Data Recovery

Another area that is equally important but often left out is Backing up your data. If virus or hard disk failure or worst disaster like fire wipe out your information, it is gone if no backup is done. There are cases of companies that have to stop business because their server room was burned down and years of information are all gone.

Typically, it is advisable to backup your data daily if there are changes to data every day. In the scenario where your data is quite sizeable, you can deploy this proven and tested method of data recovery:

Friday : Full backup (backup entire directories and files that you have specified)

Mon - Thursday : Incremental backup (backup only changes occur on that day)

End of the month : Full Backup (kept off-site and do not overwrite this backup file)

Offsite Backup

The above method allows you to save tapes/storage space as incremental changes are typically not larger than your full backup. Keep the month end backup (e.g. tape/CD) in an off-site location. In the event disaster strikes (e.g. fire, flood) where both the server/PC and backup media are destroyed in same location, rest ensure you have workable backup copy stored safely in another location.

However, it is advisable to ensure you conduct a restoration test every 6 months. This is to provide assurance that the backup media are working. The last that you need is the off-site media cannot be restored as the data is corrupted !

True event : In one of the banks that I was working as an auditor, during 911 event, the entire banking centre went down. It was a relieved that the DR (Disaster Recovery) site was up and running as planned. This shows that the upmost important of backup.

 

Looking for a good backup solution ?

• Make sure the data recovery solution allows you to conduct the backup with full backup and incremental mode.
• I like features that provides you with an option to encrypt the backup file for security purposes. e.g. 256-bit AES strong encryption to protect backed up data privacy. AES encryption algorithm has been adopted by NIST.
• Do remember to include Offsite data storage solution. You can have the best backup system, but if flood, fire or other disaster occur, everything may be wipe out.

For a more comprehensive plan please refer to Data Disaster Recovery Plan

 

 

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