Small Business Disaster Recovery Series #4: Data Recovery
This is the fourth article in a disaster preparedness series featuring a roster of small business disaster recovery experts to help get your business ready for the 2011 hurricane season.
(See previous Crisis Management , Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management articles.)
Today, Jennifer Bell of Prosoft Engineering, , shares her experience in helping small business executives take proactive measures to secure their critical business data.
Data Disaster Recovery for Small and Mid-size Businesses
The need for an effective data recovery disaster plan was brought home in a very real way to this writer. This past week the hard drive on my main PC decided to take a leave of absence. After doing some investigation in the bios settings, I found that the drive was no longer being recognized by the system. This could have been a major disaster because all of my articles and notes were on this computer. But I have had a disaster plan in place for some time, as any small to mid-size business should, even if it is just a one-man operation.
Proactive Measures
The best way to prevent data loss is to take steps to minimize the effect. The smart business person will have a backup of all data on every computer. Backups can be made to external drives that can be disconnected and stored away from the office. Data can also be stored automatically to remote locations. Businesses can also employ cloud computing technology, in which all critical data is stored and run on the cloud provider’s remote infrastructure, and accessed via web browser. Online backup services are becoming more and more popular these days. Your data is kept safely away from local disaster and can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. Data Backup PC3 and Data Backup 3 for Mac, from Prosoft Engineering, provide both local and online backup capabilities.
Reactive Measures
When data disaster does strike, you might still recover your lost data. Logical data loss, due to software corruption or file deletion, requires the use of a software solution, such as Prosoft’s Data Rescue PC3 or Data Rescue 3 for Macintosh. Data loss from physical damage requires a reputable recovery service for recovery and/or repair. The Data Rescue Center, a division of Prosoft, maintains a class 100 cleanroom to protect and recover your data. They will provide a free, written estimate to you before they start working on the drive.
Questions on how to set up a disaster recovery plan? Email us for a complimentary DR Assessment.