How Secure is Your Data Back-Up Provider?
Posted: Thursday, August 05, 2010
by Andy Sokol
CopyScan
Your business runs on data. There's no question about that. From accounting and inventory to payroll and customer orders, the information stored on your computers keeps your business going. It only stands to reason that it's vital for you to keep a current back-up of your data at all times.
When considering a data management strategy for your business, the list of "what-ifs" is very long. What if a natural disaster strikes? What if user error causes your systems to loose data? What if your equipment is stolen or damaged? And on, and on and on.
By far the cheapest way to back-up your data is to do it yourself on removable media, i.e. CD/DVD, Zip, tape or several other formats. While this can be very cost effective as far as the actual back up media, it can be very expensive in terms of the time it takes to produce and maintain. What's worse, optical based media isn't disaster proof. Once you lose a back-up on DVD, it's gone forever.
This is not the way a modern business should be backing up their data.The best solution all around for most businesses is to maintain an off site data back-up plan. The cost of creating and maintaining a private, off site data back-up can be very expensive on your own. But there are a handful of companies that specialize in secure data back-up, maintaining files on behalf of global companies in completely secure, fully-redundant facilities that are protected from fire, floods and other disasters.
With business-class data storage, files are sent electronically over a secure Internet connection, encrypted from the point of transmission to the storage server. Sometimes called electronic vaulting or e-vaulting, sending backups off-site ensures systems and servers can be reloaded with the latest data in the event of a natural disaster, accidental error, or system crash. This also insures that a copy of pertinent data is maintained at all times in a remote location. When these systems are encrypted, your business has access to a convenient, secure and cost effective solution to the problem of data loss.
When you are searching for a data back up company, it's absolutely essential that you look for a company that follows the guidelines of the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) that mandate the protection of data.
One of the major data back up companies online is Accurate Data Storage. They provide secure, reliable and affordable on-line data backup storage that is available to the end user 24 hours a day 7 days a week. ADS provides you with software to connect to their remote back-up servers as well as assist you in setting up a back-up schedule and choosing the amount of back-up storage space that is specifically optimized for your business. Accurate Data Storage uses a 128-bit encryption to protect your files during the transfer. Your data is then stored in a password-protected vault at a World Class, disaster-proof data center, protected by biometric locks, full-time security professionals and long-life diesel generators.
Regardless of which remote data back up company you choose, keep in mind that your business relies on the safety and security of your data. Make sure to ask questions about NIST compliance and the features of the site where the data servers are located. Your business data is too important to risk being improperly backed up or stored in a location that is less than secure.
protect your files
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