Remote Data Backup Services
Remote Backup is the process of moving a copy of critical data from one computer to another to provide safe offsite data storage. It is increasingly being used as an alternative to expensive and problematic tape drives, but also to supplement their use.
Traditionally, in large companies with data centers, copies of backup data are written onto tapes and taken offsite for storage. Some companies who specialized in storing paper documents also stored computer tapes. Then, more specialized companies were built around tape transport and storage. Because of the cost of physically moving the tapes, these companies explored data transfer by way of telephone lines.
Today millions of PCs and networks have critical data stored on them, yet rarely do users make any provision to transfer data offsite. Inexpensive broadband Internet connections are everywhere. Transferring backup data electronically is now technically practicable and very cost-effective.
An informal study estimates that only 5 to 15 percent of PC users backup their data regularly. Less than one quarter of those take the data offsite. The number of small companies relying on computers is expanding geometrically. It’s difficult these days to find a company that isn’t using a microcomputer. Most of these companies are not doing proper backups.
High speed Internet connections are getting faster and cheaper. Broadband Internet connections like Cable Modem, DSL and satellite cover most of the Cyprus and developed nations at prices as low as 40 euro a month. These high data transmission rates and low prices were unheard of only four years ago.
Telephone companies are replacing many of their local and long-distance lines with fiber-optic lines capable of extremely high-speed, error-free transmission over long distances, virtually immune to interference from storms, water, and electrical disturbance. High speed digital lines are now available for about the same price as regular telephone lines.
Hard drives are getting bigger and cheaper. Many businesses, unable to afford large drives a few years ago were frugal in their conservation of disk storage space. Smaller files were easier to back up (even to diskettes) and required less backup media. With prices on large hard drives dropping fast, companies are buying larger drives and maintaining more data on-line. These bigger files require more backup media and different backup protocol. Many companies decide it’s too much trouble. Unfortunately, larger files mean more data to lose.
In many organizations, the essential task of data backup is often overlooked or incomplete. Some companies choose tapes or zip cartridges to perform this function. However, the main risk of using tape systems is that they can break, while appearing to be working. All indications are that backups were successful, until they try to restore.
Unfortunately, viruses spread, hard drives fail, disasters happen, and human error is inevitable. Even theft or intentional sabotage of irreplaceable data by a disgruntled employee is common. So, the question becomes not IF you have a significant data loss, but WHEN you have a significant data loss.
VLToolbox will offer Remote Backup services to the general public. Our service automatically sends secure copies of critical computer data to offsite storage in a protected Server Center. Data are compressed, encrypted, and protected from viruses.
Only the Customer can view the data. Data are transmitted and stored on VLToolbox Servers in a format that is readable only by the Customer, using his own Encryption Key. VLToolbox will store multiple full copies of the data, which the Customer can restore at will from his own computer, without help from VLToolbox.
