Back-up plan: implementing strategies for data loss prevention.

AuthorWhite, Rindi
PositionTELECOM & TECHNOLOGY

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ever had a power failure destroy a file that hadn't been saved. Lost precious photos when a hard drive tanked? Fought to rebuild a list of contacts when a cell phone unexpectedly quit working?

Losing data, especially irreplaceable or frequently used data, is frustrating. But what happens when the data lost is key to operating a business?

Statistics abound online about how many small or mid-size businesses fail after a natural disaster or a problem that forces their closure for 10 days or more. Unfortunately most of the numbers--such as 80 percent of businesses affected by a major incident close within 18 months without a contingency plan in place--have questionable provenance and some appear to be made up by companies that stand to benefit from such shocking statistics.

However, an article from KPMG, one of the four largest international professional services agencies in the world-and one of the "Big Four" firms that audit publicly traded companies--states that their research shows 40 percent of companies that suffer a major business disruption go out of business within two years.

Prevention

Scary statistics aside, any business owner can probably think of a few files that, if lost, might make doing business difficult. So where does one start when considering data storage options?

Mark Mathis, an account executive working with network infrastructure for Anchorage-based Arctic Information Technology, says there's no single solution for businesses to consider.

"This is not necessarily a simple conversation to have. There are several types of options," he says. "It's important to find a vendor ... who can walk you through these choices and find the right fit."

Bill Rondeau, a network engineer with Anchorage-based B2 Networks, says many companies evaluate their data storage solutions when making other hardware or software decisions. Perhaps they're incorporating new software that requires more space, are hiring additional employees or are opening a branch office.

"It's not necessarily the first problem (people contact us with), although it is something we can quickly evaluate," Rondeau says.

Businesses frequently consult with B2 Networks about their information technology, or IT, setup and, while doing so, B2 engineers consider the company's data storage setup and how they're backing up data. Degraded system performance, such as when a simple task takes longer than it used to, is one common sign the network is reaching the...

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