Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for what.
* Appoint deputies for key roles.
* Use checklists that people can follow easily.
* Include clear, direct instructions for the crucial first hour after an incident.
* Include a list of things that do not need to be considered until after the first hour.
* Agree how often you will check your plan to ensure it is always a "living document". Update it to reflect changes in personnel and in the risks you may face.
* A good plan will be simple without being simplistic. You can't plan in detail for every event. Remember that people need to be able to react quickly in an emergency; there will be no time to read lots of detail.
* Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if just one floor is flooded.
FIVE STEPS TO GET ROUND DISRUPTION
Step 1 Analyse your Business
Step 2 Assess the Risks
Step 3 Develop your Strategy
Step 4 Develop your Plan
Step 5 Rehearse your Plan
People to contact who can give you advice:
Archival Record Management plc: info@armplc.com
AXA Insurance:axa4business.co.uk
Norwich Union: nu-riskservices.co.uk
The Federation of Small Businesses: contact local branch
Institute of Directors: 020 7766 8766
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management plc who looks after the data that other businesses create; in a controlled & safe environment.He can be contacted on 0207 703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
Its All In The Planning - Surviving Disaster
ITS ALL IN THE PLANNING - PREPARING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE
* Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for what.
* Appoint deputies for key roles.
* Use checklists that people can follow easily.
* Include clear, direct instructions for the crucial first hour after an incident.
* Include a list of things that do not need to be considered until after the first hour.
* Agree how often you will check your plan to ensure it is always a "living document". Update it to reflect changes in personnel and in the risks you may face.
* A good plan will be simple without being simplistic. You can't plan in detail for every event. Remember that people need to be able to react quickly in an emergency; there will be no time to read lots of detail.
* Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if just one floor is flooded.
FIVE STEPS TO GET ROUND DISRUPTION
Step 1 Analyse your Business
Step 2 Assess the Risks
Step 3 Develop your Strategy
Step 4 Develop your Plan
Step 5 Rehearse your Plan
People to contact who can give you advice:
Archival Record Management plc: info@armplc.com
AXA Insurance:axa4business.co.uk
Norwich Union: nu-riskservices.co.uk
The Federation of Small Businesses: contact local branch
Institute of Directors: 020 7766 8766
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management plc who looks after the data that other businesses create; in a controlled & safe environment.He can be contacted on 0207 703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
* Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for what.
* Appoint deputies for key roles.
* Use checklists that people can follow easily.
* Include clear, direct instructions for the crucial first hour after an incident.
* Include a list of things that do not need to be considered until after the first hour.
* Agree how often you will check your plan to ensure it is always a "living document". Update it to reflect changes in personnel and in the risks you may face.
* A good plan will be simple without being simplistic. You can't plan in detail for every event. Remember that people need to be able to react quickly in an emergency; there will be no time to read lots of detail.
* Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if just one floor is flooded.
FIVE STEPS TO GET ROUND DISRUPTION
Step 1 Analyse your Business
Step 2 Assess the Risks
Step 3 Develop your Strategy
Step 4 Develop your Plan
Step 5 Rehearse your Plan
People to contact who can give you advice:
Archival Record Management plc: info@armplc.com
AXA Insurance:axa4business.co.uk
Norwich Union: nu-riskservices.co.uk
The Federation of Small Businesses: contact local branch
Institute of Directors: 020 7766 8766
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management plc who looks after the data that other businesses create; in a controlled & safe environment.He can be contacted on 0207 703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
Disaster Recovery- Managing the Risk
Helping your business survive in the event of an unforeseen disaster: Most business failures are not from bad business but from bad business practices.
Most companies that fail are the ones that have not planned how their business will continue to function in the event of a disaster.
We put in the conventional safeguards such as alarming the premises, locking up vital areas and information, putting in fire prevention systems.
But what thought is given to make sure that the vital data that is needed for a business to continue is in a safe place- can be accessed and is current information.
Sales/purchases ledgers.
Do you know what the company is owed?
Can you prove to your insurers what is owed and what your replacement costs are?
Business processes.
Where are your procedures manuals, technical drawings, and patents?
Insurances.
Where are your policies kept?
Back up tapes- they are off site but what do we load them on to.
How often do we back up our information? Where is it kept? On site-in your briefcase? How do we restore it.
Cheque books-paying in books-writing paper-invoice paper. Have they gone up in smoke?
