It is unlikely that you will install a backup & recovery system yourself but by knowing the following steps you will be aware of what the process is, in order to achieve a fully functioning system.
- You will need to agree upon an RPO, or Recovery Point Objective. The RPO is the time taken from the backup to any loss or failure occurring. The best possible objective would be achieved just before any loss took place. This means that the less time there is between backups the less information is lost.
- RTO, or Recovery Time Objective, means the amount of time taken to get the business functioning after loss of data or disaster has occurred.
- Security. It is important that the data is protected and that unauthorised access is prevented. For example, a bank has to protect its customers’ records and financial details. This protection must be ongoing even with backup data. Unauthorised access of customer records will be in breach of the Data Protection Act.
- Implementation. Using scheduling software will potentially eliminate the reliance upon human intervention, i.e. not forgetting to take a regular backup. Many systems have this facility as part of their functionality.
- Trust. Only use trusted personnel or suppliers who have a reputation that is ‘second to none’ to manage and handle the information.