When a Storm Comes, Forget the Candles, Backup Your Data!
As hurricane Sandy began pummeling our nation’s capitol last night, and as everyone was busy buying batteries, candles, and water, I was reminded of data backup storage.
As a species we’ve been wired to adapt to no electricity or hot water for a good number of days. We’re used to it: It wasn’t until 1891 that the White House was wired, and even then President Benjamin Harrison was too afraid to use the light switches. However, we are not wired to deal without our data. Collecting data and knowing it’s going to be there whenever we boot up our computer, tablet or smart phone – sunshine or rain – is relatively new.
So as hurricane Sandy swirled her way toward us with 75 mph winds, my biggest fear was losing my data. Thankfully, as everyone else waited in line at Wal-Mart yesterday, I spent my time ensuring my most valuable asset, my personal data, was backed up.
No matter how dreadful my worst nightmares are about losing my personal data, I can always get it back because I took the necessary precautions - however painful those hours spent on hold listening to the same dreary song on repeat will be.
But, imagine if your agency’s data is lost because Sandy ripped electrical poles out of the ground and tossed them 100 miles toward Maryland. There’s very little that can be done if your electricity goes out and your hard drives fail.
Thankfully, companies like Symantec, offer not only backup platforms, but data recovery options too. When Sandy has fully passed, unfortunate IT professionals will begin preparing an email to their director explaining why priceless data has disappeared, while the well prepared will simply boot up their computer as usual and spend their time sending pictures of the destruction they managed to avoid.
Photo courtesy of TotallyCoolPix.com.
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