1st If you are backing your personal computer and you don’t want to deal with burning DVD’s then www.mozypro.comis the way to go for you. They offer a off site backup of personal data at a very cost effective way.

2nd If you are backing up your companies data. I always stress this to my customers to make sure that you consult an experienced IT consultant. I have seen allot of junior techs just rely on old ntbackup. Which I must say is a very effective solution, however it needs some help. Also if you have your own email server. Which most companies are using Microsoft Exchange Server. If so I would strongly recommend a simply  and cost effective software called Backup Assist www.backupassist.comcheck them out. They have made a interface which uses nt backup. It’s also great for Exchange Server Backup using xmerge “I will write another article just for xmerge”.

3rd How big is your data? Depending on the size of your data. I would also recommend a offsite backup solution on top of using step 2 which is a local backup. This way if there is a hurricane or any other disaster you are safe. Again I recommend using www.mozypro.comDepending on the size the cost can get a little high, however. They have 24/7 support, give you 30 days archive and much more check them out.

Just a few pointers to test your current IT person or companies skills.

1st Check your backups regularly “Move a file… Then call them up and say you deleted it” sounds sneaky, but it’s better to be sneaky and recover from a potential disaster than to do nothing.

2nd Request notifications each night that the backups have successfully completed

3rd Very important… If you are using MS exchange Server and your mailbox sizes are not that large make sure you are using xmerge. I have seen allot of companies lose there whole email database and not be able to recover it.

4th If you are using Tape. Follow the rules! Change it daily, Take it offsite and make sure the Tape is working

Finally make sure you have a business continuity plan. Even though it might not ever happy it’s better to be ready when disaster strikes than to be a sitting duck.

 If you need help or have any questions about your current backup solution please feel free to contact me at miconib@krove.com

• Back it up. If you haven’t made a backup of your crucial data, do so now. It’s a good idea to make a second backup that moves your data offsite — either to online storage, or to a secure, physical location. Note: If you are a Krove customer and are paying for backup support chances are your data is already being backed up offsite. Just give us a call and we will be more than happy to verify everything for you

• Write it down. If you don’t have power, but can get online from another location, make sure you have your various passwords so you can check e-mail and e-commerce accounts. If you’ve been relying on your browser’s password cache to log you into sites, you may not remember login information. Gather it now, while you can.

• Move it up. Got a desktop computers on the floor under a desk? Move it up onto the desk. Do the same with any electronics, including surge protectors and Uninterruptible Power supplies. ALSO MAKE SURE TO POWER DOWN YOUR BATTERY BACKUPS. This will prolong there battery life. If you leave the UPS on it’s most likely going to destroy the battery!

• Unplug it. When lightning starts flashing around you, don’t just turn off your electronics — unplug them. A surge protector won’t do much against a direct lightning strike, and even a UPS isn’t a guarantee against damage. In fact, move the devices’ plugs as far away from the outlets as you can. I’ve talked to sad computer owners who unplugged their systems and dropped the cords on the floor by the outlets, only to have a direct strike cause electricity to arc between the outlet and the nearby plug’s prongs.

• Disconnect it. In addition to unplugging from electrical outlets, also unplug any phone and cable connections. It’s also not a bad idea to disconnect the cables between computers on a home network. 

• Charge it. Make sure your notebook computer and cell-phone batteries are fully charged, just as you’ll want to keep your car’s gas tank filled. Of course, if you’re without power, you may not have broadband Internet access, either.

• Cover it. In a really bad storm with high winds that could damage roofs and allow water to enter your home, consider covering your electronic in plastic. Move them to a central location of your home and off the floor. This may be good advice even in a tropical storm, which can still spawn tornadoes, even if the storm’s sustained winds aren’t that bad.

Thanks again and welcome to my blog!