There are a few safeguards that we can put in place so that the business can continue to function in the event of a disaster. These processes do not have to be expensive or costly.
They require common sense, a little professional help and a place that is risk free where you can store the information vital for your survival.
We spend millions each year with insurance companies, insuring for the eventuality of the business having a disaster- surely the small amount of time cost & effort in making sure that you have the wherewithal to continue trading as soon as possible is the prime objective.
"BattleBoxes?" containing essential items for business continuation can be created for your company with a minimum of effort and will give you the peace of mind, so that you can continue the business in the event of a disaster.
Oh! And by the way ask your insurers for a reduction in your premiums. Lowering the risk limits their exposure- why should they reap all the rewards.
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management PLC, who specialise in looking after the data that companies create - in all formats. They offer a full records management service that includes scanning services. Contact him on 020 7703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
Most companies that fail are the ones that have not planned how their business will continue to function in the event of a disaster.
We put in the conventional safeguards such as alarming the premises, locking up vital areas and information, putting in fire prevention systems.
But what thought is given to make sure that the vital data that is needed for a business to continue is in a safe place- can be accessed and is current information.
Sales/purchases ledgers.
Do you know what the company is owed?
Can you prove to your insurers what is owed and what your replacement costs are?
Business processes.
Where are your procedures manuals, technical drawings, and patents?
Insurances.
Where are your policies kept?
Back up tapes- they are off site but what do we load them on to.
How often do we back up our information? Where is it kept? On site-in your briefcase? How do we restore it.
Cheque books-paying in books-writing paper-invoice paper. Have they gone up in smoke?
There are a few safeguards that we can put in place so that the business can continue to function in the event of a disaster. These processes do not have to be expensive or costly.
They require common sense, a little professional help and a place that is risk free where you can store the information vital for your survival.
We spend millions each year with insurance companies, insuring for the eventuality of the business having a disaster- surely the small amount of time cost & effort in making sure that you have the wherewithal to continue trading as soon as possible is the prime objective.
"BattleBoxes?" containing essential items for business continuation can be created for your company with a minimum of effort and will give you the peace of mind, so that you can continue the business in the event of a disaster.
Oh! And by the way ask your insurers for a reduction in your premiums. Lowering the risk limits their exposure- why should they reap all the rewards.
Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management PLC, who specialise in looking after the data that companies create - in all formats. They offer a full records management service that includes scanning services. Contact him on 020 7703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net
Backup Schmackup: Im Afraid, Very Afraid!
"Why should you be afraid?", I can hear you ask.
I just got an email from my friend Miche who said,
"My laptop is sick at the hospital. Hard Drive failure.Am praying data can be retrieved."
Her exact words.
Ohhhh : tremors of fear running up and down my spine!
Why?
Because ... and I have to be honest ... I haven't *backed up* my laptop for ages!
Oh I can hear your derisive laughter, your looks of scorn ... I can feel your disbelief.
Me - of all people - admitting this. My friends call me "TechieGirl"!
Well, the best part of my friend's scary dilemma is that it's forcing me into action!
I'm dusting off the cd burner and plugging into the power, plugging it into the USB slot - now how *hard* was that? I've got a stack of blank cds gathering dust on my desk ... why not use them?
Hmm ... why not do a *big* backup on the first of each month, and a *mini* backup every Monday [or Tuesday or Friday ... whatever works best for you]?
::::: Plan it! :::::
OK - stick with me here - open your online Diary or Appointments Database or hard-copy Diary and make an appointment *with yourself* - which part of the week could you devote say a half hour to, to do a quick backup? What about when you sit down to open the mail, or read a report, do your return phonecalls? If you work from home, why not start the backup as soon as you get out of bed so it'll be done by the time you've had your walk, eaten your breakfast, and showered.
I can hear you saying, "Oh it'll take too long ... I'll do it later ... tomorrow ... next week ... next month ...". And then one day I'll be getting an email or a call from you saying, "If only I'd backed up the computer ..."
Imagine losing all your documents, projects, databases, passwords, software settings, names, addresses, phone numbers, email names, website links - YIKES! I'm scaring myself again!!!!
If I lost even *one* thing in that list above, I'd be in BIG trouble - REAL BIG trouble.
::::: What do I backup? :::::
Good question. The most important thing NOT to backup is your software.
