Data Loss Prevention
Data loss is extremely disruptive to both individuals and
businesses and data recovery can be an expensive process.
It is therefore in your best interest to take the time and
invest the resources needed to prevent data loss. In general:
Back Up Your Systems
Whether you use a single notebook or desktop computer or
are responsible for the corporate server, backing up your
data is fundamental to prevent data loss. Backing up data
means making a copy of critical data onto some other media
and storing the backup separately from the main file set in use. (Learn more about backup strategies and tips.)
Practice Restoring From a Backup Before You Need It.
"My backup worked fine; however, the restore did not." This is an
old joke in the computer industry based on real-life disasters
where someone diligently used a backup routine for months or
years with no hint of errors, then were unable to restore the data
when they needed it. No one ever tested the backup to ensure
that if it were ever needed, the restored data would be usable.
Never Upgrade Without a Verified Backup
Before upgrading any system, perform a complete backup
and restore procedure. Many data recovery cases involve
upgrades gone wrong. Prove that you can quickly restore
the status quo before embarking on an upgrade.
Document Your Systems
- List your applications and ensure that you are regularly
backing up the data from all of them.
- Organize all original software and hardware
documentation and original copies of software.
Practice Preventative Physical Maintenance
- Keep the equipment under favorable environment
conditions regarding temperature and humidity
- Install protection from power outages and power surges.
- Clean the dust from the inside of your system.
- Clean tape and optical drives periodically with special
cleaning disks and tapes.
- Take ESD precautions.
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Practice Preventative Soft (Logical) Maintenance
- Delete unused/unneeded software and data files.
- Defragment your hard drive. (See Disk Defragmenter in
"Windows Help").
- Perform file systems checks. (See ScanDisk, CHKDSK,
FSCK in "Windows Help").
- Deploy anti-virus and firewall software and keep them
up-to-date. (Learn more about virus protection and security threats.)
Pay Attention to Alarms
Many hard drives and storage management software programs
provide "self-diagnostic" utilities to warn of impending or
actual failures while continuing to function. Do not ignore
these warnings. For example, a RAID server may sound an
alarm signaling that a drive has failed but will still serve
data since built-in redundancy automatically takes over. This
is intended to keep your system functioning while you replace
the failing or failed component, not as a permanent solution.
Pay Attention to Security
- Are your systems adequately protected from theft or
vandalism of the physical kind?
- Are your systems adequately protected from Internet
hackers or disgruntled employees?
Prepare for Physical Disasters
- Take precautions to prevent or mitigate physical disasters
such as fire,flood or explosions.
- Make a "disaster recovery plan." Where would you get the
necessary equipment to bring your system back up if your
current facilities were destroyed?
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