Business owners frequently assume that “data backup” fully protects their company from a disaster such as a server failure; however this is not always the case. To better understand how well protected you are, you must first understand what you are currently backing up and what that data means with regard to how quickly you can be up and running again in the event of a disaster.
Data Backup is just as it sounds; you are backing up the critical files, documents, media and anything else you save to your servers. While this sounds like it is everything you could need in the event of a failure, simply saving the data on your system could still leave you with major problems in the event of a failure. Because none of the System State data (ex. software, configurations, etc) is being recorded, it can take up to 35 hours of technician time to get your network up and running again. That’s up to four days without your server or a fully operating network. If that doesn’t concern you, you can probably stop reading now.
You’re still here? Fantastic! Let’s talk about how to reduce the recovery time and the cost of technician hours! As mentioned above, Data Backup protects the data on your network, but it doesn’t give the technician any information about how your network was set up before the failure. This means all of that information needs to be pieced together, and that can take a lot of time. Being proactive now instead of reacting later can save you a lot of money in both tech time and lost productivity and including the System State in your backup can cut the time to get back up and running in half to 16 hours. Anyone who has ever experienced a network failure can tell you that those two days are significant, especially when the small additional cost will save you thousands in the event of a disaster.
If two days without a fully functioning network is still not acceptable, going with a full Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) package is probably the best solution. The package offered by Phoenix Technology captures a full “image” of your network and can have you back up and running as if nothing had happened in as little as two hours. This solution also comes with a detailed Disaster Recovery plan for how to get the company’s network up and running again in the event of a fire, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster, which can be a very valuable tool to have in place.
It is worth noting the first two options rely on the user to determine which files and folders are backed up. This can lead to problems if certain files or information is overlooked, and also means it is necessary to evaluate which data is backed up with each new application that is installed. None of these steps are necessary with a BDR solution, greatly reducing these headaches.
Ultimately, it is up to the business to take into account what is important in order to determine which level of service they need. If the server is not particularly important to the operation of the business, simple Data Backup may be the best solution. For those businesses that rely on their server to operate, the Data and System State is a better answer. BDR is the most comprehensive and robust service and can not only help get a server running quickly in the event of a failure, but also lays the groundwork for a path to recovery in the event of a major disaster.
If you would like to know how long it would take to get your business up and running again after a failure, Phoenix Technology is offering a free analysis. We’ll look at the information you are currently backing up to determine your recovery time and recommend the best way to protect your business through November 15!
- Jon Holewa
Phoenix Technology
How long would it take your business recover after a failure? Email us for more info! : info@phoenixtechnology.us