You do have all the original cds, don't you? And you made copies of those cds when you bought the software, right, as a *backup* in case the original cd failed? Didn't you? Yeah, I thought so ... no-one bothers to do that, but it's the one thing which could save your hair from going white overnight after your computer dies.
MUST backup:
* LOGINS, ALL passwords, FTP access codes, banking details, etc. Where do you currently keep this info? Please don't tell me it's in a little book on your desk ... oh so easy to get lost, to get put in someone else's pocket, to go walk-about. You should have a password-protected spreadsheet or document, or even better - a password-protected database. I have a database which I open as soon as I create a new login, or add myself to a mailing list, or join a new news group etc - paste the info in *as* you create it, to ensure you'll *never* forget it. Sure, you sometimes get confirmation emails with this data ... but if your computer has *died* ... get the picture? You can't access the emails!
* CLIENT documents / projects / websites (if you're a developer), in fact ANYTHING which could cause grief if you lost it or didn't have a copy of it. If you've printed a lot of this stuff, what would you need if you had a *fire* and lost all your paper files? Think about that. Hard. Now make a list and maybe have a backup cd for each Client or group of clients, depending on your business.
* EMAIL software folder which should include ALL your emails. You do *keep* all emails don't you? Please tell me you're not one of those people who deletes emails as soon as you read them (business ones I mean). Have you ever considered that emails are a form of *database*? I can search my Eudora software for any word or phrase and in a nanosecond I have a list of emails relating to that item (all neatly filed in their email folders ... but that's *another* article!). I *love* Eudora's features! Getting back to business, emails with historical information on projects are invaluable to see who said what and when they said it. It's a timeline, tracking resource, for a project's life.
* PHOTOS, personal, professional - unless you're using them all the time, these can be kept on CDs on a regular basis. When you download from the digital camera, save to cd straight away and save space on your hard drive [note to "self" : follow own suggestion]. If you have photos related to a project or client, save them to the Client cd you created earlier, if there's space.
* FINANCIALS. All your spreadsheets, MYOB or whatever other software you use to track financials. Every document which the tax department might one day want to see ... for the past 7 years. Business plans, budgets, everything relating to your business which you'll need to continue to *be* in business.
* FAXES - do you use online faxing like I do? Where every incoming fax comes into my inbox as an email? From now on, whenever one arrives, put it into a folder called FAXES or save with your client data. Faxes are also a record of what's transpired - another form of database. Plus if you use this kind of fax service, you're saving trees. :o>
* INSURANCE. Keep quotes etc on your computer? You'll be needing these.
* DATABASES - all of them. A must. Trust me, you'll kick yourself if you need one of these you didn't bother backing up.
* COMPUTER DESKTOP. OK - what's still sitting on your desktop which hasn't be put away or filed yet? Probably a bunch o'stuff - clear this up before you backup, make your job that little bit easier.
* EXCEPTION to the SOFTWARE RULE above - if you've bought any software online, or downloaded any software or programs of any kind for which you did not receive a cd, then back it up. If you've still got the Installer file, save that - it'll save time.
* BROWSER Settings - go through your browser Preferences screens, take snapshots (like printscreen) of those settings - it'll save you a TON of time if you have to set up your email and ISP settings at a later date.
* PDFs : have you downloaded any pdfs or purchased any ebooks? Are they all in the same download folder, or in a PDF or eBook folder? You'll want to save these.
Oh boy - I just looked at my hard drive - 222 folders of stuff - I need to do some serious sorting and computer *housekeeping* before I do a backup, otherwise it'll take forever to sift through all that stuff! So here's the list of things to do:
* tip : do it in bite-sized pieces, baby steps, little chunks each day
* make a list of things you want to backup - think about your client info etc
* do your computer housekeeping, put things away in folders, then put those folders in main folders to tidy up your own special filing system - do this on one day so it's not too overwhelming
* on the next day, make sure you have spare cds - you might need a few, depending on how much filing needs to be done; go buy cds if you need to. Consider buying Read Write cds, rather than the regular cds - if you want to be able to add info to cds later.
* if you've got an internal cd burner in your computer, you're a lucky dog - if you've got an external one, plug it in and make sure it works
* when you're ready, start the software you need to backup (usually Toast or something similar)
* be prepared for this to take at least an hour, maybe more if you've got a ton of stuff, but *don't * put it off! An hour spent now could save you *weeks* of worry and work in the future!
* when you've done the first *big* backup, pat yourself on the back, you've accomplished a very important business task!!!
