You must Backup your Data and your data Backups to be 100% safe.
So, you’ve written a plan for data recovery in case of a disaster.
You’ve created a backup of your business records and are faithfully updating it on a regular basis.
You’ve sent an employee to a training course for data recovery in case those skills are ever needed in your workplace.
How to Organize Data Backup Plans
There is some data that simply is not worth the cost of professional Data Backup.
Things like old pictures or music.
Even old files from previous work or careers that you are keeps just in case.
To save them securely you need a plan
Step 1. Gather all the information and make sure its all you want saved.
This means going thru all your devices to find what is stored on each.
Re-organizing the data storage at this stage will help you a lot.
If you organize it well once per year you may need half the total storage.
The most wasted resource is excess and duplicate data storage.
Step 2. Find out the total memory size needed.
Step 3. Buy no less than 4 Memory sticks or cards.
Step 4. Save the Data only all 4 and clearly mark them.
Step 5. Place each in a sealed Ziploc Bag.
Step 6. Store these in 3 separate locations with the spare saved with the closest location.
Step 7. Place a Reminder in your outlook calendar or your phone for every 6 months.
Step 8. Each reminder Verify the Data on the next Memory stick and swap out one of the three locations for the spare.
Step 9. Rinse and Repeat. Continue this process until you have one memory device fail.
Replace all 4 devices and start over.
You’re all set. Or are you?
The minimum number of data backup methods recommended for a personal computer is three, so a business should do no less, correct?
As a general rule, every business should create – and update – at least two data backup methods, preferably three.
Data Purging
While many people and businesses are good are Data Storage, less are good at Data Backup.
Even less have seriously considered Data Purging Requirements.
If you never delete obsolete and zero value data you have a problem.
The problem will continue to grow the longer you ignore it.
Cloud Backup
So your data is stored on a cloud-based server.
But you cannot completely trust the cloud to keep your data entirely safe forever.
The truth is that storing your data in the cloud actually means that your data is stored on a set of servers somewhere.
Those servers are just as vulnerable.
Vulnerable to floods and fire, to vandalism and viruses.
Just as your primary computer system is vulnerable.
You are wise to keep that in mind when doing your disaster planning.
Always create a backup of your backup.
You can choose to use disks, high-capacity hard drives, a second cloud-based storage method, or memory cards.
Make sure that you update your second line of defense as often as you do your first one.
It is also important to store physical backups somewhere that is unlikely to be affected by the same natural disaster.
Otherwise Both sets of Data go down from a Single Disaster.
A safety deposit box in a bank is a good choice.
You can store one set of backups at a friend or family member’s house and the other in a secure, fire-proof box at home.
Store the third backup on the Cloud and it will not be affected by the same disaster as your primary system.
Following these precautionary steps will ensure easy and quick data recovery in the event of a disaster.
Read our Main Article on Data Backup & Recovery to understand your options and limitations.
