Technology News from James Moore & Co.

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What Technology=20 articles would you like to read about? Please let us know. = Send=20 suggestions to John Sandy at JohnS@jmco.com

In next month's=20 issue....look forward to an introduction from John Sandy, = the newest=20 member of the ISC department at James Moore & Co, = P.L..


Moore=20 About Technology	August=20 2005

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A couple=20 months ago we touched on how to prepare your office for a = disaster.=20 Now we want to address the issue of protecting your data. = Regardless=20 of how large or small your business is, it will accumulate=20 information. The protection of that information from loss = due to=20 natural disaster or malicious acts is paramount. In a medium = to=20 large environment you will probably have a file server and a = managed=20 backup solution. Our goal is to discuss what are cost effect = measures for a small business to protect their digital = information=20 from loss.=20

First lets discuss a few of the key dangers your = information will=20 face:=20

Hardware failures: When your computer experiences a = mechanical=20 or electrical malfunction the computer may become = non-operational.=20
Virus: A malicious program that causes data loss = through=20 deletion or corruption.=20
Incorrect data entry: A user mistakenly enters bad or = faulty=20 information into a document and over- writes the original. =
Natural disaster: A tornado sweeps your office to Oz.=20
Un-natural disaster: an employee mistakenly leaves = his/her=20 laptop behind the car and backs over it.

No matter what the danger is, there are a few ways to = protect=20 your vital data. The following information will give you = several=20 choices for devices we can use to accomplish that task. (We = are not=20 endorsing any items but merely providing you with an idea of = what is=20 out there.)=20

Backup Device - Floppy Disk=20

Pro's - None=20
Con's - They fail often; Size limitations =

Backup=20 Device =96 CD-RW/DVD-RW=20

Pro's - Low Cost of Drive and Media; Minimum space = needed to=20 store backups; Long shelf life if properly stored; Ease of = use=20
Con=92s - CD / DVD discs are easily damaged if = mishandled; Slow=20 to backup and read; Size is usually to small for a full = system=20 backup

Backup Device =96 USB Memory Key=20

Pro's - Low cost; Quick data copy; Ease of use=20
Con's - Easily lost of damaged; Usually small; Not = considered=20 a permanent backup

Backup Device - USB = Connected Hard=20 Drive=20

Pro's - Can be fast; Not expensive; Usually one touch = backup=20 for entire computer=20
Con's - Still works from harddrive technology which = makes it=20 susceptible to hardware failure

Backup Device = - Tape=20 Drive=20

Pro's - Can backup entire system or multiple systems = if using=20 applicble software; Requires little interaction after job = setup=20 and scheduling are complete=20
Con's - Expensive; May require an experienced = technician to do=20 initial setup

Backup Device - Rev Drives=20

Pro's - Fast; Easily administered; Can be used with = more=20 advanced software; Easy to connect to most computers; Can = do=20 uncompressed backups and read files right from the disc=20
Con's - Expensive

Those are the most common options available. There are = multiple=20 manufacturers for most of these devices, except the Rev = drive that=20 is only made by Iomega. I would suggest getting assistance = to ensure=20 a cost effective solution is reached =96 but please get some = backup=20 solution to protect your information. Please feel free to = call James=20 Moore & Co., P.L. if you have any questions.=20

Planning A=20 Small Office Backup Strategy
(by Curtis=20 McCallister)