While you're feeling smug and proud of yourself, think about when you should do your next backup. How much work would you be ok about losing? One day's worth? One week's worth? How about a month of work? Whichever is the one you choose, make *that* the amount of time before you do your first *mini* backup. Don't be afraid to set other backup procedures for times which suit you, your projects, your clients.
The main question you need to ask yourself is,
"How much work would it be OK to *lose* without it affecting me or my business?"
::::: DON'T FORGET :::::
Label your cds. How are you going to file them? In a cd box? Will they be in a hard plastic shell or sleeve? Where would it make sense to *see* the client name on the cover, when it's in the box? How easily would you be able to find a cd in that box? You can write on cds with thick permanent markers, or if you're really keen, you can print onto cd labels (available from many stationery companies).
Keep 2 backup copies.
If you don't work at home, it might be worthwhile keeping a backup copy of the backup - one at work, one at home. Just in case.
Now that I've scared myself silly, I'm off to dust the cd burner and make a latte - don't expect me to reply to your emails over the next few hours, I'm doing a backup!
c Teena Hughes is the Director of Build A Website Tonight, a website where you can build your own site online - with no skill - no fear - with no additional costs to update your site. Teena has been involved in the I.T. industry for over twenty years and has written many articles and ebooks, and loves to help people get their business started.
http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com
So easy, even an *adult* can do it!Sign up for the free eZine today:http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com/e/
Join the friendly online Forum:http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com/forum/
WEBMASTERS
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
Teena Hughes (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved
I just got an email from my friend Miche who said,
"My laptop is sick at the hospital. Hard Drive failure.Am praying data can be retrieved."
Her exact words.
Ohhhh : tremors of fear running up and down my spine!
Why?
Because ... and I have to be honest ... I haven't *backed up* my laptop for ages!
Oh I can hear your derisive laughter, your looks of scorn ... I can feel your disbelief.
Me - of all people - admitting this. My friends call me "TechieGirl"!
Well, the best part of my friend's scary dilemma is that it's forcing me into action!
I'm dusting off the cd burner and plugging into the power, plugging it into the USB slot - now how *hard* was that? I've got a stack of blank cds gathering dust on my desk ... why not use them?
Hmm ... why not do a *big* backup on the first of each month, and a *mini* backup every Monday [or Tuesday or Friday ... whatever works best for you]?
::::: Plan it! :::::
OK - stick with me here - open your online Diary or Appointments Database or hard-copy Diary and make an appointment *with yourself* - which part of the week could you devote say a half hour to, to do a quick backup? What about when you sit down to open the mail, or read a report, do your return phonecalls? If you work from home, why not start the backup as soon as you get out of bed so it'll be done by the time you've had your walk, eaten your breakfast, and showered.
I can hear you saying, "Oh it'll take too long ... I'll do it later ... tomorrow ... next week ... next month ...". And then one day I'll be getting an email or a call from you saying, "If only I'd backed up the computer ..."
Imagine losing all your documents, projects, databases, passwords, software settings, names, addresses, phone numbers, email names, website links - YIKES! I'm scaring myself again!!!!
If I lost even *one* thing in that list above, I'd be in BIG trouble - REAL BIG trouble.
::::: What do I backup? :::::
Good question. The most important thing NOT to backup is your software.
You do have all the original cds, don't you? And you made copies of those cds when you bought the software, right, as a *backup* in case the original cd failed? Didn't you? Yeah, I thought so ... no-one bothers to do that, but it's the one thing which could save your hair from going white overnight after your computer dies.
MUST backup:
* LOGINS, ALL passwords, FTP access codes, banking details, etc. Where do you currently keep this info? Please don't tell me it's in a little book on your desk ... oh so easy to get lost, to get put in someone else's pocket, to go walk-about. You should have a password-protected spreadsheet or document, or even better - a password-protected database. I have a database which I open as soon as I create a new login, or add myself to a mailing list, or join a new news group etc - paste the info in *as* you create it, to ensure you'll *never* forget it. Sure, you sometimes get confirmation emails with this data ... but if your computer has *died* ... get the picture? You can't access the emails!
* CLIENT documents / projects / websites (if you're a developer), in fact ANYTHING which could cause grief if you lost it or didn't have a copy of it. If you've printed a lot of this stuff, what would you need if you had a *fire* and lost all your paper files? Think about that. Hard. Now make a list and maybe have a backup cd for each Client or group of clients, depending on your business.
