WebSync - Backups

Definitions

Backup: A backup or the process of backing up refers to making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. These additional copies are typically called "backups."

Data: All electronic personal or proprietary information that is stored or accessed at your facilities including but not limited to customer or consumer information. Only authorized personnel may use, store or access this information.

The different backup type

Complete

The objective of the full backup is to make a copy of all data to archive

Incremental

The incremental backup is to copy all the elements that have changed since the previous backup. This type of backup is more efficient than a full backup because it focuses only on modified files thus requiring less storage space, but requires previous backups to restore the full backup.

Differential

Differential backup focuses only on files modified since the last full backup, which makes it slower and requires more storage space than an incremental backup. It’s more reliable because only the last full backup is required to recover lost information.

Below are the scenarios found in many small (and medium) businesses and among self-employed.

Backup methods and strategies

1 - No backup strategy in place.

Risk level: High

Risk: Technical problems, loss of equipment, human error, theft, disaster.
Result: If one of the problems mentioned above occurs, you lose all your data; you must rebuild all your documents, contact list, archives, etc...

2 - Backups done on a daily, weekly or monthly or on CD / DVD, USB or external drive with the media being kept at the office or at home.

Risk level: Moderate - High

Risk: Loss of media, media damage, theft, disaster, inadequate media rotation.
Additional risk: Might forget to actually do the backup.

Results:

- If a technical problem occurs, you can recover your data as of the last good backup.
- If a disaster occurs in your office or home, you lose all your data; you must rebuild all your documents, contact list, archives.
- You may still lose some or all of your information if the backup tasks have been neglected for a certain period of time.
- You must pay an employee, or use some of your time to do your backups manually every day or every week.

3 - Backup made on a daily, weekly or monthly basis (either on CD / DVD, USB external disk), and the backup media is kept offsite for secure storage.

Risk level: Moderate

Risk: Loss of media, media damage, theft.
Additional risk = Might forget to actually do the backup or sending the media offsite.

Result:

- You must pay an employee, or use some of your time to do your backups manually every day or every week.
- You may still lose some or all of your information if the backup tasks have been neglected for a certain period of time.

WebSync is undoubtedly the best solution to enhance or replace current backup strategies while minimizing cost and reducing your overall risk.