Small Bytes with Jared Staniland from CSI Connect
Part 1 - Off-site Computer Backups
UB: What is an off-site computer backup?
JS: It is now widely known that important computer files should be copied or ‘backed up’ onto separate disks for safe keeping; the last thing any business owner wants is for their precious customer and financial computer records to be entombed within a lifeless and unresponsive computer.
An off-site backup is simply transferring the backed up computer files to a completely separate location to safeguard against unforeseen events such as a fire or theft at the place of business.
UB: What are the options available for getting the backup information ‘off-site’?
JS: You can simply make a copy of data every night and physically take it somewhere else, or you can use an automated off-site backup service which would enable any changes to your computer to be automatically detected and backed up via the internet to designated remote off-site servers.
UB: What about security?
JS: With an off-site service, data is 'encrypted' before it is then sent through the internet to remote storage servers, that is to say, all files are locked with a highly secure password mechanism before they leave the office. The encryption levels used in these services will generally meet or exceed the requirements of industry sectors such as finance, government and the military ensuring data is safe in its off-site storage location.
UB: Is off-site backup expensive or time consuming?
JS: Typically a small business could expect to backup all their important data off-site for around $6 per week. In most cases there is no additional costs for the business in internet usage or downloads as an automated system only backs up the changes that occur during the day rather than re-backing up all files from scratch.
And the process is automatic. Every night, software in your computer detects any changes to your data and sends them off-site, typically a backup will complete in less than 25 minutes after commencing at its scheduled time. And if your computer is turned off, the backup will re-commence the next time the computer is switched on ensuring backups are always up to date.
UB: Any important advice?
JS: No matter what backup system you use, regularly test that your backups are working and that you can easily restore files in an emergency. The only thing worse than hearing stories of businesses that have been caught out by faulty backups would be if that business was yours!
And just as important, ensure that your backup solution has a reporting function that emails you daily success reports for your backup. If on any day you do not receive a success email then you know to check for a problem or ring your service provider.
Jared Staniland is the Managing Director of CSI Connect, Newcastle based providers of Broadband, Off-site Backup and Hosted MYOB. For further information, please feel free to contact Jared on 0422 733 288.
Jared has been involved in the Information & Telecommunications Technology industry for more than 16 years and is presently in a mild state of shock upon realising how old he must be getting! After growing up in Newcastle he worked in Sydney for 12 years and has engineered broadband networks for more than 40 local councils and government departments throughout New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
In February 2008 Jared returned to Newcastle with wife Sonya to start CSI Connect and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child in May 2010.