* EMAIL software folder which should include ALL your emails. You do *keep* all emails don't you? Please tell me you're not one of those people who deletes emails as soon as you read them (business ones I mean). Have you ever considered that emails are a form of *database*? I can search my Eudora software for any word or phrase and in a nanosecond I have a list of emails relating to that item (all neatly filed in their email folders ... but that's *another* article!). I *love* Eudora's features! Getting back to business, emails with historical information on projects are invaluable to see who said what and when they said it. It's a timeline, tracking resource, for a project's life.
* PHOTOS, personal, professional - unless you're using them all the time, these can be kept on CDs on a regular basis. When you download from the digital camera, save to cd straight away and save space on your hard drive [note to "self" : follow own suggestion]. If you have photos related to a project or client, save them to the Client cd you created earlier, if there's space.
* FINANCIALS. All your spreadsheets, MYOB or whatever other software you use to track financials. Every document which the tax department might one day want to see ... for the past 7 years. Business plans, budgets, everything relating to your business which you'll need to continue to *be* in business.
* FAXES - do you use online faxing like I do? Where every incoming fax comes into my inbox as an email? From now on, whenever one arrives, put it into a folder called FAXES or save with your client data. Faxes are also a record of what's transpired - another form of database. Plus if you use this kind of fax service, you're saving trees. :o>
* INSURANCE. Keep quotes etc on your computer? You'll be needing these.
* DATABASES - all of them. A must. Trust me, you'll kick yourself if you need one of these you didn't bother backing up.
* COMPUTER DESKTOP. OK - what's still sitting on your desktop which hasn't be put away or filed yet? Probably a bunch o'stuff - clear this up before you backup, make your job that little bit easier.
* EXCEPTION to the SOFTWARE RULE above - if you've bought any software online, or downloaded any software or programs of any kind for which you did not receive a cd, then back it up. If you've still got the Installer file, save that - it'll save time.
* BROWSER Settings - go through your browser Preferences screens, take snapshots (like printscreen) of those settings - it'll save you a TON of time if you have to set up your email and ISP settings at a later date.
* PDFs : have you downloaded any pdfs or purchased any ebooks? Are they all in the same download folder, or in a PDF or eBook folder? You'll want to save these.
Oh boy - I just looked at my hard drive - 222 folders of stuff - I need to do some serious sorting and computer *housekeeping* before I do a backup, otherwise it'll take forever to sift through all that stuff! So here's the list of things to do:
* tip : do it in bite-sized pieces, baby steps, little chunks each day
* make a list of things you want to backup - think about your client info etc
* do your computer housekeeping, put things away in folders, then put those folders in main folders to tidy up your own special filing system - do this on one day so it's not too overwhelming
* on the next day, make sure you have spare cds - you might need a few, depending on how much filing needs to be done; go buy cds if you need to. Consider buying Read Write cds, rather than the regular cds - if you want to be able to add info to cds later.
* if you've got an internal cd burner in your computer, you're a lucky dog - if you've got an external one, plug it in and make sure it works
* when you're ready, start the software you need to backup (usually Toast or something similar)
* be prepared for this to take at least an hour, maybe more if you've got a ton of stuff, but *don't * put it off! An hour spent now could save you *weeks* of worry and work in the future!
* when you've done the first *big* backup, pat yourself on the back, you've accomplished a very important business task!!!
While you're feeling smug and proud of yourself, think about when you should do your next backup. How much work would you be ok about losing? One day's worth? One week's worth? How about a month of work? Whichever is the one you choose, make *that* the amount of time before you do your first *mini* backup. Don't be afraid to set other backup procedures for times which suit you, your projects, your clients.
The main question you need to ask yourself is,
"How much work would it be OK to *lose* without it affecting me or my business?"
::::: DON'T FORGET :::::
Label your cds. How are you going to file them? In a cd box? Will they be in a hard plastic shell or sleeve? Where would it make sense to *see* the client name on the cover, when it's in the box? How easily would you be able to find a cd in that box? You can write on cds with thick permanent markers, or if you're really keen, you can print onto cd labels (available from many stationery companies).
Keep 2 backup copies.
If you don't work at home, it might be worthwhile keeping a backup copy of the backup - one at work, one at home. Just in case.
