Issue #6December 2012
 

 Greetings!  

 

Inside this month's newsletter, we will take a look at data backup and disaster recovery situations, and make a recommendation for handling both issues.  We will be happy to answer all your questions regarding this increasingly important topic of how protect both your business and personal data.

 

We would also like to take this opportunity to offer our warmest wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy holiday season and prosperous new year.   

 
Regards,
Boris Jordanov
FrontGate Technology Solutions, LLC
Which Back Up Solution
is Best for You? 
By: Top Ten Reviews Contributor
 

We're all different. We have different jobs, families and interests, so it makes sense that our computer backup needs would be diverse too. Fortunately, backup software manufacturers understand and offer backup choices to fit virtually any need.

 

Understanding Backup Basics

There are three basic types of backup: full, incremental and differential. Put simply, full backups allow you to make a copy of all the data files on your computer in a single shot. They are perfect for computer novices and for the average home computer and should be performed weekly.

 

The other two basic backup types, differential and incremental, are more for people who work from home or who want to backup a computer used in a business. These types of data backups are typically done several times a week (if not daily) for maximum protection against data-loss.

 

Differential backups only backup the files that have changed since your last full backup, so these take longer and use more storage space, but have a shorter restoration time.

 

Incremental backups only backup the files that have changed since your last backup (whether your last backup was a full or an incremental backup) so incremental backups are quicker and take less space, but restoration time is much longer as you must restore both your last full backup and all of the incremental backups performed since that time.

 

Considering Your Backup Options

Many of today's backup software programs offer a wide array of backup options; giving you the flexibility to create a backup and recovery solution that will fit your needs. Here are a few:

 

One-Click System Backup Capability

If simple is what your life demands, then this tool may be just what the doctor ordered. Although it's only available on select backup products, this convenient tool makes a full system backup with the click of a single button.

 

Files-In-Use Backup

If the data you need to backup changes throughout the day, this tool is a good choice, as it can perform several data backups while your computer is active. The ability to backup files while in use is an excellent tool for those that work from home or those in an office with projects that evolve throughout the day. This tool is available with most backup software programs.

 

Complete System Backup

Also called Image Backup, Drive Image and Hard Drive Image, a complete system backup saves a copy of your entire hard drive, including your operating system, registry, drivers, software application as well as your data files-allowing you to restore your entire computer back to a given point in time. A complete system backup is a good alternative to reformatting a hard drive that's heavily infected with spyware or computer viruses.

 

Advancing Your Backup Capabilities

Some backup software comes with options that go beyond the simple novice approach, giving you special tools to deal with unique challenges. Here are a few examples:

 

Backup Data Compression

Most backup software programs offer some form of data compression, which allows you to pack more data into the same location - perfect for anyone with limited storage space.

 

Backup File Filtering

Filtering allows you to filter certain types of files for backup. For example, you can select to backup all of the images in your hard drive - giving you the freedom to refine your data backup in ways that best suit your needs. This tool is also available on most backup software.

 

Backup Password Protection and Encryption

If you use passwords to protect data on your computer, it makes sense to do the same with your data backup. Most backup software offers password protection, but not all allow you to encrypt your password, which keeps your files safe from hackers.

 

Now that you have a foundation to start from, you can begin your data backup software selection. There are plenty of good resources out there to aid you in your search.  Click HERE for Top Ten's 2013 Best Data Backup and Software Review and Comparisions. 

Why Choose Datto?|
True Business Continuity™ with 
solutions for every business size  

  

When disaster strikes, every second counts. Taking days to recover information and get computer systems up and running translates into money lost and possibly, the end of your business. With Datto, your company can be up and running in just seconds. With the click of a button, your Datto device recreates your computers and servers so your business can resume as if nothing had ever happened.

 

Datto SIRIS and SIRIS Lite devices also provide instant off-site virtualization, so in the event that the Datto device is destroyed, you can still access your information, even from a remote location. And once you're ready to rebuild, Datto provides the support you need to get you back on your feet.

 

Datto's True Business Continuity solutions enable you to deliver Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) that meet or exceed the acceptable Recovery Point Objective (RPO) levels of your business continuity plan (or SLA commitments to your customers). Datto's hybrid backup solutions use local devices combined with Datto's own offsite cloud storage to offer a level of redundancy that gives you peace of mind and gets you up and running virtually, in just seconds. And there's a solution for every size business from small office to large enterprise.

 

Instant virtualization, screen shot verification of backups, and file level recovery make it easy to recover everything from a single message or document to entire document folders, mailboxes or servers. Incremental backups occur on the local device as frequently as every minute and are continuously sent to the cloud to ensure your backup remains up-to-date. All of these continuity functions can be easily managed from Datto's central web-based interface.  For more information on this backup and disaster recovery provider, visit Datto's website HERE.

Bottom Line Back-Up Advice:  
  • The more important the data that is stored on the computer, the greater is the need for backing up this data.

    •  

  • A backup is only as useful as its associated restore strategy. For critical systems and data, the restoration process must be tested.

    •  

  • Storing the copy near the original is unwise, since many disasters such as fire, flood, theft, and electrical surges are likely to cause damage to the backup at the same time. In these cases, both the original and the backup medium are likely to be lost.

    •  

  • Automated backup and scheduling should be considered, as manual backups can be affected by human error.

    •  

  • Incremental backups should be considered to save the amount of storage space and to avoid redundancy.

    •  

  • Backups can fail for a wide variety of reasons. A verification or monitoring strategy is an important part of a successful backup plan.

    •  

  • Multiple backups on different media, stored in different locations, should be used for all critical information.

    •  

  • Backed up archives should be stored in open and standard formats, especially when the goal is long-term archiving. Recovery software and processes may have changed, and software may not be available to restore data saved in proprietary formats.
    		•
     
    Tips and Tricks for Your iPhone and iPad!

     

    We will feature a different iPhone or 
    iPad tip or trick in each issue of our  newsletter.  (Not that we are assuming
    you don't  already
    know it all!)

     

    Tip # 6: Attach a video or photo within an email from your iPhone
      

    Just tap and hold anywhere in the message body to bring up a small pop-up box. The option to "Insert Photo or Video" will appear unless the
    e-mail already contains text, in which case you'll have to tap the little arrow on the right side of the pop-up to see the option. 

     

     

    Do you have a unique iPhone or iPad tip to share?  Email us at info@
    frontgatetech.com with your idea!  

     

     

    You could win a $25 apple gift card if your tip or trick is shared in an upcoming FrontGate
    newsletter!

     

     
     
    FrontGate Technologies:
     
    "Your Gate to the IT World!"

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