Backup Systems Evaluation
Look at how it runs and watch how it responds to your needs. For consumers, try the new backup system in your laptop a thirty day period and see how you like it.
For Businesses, put the backup system into an old server or high intensity test environment where it is challenged to do certain backup system requirements.
In the tech loops, some IT specialists prefer their database backup system be open source and programmable to suit the environment. However, when in high demand, this could be disasterous if the system failed somehow.
Could it be considered 'proprietary programming' then if the programmer makes it nearly impossible to understand or makes it with complicated procedures. Someone must configure it obviously and another must be trained with it. What if the programmer has since left the company? Someone new must reprogram it again, or fix the bugs or figure out the software again? Who is going to do all the work to fix it again and again for each one who changes it? Is it worth about the same to ask someone to reprogram it again instead of just using something already finished as a 'standard procedure' backup system?
To take care of any scepticism take a look at what Wikipedia has to say about remote backup (referring to cloud backup in general).
Here are Wiki comments on the disadvantages of online remote cloud backup:
(my responses in Red...)
Wikipedia Disadvantages of Remote Online Backup.
My responses are IN RED....
- "Depending on the available network bandwidth, the restoration of data can be slow. Because data is stored offsite, the data must be recovered either via the Internet or via tape or disk shipped from the online backup service provider.
Faster downloads ARE possible. Check your speed for details using the cloud backup speed checker.
- Some backup service providers have no guarantee that stored data will be kept private - for example, from employees. As such, most recommend that files be encrypted before storing or automating this process.
There ARE guarantees available. Data Vault Security is $2M.
- It is possible that a remote backup service provider could go out of business or be purchased, which may affect the accessibility of one's data or the cost to continue using the service.
If the software is well written, the backup company will only grow. Companies who have poor software and non-Guaranteed service will have difficulty staying in business!
- If encryption password is lost, no more data recovery will be possible. However with managed services this should not be a problem.
Who loses the key to their entire backup for their company and livelihood?
- Bandwidth issues - backing up a whole hard drive can take a lot of bandwidth, and many broadband customers are limited to 5GB-50GB a month. This would make backing up large amount of data (e.g. 200GB) every day impossible."
Only what is changed should be backed up. Also backups can be run overnight so this is not really any issue at all.
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