subject: Windows backup, how backed up are you? [print this page] Windows backup, how backed up are you? Windows backup, how backed up are you?
Server backup - Are you in the habit?
We all know how important flossing is, yet how many people actually do so on a regular basis? What about making a regular back up of ones computer files, programs and operating systems? Common knowledge ... Sure, common practice, debatable! So here's the crucial question, are your backups occuring more frequently than your flossing routing? Just as it is advisable to perform a Windows backup regulary, it is also critical to perform a test restore regulary to ensure that the backups are actually sound. When last was a complete file restore done on your desktops and servers to see how well a real restoration would perform?
Windows backup software such as the ShadowProtect range of backup software from StorageCraft Technology Corporation helps create an exact copy of the hard drive (regularly and as often as every 15 minutes though its incremental backup feature). When the original data accidentally becomes inaccessible, sometimes due to hard disk malfunction, file deletion, malware, viruses, or any other cause, it will be possible for ShadowProtect to simply restore the data. Here is the amazing part, it can restore to the same machine, brand new computer (even if it is a different brand or version of Windows), or to a virtual machine. There are many virtual machines on the market that work with out of the box integration with ShadowProtect. VM software includes VMWare, Sun Microsystems' VitualBox and more.
The storage medium can be an external hard drive, a NAS or SAN, both onsite or offsite storage. Storage devices as well as backup software solutions have really become very affordable in recent times that there really is no excuse to not have a frequent Windows backup at least a few times per day.
ShadowProtect backup software works as follows:
Full backup: Initially one would want to create a full backup to create a base image to work from. This full backup an exact mirror of the hard drive. Including operating system settings, program settings, files, folders etc ...literally everything.
Incremental back ups: ShadowProtect can be scheduled to automatically search for and back up files that have been created or changed since the previous incremental back up. The ImageManager feature checks to see that each incremental is valid so there will be no broken links in the backup chain. Many other software products don't do this very well, but ShadowProtect is awesome at it!
Not only is it wise to regularly back up one's desktops, laptops and servers, the consequences of not doing so could be detrimental to one's personal files or to a business or corporation. Hopefully this article serves as a good reminder to test one's disaster recovery software regularly is helpful.