Now that I've scared myself silly, I'm off to dust the cd burner and make a latte - don't expect me to reply to your emails over the next few hours, I'm doing a backup!
c Teena Hughes is the Director of Build A Website Tonight, a website where you can build your own site online - with no skill - no fear - with no additional costs to update your site. Teena has been involved in the I.T. industry for over twenty years and has written many articles and ebooks, and loves to help people get their business started.
http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com
So easy, even an *adult* can do it!Sign up for the free eZine today:http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com/e/
Join the friendly online Forum:http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com/forum/
WEBMASTERS
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
Teena Hughes (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved
The Importance Of Email Backup
Viruses, software failures, power failures, human errors, hard drive failures are only a few examples of what could destroy the data on a hard drive, including all documents, pictures, emails and other files!
Most home computer users don't need an expensive backup solution; as they only need to burn the folders with important documents and pictures to a CD-RW from time to time; this ensuring that in case of a disaster they can easily get them back. Togeder with documents and pictures, it's a critical operation to save the emails, attachments, address book and other important data from within the email client; otherwise in case of a computer problem the user will find himself in the impossibility to get them back, and this can be a really unwanted situation especially for webmasters or people who rely on their emails. Unfortunately many people actually start to do backup copies only after they lose data.
This article will explain how one can create a Outlook Express Backup copy ( as Outlook Express lacks a backup function ) This email program is usually installed with the Windows operating system and is probably among the most commonly used email programs today. While using Outlook Express is fairly easy, finding and backing up the emails can be a little more complicated. Since there are a large number of files and folders on a computer running Windows, the first problem is to find the files containing the emails. Outlook Express stores emails in .dbx files and there might be several different dbx files depending on how many email folders you have created in Outlook Express. If you are using Windows 98, you can probably locate your emails somewhere in the Windows directory. In Windows 2000 and XP, emails are usually stored somewhere in the user data or application data folder.
The easiest way to find out exactly where your emails are stored is to start Outlook Express, go to the Tools menu, and open the Options dialog box. In the Options dialog box, select the Maintenance page and click the Store Folder button. . Here you can find the path to the folder containing your emails. To open the folder, copy the path and paste in the address field of the Windows File Manager. You should see a number of .dbx files and possibly some other files, too.
After locating the email folder, you can simply select all the files and press Ctrl-C. Then open the folder where you want to keep the backup copies (on another hard disk, a DVD or a network drive, for example) in Windows Explorer, and press Ctrl-V. To backup the Address Book, you can follow these steps:
a.. Select Tools | Address Book... from the menu in Outlook Express.
b.. Choose File | Export | Other Address Book...from the address book's menu.
c.. Select Text File (Comma Separated Values) as the export format.
d.. Click Export.
e.. Select the location you want to export your address book to using the Browse... button.
f.. Give your backup copy a meaningful name.
g.. Click Next.
h.. Select the fields you want to include in your backup.
i.. Finally, select Finish.
j.. Click OK.
k.. Click Close to end the process (successfully, Ihope).
Additionally, there are several email backup utilities which can make the backup operation much easier. Outlook Express Backup Genie is one piece of software that can offer peace of mind by creating compact backup copies of emails, attachments, address book, signatures, blockedlist, mail rules and settings periodically. The difference between using a automatic email backup utility and manual backups, is that the first can be scheduled to create backups quiet in the background at specified time intervals, and that it will include all email information ( signatures, blocked list, etc ) which otherwise would be more difficult to save. Also if ever the backup is needed, the application will ensure that the restore process is made smoothly. And, it works with top 9 popular email clients. The downside of using a automatic email backup utility is that it costs money, usually about 20-30 USD as one time payment, while the manual backups are ofcourse, free.The conclusion is that either manual or automatic,backing up emails is a critical operation for every computer user that would regret losing them.
A trial copy of Outlook Express Backup Genie can befound at: http://www.amicutilities.com/outlook-express-backup/
Alexandru Marias is a IT student
Most home computer users don't need an expensive backup solution; as they only need to burn the folders with important documents and pictures to a CD-RW from time to time; this ensuring that in case of a disaster they can easily get them back. Togeder with documents and pictures, it's a critical operation to save the emails, attachments, address book and other important data from within the email client; otherwise in case of a computer problem the user will find himself in the impossibility to get them back, and this can be a really unwanted situation especially for webmasters or people who rely on their emails. Unfortunately many people actually start to do backup copies only after they lose data.
