Data Backup
Data Backup can have a broad definition, but to us it means automatically saving a copy of the data apart from the original. Preferably in a separate location. And you can never have too many copies . . . just in case. Here are several options for keeping data safe:
On-Site Backup: keep local sets of daily, weekly, and monthly files on-site for fast retrieval
Off-Site Backup: complete copy or a subset of vital data off-site in case of a local disaster
Good Backups protect you from:
- Oops, didn't mean to delete or overwrite that
- A bug with the release of "App Pro 6.2.1" ate your files
- Break-ins, physical or electronic
- Hardware failures
- Fire, flood, lightning, etc
Data Sync
Syncing data with other computers is a good way to backup files, but often does not provide a history of changes, so it's a mirror copy of the original.
Dropbox is a great file synchronization service and they do offer 30 days of file history, but only with files in your Dropbox. Just copy files into your "Dropbox" folder and they are automatically synced with all the other computers in your group. It's perfect for roaming laptops and sharing files.
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Pro-Active Monitoring
Much of our time is spent taking pro-active measures to prevent real problems from occurring. It's not the most glorious task since it goes on behind the scenes, but we can advertise that many of our managed servers have been operating for years without a reboot or an outage.
Pro-active monitoring helps us head off the issues before our customers are aware of any problem. Periodic hardware verification and replacement keeps unexpected failures to a minimum. Software can also use a clean slate once in a while.
We monitor the servers, desktops, and network equipment for potential trouble spots or security concerns. Why wait until it breaks at the most inconvenient time? A little routine maintenance can drastically reduce costly and time sensitive repairs.
Documentation
As part of the service to our customers, we keep extensive documentation about network configuration, warranties, software licenses, etc. This information is often required to perform various tasks. If we collaborate with other IT professionals or staff, we are more than willing to provide access to the info or a subset of it. Our Docs section is where we store this information. The sensitive data requires two-factor authentication and uses client side AES-128 encryption.
We never ask for passwords, credit card info, or verify critical changes via email or IM. We will always obtain this info directly from authorized staff.
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