Save Your Data from Godzilla!

Have you ever had issues with Windows Vista? Freezing, crashing, etc.? I hate to admit it, but I started experiencing such issues for the first time last week. I don’t blame this on Vista, mind you. I’ve been using this for months and months without any trouble and could never bring myself to go back to Windows XP. Thankfully, I was able to fix the issue by running some diagnostics and doing a little tweaking. However, this did underscore how happy I am to have a proper backup plan in place. You know, ‘just in case’!

Here’s a quick overview of scenarios that you could face and how to preserve your data in each situation:

• “Crap , my computer just imploded!”

You suddenly lose all of your data! Maybe your system just goes nuts, you are the victim of a crazy virus, or your hard drive bites the dust. Prevent this by backing up to a server, external hard drive, or some other device on your network.

• “Oh no, the building burned down!”

So, your home or office just got hit by a hurricane, Godzilla, or some other natural disaster. Hmmm… I guess the backup to the external hard drive isn’t much good now, is it?

Hopefully you have prepared for this travesty by using off-site backup. If you have just one or a few computers you can use one of the many online backup solutions out there. For instance, Wasatch Software partners with www.sbbackup.com. For larger networks, implement a backup strategy using Symantec Backup Exec or a similar product. Then, make sure you move that data to tape cartridges and take it off-site using a pick-up and delivery service such as Iron Mountain.

• “Stop! Thief! Someone just stole my laptop!”

Okay, you’re out on the town when a thief snatches your notebook. First, I hope you encrypted all of that data. Second, I hope you’ve been using offsite backup as previously mentioned.

• “Crap! My boss’ system just crashed. If he’s not up and running quickly I’m dead!”

This one is specifically for you I.T. guys out there. Our Symantec rep says it best. The top executives in every organization should always have Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery running on their system. This way, if their system crashes, you can easily restore all of the data and even system settings within about half an hour. What if your boss throws his system off the roof? That’s okay, too. As long as you have a backup system for him you can restore all of his data and settings to the new system, even if the new system has dissimilar hardware! This can also be used on servers that require maximum uptime.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little primer on data backup. Certainly let us know if you have any questions on the subject. Until next time!