INFO2 - Unit 6

Backup & Recovery

You need to know

•Why you need regular, systematic backups•What are the types of backup•Who is responsible for backups

Why you need regular, systematic backups

If a business suffers a system crash, virus or natural disaster and loses its data over 40% of businesses will never reopen and 30% will have closed within 2 years.Lost data is a pain to recover and takes time and money.

32%

25%

22%

13%

6% 2%

Causes of data loss

Human errorSoftware errorVirusHardware errorSabotageNatural disaster

What are the types of backup?

A backup is a copy of data or programs stored securely so that in the event of a problem the data and programs can be restored with minimal loss of data or time.

Questions to ask:

•What are you backing up?•Which storage medium will be used?•When will you back up the data?•How often will you back up?•Where will the backup be stored?•Who is responsible for the backup (and recovery)?

Appropriateness

Any form of backup needs to be sensible and appropriate for the context.

A bank will not make a backup of its customer records on a floppy disc or on a USB stick. You will not call in a data manager to save a piece of coursework on your home network to an mirrored server 6 000 miles away.

So always think about the context if you get a backup/recovery question.

Recovery of data

It’s all very well backing up data but what if you can’t access it when you need it?

There needs to be a tried, tested and documented plan to restore the system (both h/w and s/w). There must be a person who is responsible for data recovery (usually the person responsible for backups).

They will need:

•Alternative accommodation if required•Replacement hardware if required•Fully trained staff available at short notice•Communications links to allow network communications

Other issues

What if you are a 24/7/365 business? How do you ensure continuity of service to customers? What if you are First Direct and take customer calls and internet banking even on Christmas Day. When do you backup? How? Where to? How do you ensure that the service is not interrupted?