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Q |
Why backup? |
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Businesses depend more and more on the data stored in their computers, proper backups are becoming much more critical. The statistics speak for themselves:
• 7.5 times more data existed in 2004 than 1990
• 60% of that data is on PCs
• 96% of business PCs are not backed up regularly enough
• 10% of laptops are stolen every year
• 70% of tape restores fail first time
• 70% of companies fail after a major data loss
Source: IDC, DTI & Gartner
Remote backups accomplish several essential steps that are often overlooked or done improperly by other backup software especially non-automated tape backup systems |
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Q |
What is online backup? |
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Online backup works much in the same was as regular backups with one important difference, instead of sending backups to a tape or drive attached to the computers, online backup works by sending data over the internet connection to another computer in a remote location. It does this (usually) at night while the business is closed and nobody is using the computer. This is completely automatic. |
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Q |
What if we already have a tape/disk backup system? |
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Using both a tape backup system and a remote backup system offers the best of both worlds. Critical files like billing, customer contact files and databases can be kept on the online backup system. The tape system can be used to create a full backup of the entire file system, including program files once or twice a month. The remote backup system can provide a quick and easy way to retrieve critical files and databases without the hassle of searching through tapes. Also, if you do not regularly restore your tape backups how do you know that they are not corrupt? You would be surprised how many times one restores a tape only to find the information missing or worst case, corrupt!
70% of tape restores fail first time
Source: IDC, DTI I Gartner |
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Q |
How secure are remote backups? |
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In short, more secure than regular backups. Most backup software simply copies your data to a tape or hard drive which can be easily read if that media is lost or stolen. Our online backup service uses Military-grade encryption technology using an encryption key. This forms the key with which your data is scrambled to ensure that nobody can read your data without it. Your encrypted data is stored in our secure IBM data centre with security-pass access and where servers are contained in locked racks. |
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Q |
What is encryption? |
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Encryption is basically a mathematical formula that is used to scramble a data file. The only way to unscramble the file is with the proper encryption key. You have your own personal encryption key (i.e. your encryption key) that is known only to you. Like all passwords and keys, it is important that you keep it safe. |
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Q |
I have a large amount of data. Will this be OK? |
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If you have a large amount of data to backup, e.g. 100 gigabytes, then the initial backup is made to a local, portable hard drive and then transported to the storage server. This is because it would take a very long time to upload this amount of data across an average Internet connection. Once the data is in place at the remote location, the remote backup only backs up files that have changed in the local copy. |
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Q |
What do I need to do to run the daily backup? |
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Nothing! The actual backup process itself is fully automated. Once you have configured the time, frequency and list of files to be backed up into the client software, the actual backup will take place automatically. All you have to do is to ensure that your PC is turned on at the time the backup is scheduled. This can be during the evening when your computer is not is use or perhaps during a lunch break. The backup can even run when you are using your computer, however we recommend that its run at a time when your computer idle so that files you are working on can be properly backed up. |
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Q |
Why should I choose SecureCom Online Backup? |
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Unlike most other online backup systems only the changed data is saved. Initially a full backup of the data files are stored onto our IBM data centre, if any of the files are modified then the backup only stores the changes. The advantage of this method is the amount of new data that has to be uploaded to our servers, this is particularly important to users who are constantly on the road and only connect their laptop to the internet to grab their emails etc. Nobody wants to wait for ages while the backups are being done. |
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Q |
What happens if I lose or forget my password? |
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You can request the password to be reset by contacting Securecom. |
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What happens if I lose or forget my Encryption Key? |
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The encryption key is only known by you and therefore, unfortunately, if you lose or forget your encryption key your data is lost. Securecom or anyone else cannot retrieve your data without the encryption Key, it is your responsibility to keep this safe. |
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Q |
What is the benifit of a daily report against a weekly report? |
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With a daily report you will be notified of any changes to your internet security on a 24/7 basis. New vulnerabilities are found almost every day, so taking a daily service addresses those security issues almost immediately. |
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Q |
What happens if my Internet connection fails during a backup? |
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If a transmission is interrupted in the middle of a backup, the backup software client will attempt to re-establish a connection and resume the backup from where it was interrupted. |
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Q |
What if I turn my computer off and miss a backup? |
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If you occasionally forget to leave your computer on or go away on holiday and keep your computer switched off, this is not a problem. Our remote backup tool will simply resume your backup schedule when you power back up your system. |
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Q |
Can I backup my network? |
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Yes. We can configure your backup client software to backup files on a networked drive. |
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Q |
Can I backup more than one computer to my account? |
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No. Each computer that you wish to backup has its own data storage area, it becomes a very easy task locate any file or directory that you wish to recover. |
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Q |
Does the backup client software work if my company has a firewall? |
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The remote backup tool uses standard communication ports to access the server, the same that are used by your computer to access websites. If your firewall permits you to access websites, then you will definitely be able to access the remote backup server. |
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How often is my computer backed up? |
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As often as you wish, because you set up the time and frequency that works best for your schedule, however the default setting is once per day after 19:00. |
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Q |
How long does a backup take? |
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The size of your backup, speed of your Internet connection and amount of compressed data being transmitted will determine the length of time for the backup. Your initial backup will take the longest because it requires transmission of all data files in your backup set to the offsite data storage centre, subsequent backups should take a fraction of the as only the changes are stored. |
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How are files identified to be backed up? |
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When the backup starts a comparison is performed on the already saved file to the current file. If a change has been detected then only the bytes that have changed are stored. This is known as Byte-level patch incremental backup (Called Binary Patching), this minimise data transfer. It does not rely on the file date/timestamp as some applications such as databases, write directly into the file without changing the date/timestamp and therefore would not be marked to be backed up! |
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