Three NAS Devices For Efficient Small-Office Backup
Bill O’Brien, writing for PC World, has a pretty detailed review on 3 NAS (plus one DAS) device for SMB backups. NAS devices are network attached storage, basically a hard drive array with a tiny operating system and a network card. The draw is that they can be configured and then added to your network and used from anyplace that has network access. This makes them great for file storage and the first stage of backups. DAS is direct attached storage, basically a USB drive.
NAS and DAS make great places to save files or do your initial backup. I would be remiss if I did not further recommend actually backing up offsite. Theft, fire etc at your office would make your NAS kindof useless.
HSBC fined for data loss
The BBC has a write up on HSBC getting hit with £3m in finesrelated to data loss. On 2 separate occasions, firms within HSBC sent unencrypted customer information via snail mail! The second instance, in February, 2008, represented 180,000 customer records of policyholders of HSBC Life.
Financial institutions are actually usually pretty good about following best practices. They almost always encrypt data and usually safeguard it quite well. These cases are actually probably indicators of an uneducated group of employees who weren’t following the guidelines set out by their firms.
These occurrences underscore the importance of having good policies to protect your data, including encryption of customer information during transmission (even very analog transmission via envelope and courier) and proper backups!
Data Domain valued at $2.2 Billion!
In the end, the bidding war between EMC and NetApp for Data Domain resulted in an all cash deal worth $2.2 Billion, with EMC Corp. as the proud new owner. That is a lot of money. The stockholders, including several VC firms stand to make a killing.
This really underscores the overall importance of backing up your data. On a much smaller scale, I read an interesting post over at the consumerist from a few months back. The gist is that a hard drive crashed, and despite the customer repeatedly stressing to the tech support how important the data was, nothing was backed up before being serviced. The takeaways are: 1. Back your stuff up in advance. Don’t wait for a failure or disaster to realize you need that data. 2. Be very choosey about who services your computer. In the end, the Best Buy evangelist team is taking care of this customer, but that wouldn’t happen to everyone.
NetApp and EMC in bidding war for Data Domain
Forbes has an article today about the run-up in the stock price of Data Domain. EMC and NetApp are the strong suitors here. Each sees a tremendous value to the technology and IP housed at Data Domain. Mostly known for de-duplication, Data Domain is a major player in backup, archiving and disaster recovery.
Excerpt from the Forbes/AP piece:
Investors bet that a higher offer is coming in the bidding war for Data Domain Inc., sending shares of the data storage company soaring Tuesday.
NetApp Inc., a Sunnyvale, Calif., company, offered $25 per share in cash and stock for Digital Domain on May 20, pegging the total value of the deal at $1.5 billion. Hopkinton, Mass.-based EMC Corp. ( EMC – news - people ) stepped in Monday with an all-cash offer of $30 per share, or $1.8 billion.
That is a lot of money people! It should underscore the importance of data management and backing up. We will also write an article for later about de-duplication.
Many Small and Mid-Sized Companies with Continuity Plans Still Ill-Prepared
This might not come as a surprise, but a lot of companies have a false sense of security and in some cases, the know they are deficient. This article has an interesting take and some stats:
Study Reveals Businesses are Deficient in Disaster Preparedness
Many Small and Mid-Sized Companies with Continuity Plans Still Ill-Prepared
CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–According to a recent survey, small and mid-sized businesses are woefully unprepared for disasters and misled by existing data backup plans.
The 2009 Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Survey was conducted by Agility Recovery Solutions and Hughes Marketing Group. More than 700 business owners and executives throughout North America participated. Among the highlights:
Data backup brings a false sense of security.
- 94% of companies have formal data backup plans.
- While 75% of companies say they can have their employees back to work within days of a disaster, only:
- 28% have access to alternative office space.
- 41% have access to mobile office space.
- 54% could acquire temporary office equipment.
- 57% have access to power generators.
Small and medium-sized businesses are woefully unprepared for disasters.
- 90% of smaller companies (<100 employees) surveyed spend less than one day per month maintaining their continuity plans.
- One in five (22%) spend no time maintaining their plans.
- Comparatively, 20% of larger companies (>100 employees) spend more than 10 days per month on their continuity plans.
Responses indicate a difference between saying the “right thing” and taking action.
- Gaining C-level buy-in is a challenge. Regardless of business size, survey results show many companies have difficulties getting C-level executives to embrace the importance of continuity planning.
- Although 67% of respondents feel an effective business continuity plan is paramount to company success, only 53% think their company’s management team feels the same way.
“A data backup plan is not the same as a disaster recovery plan,” said Bob Boyd, chief executive of Agility Recovery. “The best data in the world is useless if you can’t make use of it. Businesses must take measures to ensure employees can return to work immediately after a disaster. Without alternate plans, you’re business will pay the ultimate price.”
Complete survey results are available at www.AgilityRecovery.com.
About Agility Recovery Solutions
Agility Recovery offers on-site disaster recovery and business continuity services for small and mid-sized businesses throughout North America. If you have a disaster, Agility will deliver the power, technology, space and/or connectivity elements needed to recover. Visit www.AgilityRecovery.com for more information.