This should be an integral part of all users’ defense and protections systems. It involves routinely copying critical and important files to a second medium – often a disk or a tape. The backed up data needs to kept in a safe location. At least one copy of the data should be kept offsite. There are services where backed up data can be sent offsite through the Internet.

The frequency of scheduling backups will vary from business to business depending on how much data is added and/or changed each day. Systems can include partial backups- which only copies files and data that have been changed since the last full system backup.  A full image backup is a snapshot of all files and data on a system at a particular point in time.

To restore lost or damaged data the technician would load the last full system backup and update this information by updating the system with each of the partial backups run since the last full backup.

Insight recommends that clients consider running a full image backup periodically which captures not only the data files but also all of the system operating software should the system have to be rebuilt from scratch.  This should be part of a comprehensive Data Recovery Plan for organizations and allows businesses to get back in operation quickly if a disaster strikes.