Doing Nothing About Data Backup Could be Disastrous for Your Business in Tysons Corner

The right time to decide that you should have a data backup plan is not after you have a catastrophic data loss according to TeamLogic IT in Tysons Corner. The most common reason for data loss is unplanned hardware failure caused by power surges, aging of the drives, motherboard failures, or a spilled cup of coffee. Data loss can also occur because of software failure, data corruption, virus attacks, or human error. It is a business nightmare. Imagine the consequences of losing your financial data, your client information, or your project documents.

The only solution to minimizing the impact to your business of data loss is to have all your critical data routinely backed up. The safest and most comprehensive disaster recovery and backup plans include remote data backup such as that offered by TeamLogic IT System Watch program. Remote data backup protects your data in the event of natural disasters such as fire or floods and ensures minimal downtime when a data loss occurs.

What are the options for data backup?

Deciding among the three options for backing up your data: onsite, online, and remote requires a trade-off that includes: security of the data storage, comprehensiveness of the stored data, and cost. Onsite storage of data is the least expensive and includes routinely copying active files onto a second location on the same machine or creating a CD or tape of files on a planned backup schedule. However this choice provides no protection when the data loss is caused by hardware failure on the host machine. The second kind of onsite storage provides no protection for facility related loss or damage such as that caused by a fire or flood. Onsite storage is also labor intensive and may be over-looked when the schedule of tasks or vacation times interfere with established routine business practices.

Online backup uses an internet based storage service. Files or folders are backed up onto a remote server or a computer with a network connection. The cost for internet based storage is tied to the amount of data to be stored. Most online data-backup services allow you to either manually select files to be backed up or to schedule a full backup at specific times. You can set up parameters that allow the system to backup a file when you save it, called differential backup or backup an open file as you change it, called incremental backup. Some services feature a fully automated backup operation that detects idle time or low processing activity on your computer and backup then. The downside of these online backup services is that you may encounter difficulty actually talking with a technologist about planning for your data storage or troubleshooting any problems.

The third option is remote or off-site storage service provided as part of your over-all IT and disaster recovery planning. The TeamLogic IT professionals will help you tailor your plan by understanding:

•    What is the important data on your system – this is the data that must be backed up. For example, critical data, such as a database, may require redundant backup sets that extend back for several backup periods according to Microsoft Technet.
•    What type of information does the data contain? The type of information the data contains can help you determine if and when you need to back up the data.
•    How often does the data change?
•    How quickly do you need to recover the data?

Working with a professional from TeamLogic IT and using their System Watch program, you can create a plan that ensures the safety and security of your vital data.