Server Backup Tips for Beginners

The first thing you need to k now about server backup programs is that there are many different types and although you should spend some time evaluating them, don’t take too long! Every day you go without backing up your data is potentially another day closer to the time when you make a mistake, a hard drive fails, or a virus takes over.

The best server backup programs are actually very easy to use and affordable, and they will enable you to backup much more than documents. In fact, the most valuable ones will be the ones that allow you to back up incrementally and also provide you with a full disk image in case your entire system is wiped out.

That being said, there are a few tips that you should know when you first install your backup software, the first of which is that you should not have to “take down” the entire system in order to make it run. If you do, then you will be frustrating your employees and your clients, and you could end up losing money. Therefore, choose a program that will backup your data without tying up your system’s computing power or making everyone log off for hours at a time.

In addition, make sure that you choose a server backup program that saves your backup to a location that is not in your building. Although this may sound stupid, it’s not. If your building is blown away in a tornado, taken down to the ground in a fire, or a flood rips through the walls, you will be glad that your backup is located somewhere else! You have several choices – the cloud, a private server, or your own server at a different location – but just make sure it is located elsewhere.

You should also make sure that whatever server backup program that you do decide on is easy to use remotely. There may be a time when you can’t get into the office to restore data or, in the case of a catastrophic loss, there may be no “office” to return to! Therefore, make sure that the program will allow you web access to make changes to your data and even copy all of it onto a new server.

Finally, remember that any server backup program is only one tool in the entire security program of your business and that it does not take the place of such programs as firewalls and anti-virus programs. All of these are designed to work together to create a safe computing environment for your employees and to protect the data of your customers. Failing to protect the integrity of this environment could find you out of business, out of a job, or in legal trouble.

Buying and installing a server backup program is one of the most important computing decisions your company will make and although you may want to spend a lot of time evaluating the choices, the reality is that you don’t have that time. If you already are in business and have valuable data on your network, then now is the time to quickly make a decision and get your information backed up.