This article will explain how one can create a Outlook Express Backup copy ( as Outlook Express lacks a backup function ) This email program is usually installed with the Windows operating system and is probably among the most commonly used email programs today. While using Outlook Express is fairly easy, finding and backing up the emails can be a little more complicated. Since there are a large number of files and folders on a computer running Windows, the first problem is to find the files containing the emails. Outlook Express stores emails in .dbx files and there might be several different dbx files depending on how many email folders you have created in Outlook Express. If you are using Windows 98, you can probably locate your emails somewhere in the Windows directory. In Windows 2000 and XP, emails are usually stored somewhere in the user data or application data folder.
The easiest way to find out exactly where your emails are stored is to start Outlook Express, go to the Tools menu, and open the Options dialog box. In the Options dialog box, select the Maintenance page and click the Store Folder button. . Here you can find the path to the folder containing your emails. To open the folder, copy the path and paste in the address field of the Windows File Manager. You should see a number of .dbx files and possibly some other files, too.
After locating the email folder, you can simply select all the files and press Ctrl-C. Then open the folder where you want to keep the backup copies (on another hard disk, a DVD or a network drive, for example) in Windows Explorer, and press Ctrl-V. To backup the Address Book, you can follow these steps:
a.. Select Tools | Address Book... from the menu in Outlook Express.
b.. Choose File | Export | Other Address Book...from the address book's menu.
c.. Select Text File (Comma Separated Values) as the export format.
d.. Click Export.
e.. Select the location you want to export your address book to using the Browse... button.
f.. Give your backup copy a meaningful name.
g.. Click Next.
h.. Select the fields you want to include in your backup.
i.. Finally, select Finish.
j.. Click OK.
k.. Click Close to end the process (successfully, Ihope).
Additionally, there are several email backup utilities which can make the backup operation much easier. Outlook Express Backup Genie is one piece of software that can offer peace of mind by creating compact backup copies of emails, attachments, address book, signatures, blockedlist, mail rules and settings periodically. The difference between using a automatic email backup utility and manual backups, is that the first can be scheduled to create backups quiet in the background at specified time intervals, and that it will include all email information ( signatures, blocked list, etc ) which otherwise would be more difficult to save. Also if ever the backup is needed, the application will ensure that the restore process is made smoothly. And, it works with top 9 popular email clients. The downside of using a automatic email backup utility is that it costs money, usually about 20-30 USD as one time payment, while the manual backups are ofcourse, free.The conclusion is that either manual or automatic,backing up emails is a critical operation for every computer user that would regret losing them.
A trial copy of Outlook Express Backup Genie can befound at: http://www.amicutilities.com/outlook-express-backup/
Alexandru Marias is a IT student
Online Data Backups for Newbies
How long have you been doing business online? Whether you are new or an old timer you need to understand the one important truth of the e-world. That being that the largest threat to business survival is data loss.
Online data backup is not just for huge multinational corporations and computer geeks anymore. More and more everyday computer users are saving important data to their hard drives. From schoolwork to financial documents, digital media files to journal entries, our computers are storing more and more digital data that holds personal, and in some cases monetary, value to us. It is because of this that online data storage and other backup solutions are becoming more and more critical to our everyday lives.
If the statements above describe you, you should consider utilizing an offsite data backup solution. These online-based backup providers come in many forms but can be very easy to use and convenient for end users to implement no matter what the platform or how large the network. Whether you need to back up a single laptop, or an entire network of machines, there is an online data backup solution that will meet your needs.
Although there are several methods to accomplish online backup and data retrieval the simplest method is for the end user to install a backup package that has been pre-configured to connect to the service provider's offsite servers (supplied by the offsite backup service provider). This software will allow you, the end user, to select a number of customizable settings, including what directories and files to backup, how often to back them up, number of file revisions to archive, etc. These packages take care of the complicated details such as server IP addresses, encryption levels, and secure logins for you so you can concern yourself with the important choices of what and when to backup.
Once you have set up an account with a service provider and have configured your software the rest of the process is typically transparent and requires little to no interaction from you. You can choose to be notified (via email or various other methods depending on provider) of successful backups for your records and to provide peace-of-mind, but beyond that, you can usually "set and forget" these solutions and rest assured knowing that the most critical data you generate is being saved in a safe and secure manner that is easily accessible to you whenever you may need it.
Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!
Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com an online backup service. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that safe, secure, encrypted online data backups can offer. Online Backups
Online data backup is not just for huge multinational corporations and computer geeks anymore. More and more everyday computer users are saving important data to their hard drives. From schoolwork to financial documents, digital media files to journal entries, our computers are storing more and more digital data that holds personal, and in some cases monetary, value to us. It is because of this that online data storage and other backup solutions are becoming more and more critical to our everyday lives.
If the statements above describe you, you should consider utilizing an offsite data backup solution. These online-based backup providers come in many forms but can be very easy to use and convenient for end users to implement no matter what the platform or how large the network. Whether you need to back up a single laptop, or an entire network of machines, there is an online data backup solution that will meet your needs.
Although there are several methods to accomplish online backup and data retrieval the simplest method is for the end user to install a backup package that has been pre-configured to connect to the service provider's offsite servers (supplied by the offsite backup service provider). This software will allow you, the end user, to select a number of customizable settings, including what directories and files to backup, how often to back them up, number of file revisions to archive, etc. These packages take care of the complicated details such as server IP addresses, encryption levels, and secure logins for you so you can concern yourself with the important choices of what and when to backup.
Once you have set up an account with a service provider and have configured your software the rest of the process is typically transparent and requires little to no interaction from you. You can choose to be notified (via email or various other methods depending on provider) of successful backups for your records and to provide peace-of-mind, but beyond that, you can usually "set and forget" these solutions and rest assured knowing that the most critical data you generate is being saved in a safe and secure manner that is easily accessible to you whenever you may need it.
Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!
Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com an online backup service. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that safe, secure, encrypted online data backups can offer. Online Backups
Offsite Data Backup Not Just for Fortune 500 Companies Anymore
In today's high paced digital world there is a very high value placed on information. Not just the kind of information you read in the newspaper or your favorite trade journals, but the type of information that we generate on a day to day basis with our digital devices. There was a time when a concept like "offsite data backup" was relegated to the geeks in IT at Fortune 500 companies?
That time is gone.
With mission critical data stacking up in both our professional and private lives more and more every day ANYONE who uses a computer should think about the safety and security of that data. And it's not just geeks and big companies generating large amounts of important information. The average computer user is doing more than just word processing nowadays. Email, spreadsheets, financial data, personal music collections, movies, and more are digitally encoded onto the hard drives of millions of regular computer users just like you every day. How many of them do you think have considered what it would be like to LOSE IT ALL?
But today even the casual computer user has the ability to ensure the security and safety of their critical data. Online backup (or remote backup) solutions are available and within the reach of even the novice computer user. Many offsite backup solutions are as easy to configure as a web browser or media player software and can be installed and set up in a matter of minutes. Better yet, these online backup solutions can be set up to function in a completely transparent manner (that is, once you install and configure the application you don't have to touch it again, sometimes called "set and forget"). Backups can be scheduled to occur at intervals you choose or can be invoked manually before performing a risky computer operation such as updating your operating system or adding a new hardware device.
Nowadays we all have data that we want to preserve and ensure it's usefulness to us, and if you are serious about protecting your data you should seriously consider an offline secure backup solution.
Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!
Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com an online backup service. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that safe, secure, encrypted online data backups can offer. Online Backups
That time is gone.
With mission critical data stacking up in both our professional and private lives more and more every day ANYONE who uses a computer should think about the safety and security of that data. And it's not just geeks and big companies generating large amounts of important information. The average computer user is doing more than just word processing nowadays. Email, spreadsheets, financial data, personal music collections, movies, and more are digitally encoded onto the hard drives of millions of regular computer users just like you every day. How many of them do you think have considered what it would be like to LOSE IT ALL?
But today even the casual computer user has the ability to ensure the security and safety of their critical data. Online backup (or remote backup) solutions are available and within the reach of even the novice computer user. Many offsite backup solutions are as easy to configure as a web browser or media player software and can be installed and set up in a matter of minutes. Better yet, these online backup solutions can be set up to function in a completely transparent manner (that is, once you install and configure the application you don't have to touch it again, sometimes called "set and forget"). Backups can be scheduled to occur at intervals you choose or can be invoked manually before performing a risky computer operation such as updating your operating system or adding a new hardware device.
Nowadays we all have data that we want to preserve and ensure it's usefulness to us, and if you are serious about protecting your data you should seriously consider an offline secure backup solution.
Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!
Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com an online backup service. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that safe, secure, encrypted online data backups can offer. Online Backups
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