- Data loss is a widespread, but preventable.
- Software is available to automatically backup your important data.
- Physical media is not a reliable means to backup data.
- Be prepared to wipe your device. Data should never reside only on a single piece of equipment.
- Storing your data on Google Drive can mitigate data loss, should your computer become compromised.
Hardware fails. Devices are lost or misplaced. Viruses and other threats corrupt systems. These events can all lead to lost information – sometimes irreplaceably. More than $1.7 trillion is lost annually due to data loss and downtime, according to a study by EMC, a disaster recovery firm. Moreover, EMC reports that the incidence of data loss has increased 400% since 2012.
Enterprise level backup systems are currently the most robust option. Storing data in Google Drive and engaging with products like CrashPlan, a file backup service supported by Colgate, provide layers of redundancy to protect your data. These options store data in centers with reliable backup strategies and physical security.
A backup strategy can prevent the heartache of lost data and expedite recovery. Before diving in, it is important to ensure that where you backup is a safe and secure environment and that you are backing up frequently enough to protect current information. An important part of your backup plan is to test that you can find and recover files, at least on an annual basis or after a major change.
Twenty years ago, diskettes were the primary backup tool. Then came CDs and DVDs and external hard drives. The problem with physical media is that it too can be lost or damaged, particularly when stored in the same space as the original. Media also has a finite lifetime, whose demise can be accelerated depending on storage and care. While external drives are better than physical media, they too can suffer failures and corruption or damage that affects an entire location.
Mobile devices are also at risk. Sync devices to a computer frequently to ensure your mobile data is preserved. Ensure that your synced data is included in your backup solution for that computer.
For more information, contact the ITS Help Desk at extension 7111 or email ITSHelp@colgate.edu.
Contributors: Ellen Holm, Ahmad Khazaee, Kevin Lynch and Mark Hine.