Let’s face it, the most important asset your business has is data – without it, your business could be lost. Given that, it’s surprising how many businesses don’t do enough to protect this incredibly valuable asset. Whether your business is small or large, it is imperative to have a data backup and recovery strategy in place so you’re not scrambling to put something together after a data loss or breach occurs. With such a plan, you can have your systems backed up and running quickly even in a worst-case scenario.
Here at my PC Techs, data backup and recovery are just two of the many computer maintenance functions we perform for our clients, from both a prevention and recovery perspective. Today’s blog will deal with the various types of data backup, how they are different, and the need to maintain and update your data on an ongoing basis; our next post will deal with the recovery process.
Overview
Let’s go over a few terms before we get too far into the types of backups. First off, a data backup is simply a copy of all your business’ records and data, stored in a storage system that is separate from your regular business operating system. This could be in the cloud, an off-site storage facility, or in a separate, on-site location. These backups can take many forms depending on what you are backing up, how secure it needs to be and how quickly you may need to retrieve it in the event of a data loss, hardware failure or theft. With the proper system, you will be able to restore data to your business computers or servers quickly, so your business is equipped to continue operating seamlessly.
Even the most comprehensive data backup and recovery plan is useless, however, if you don’t back up the data frequently – if you suffer a data loss event and the last backup was a week or 10 days prior, you have just taken a giant step backward.
Types of Backup
There are four primary types of backup, each of which has its own specific benefits and levels of security. These types of backup are data; system; database; and e-mail. Let’s take a closer look at each of these types of backup and exactly what each of them protects.
Data Backup
A data backup is exactly what it sounds like – it makes copies of your business’ files from their desktops or work stations and assures that data and information your company needs to operate is secure and available. Data backups are a good general solution to keep your business up and running in case of a data loss or breach, but does not back up your operating system, databases, or e-mail, any of which could be lost in a hard drive failure. It does, however, give your employees access to all their work files, and the primary cause of data loss is human error – accidentally deleting a file.
System Backup
While a data backup provides a baseline level of protection, a far more comprehensive solution is a system backup. This goes well beyond a standard data backup, saving operating systems, programs and settings as well. With a system backup, should you suffer from hardware failure or theft, a computer’s entire operating system can be restored including all the software and configurations. It also is an excellent tool to have in the event of a software upgrade: by constantly updating and saving your system settings, it allows you to implement changes in the system and know there is a reliable backup in place to protect you from crashes or accidental data loss. System updates are generally ran nightly and, in the event of a server with mirroring RAID drives, in real-time.
Database Backup
This is exactly what it sounds like – a copy of the back-end databases for your production software or servers. Any business that relies on a software solution to manage projects, accounting, or reaching out to clients or prospects on a regular basis should consider this type of backup. Like a system backup, this too is a “snapshot” backup that saves everything up to the moment of the last backup. With this type of backup, you also will have access to the backup to restore your database without affecting other system operations.
E-Mail Backup
E-mail is an extremely important communication tool for modern business. Most businesses use email heavily all day long, both to respond to incoming messages, as well as searching previous messages to recall prior conversations. And e-mail data is lost more often than you think, but not from servers crashing or hard drives failing. The most common way e-mail in formation is lost is by human error: accidentally hitting the delete button on an e-mail message or contact. To protect against this, my PC Techs recommends backing up your e-mail so your contacts, messages, calendars and other vital information can be retrieved in case of either a system failure or human error.
Which Backup Option is Best for Your Company?
Obviously if your budget allows it, implementing all these backup options provides your business the greatest security. The cost of these services varies depending on the size of your network. If you are looking for computers experts who are capable of helping you setup and manage the correct backup solutions for your business at a fair price, you’ve come to the right place. my PC Techs has delivered expert IT solutions you can trust for over 15 years and we can help develop, install, and implement a data backup and recovery plan that is capable of handling virtually any event.
Backup Help for Your Business
Give us a call today at 602-456-0150 for a free systems evaluation and get recommendations for a custom data, system, database and/or e-mail backup plan. We look forward to the opportunity to help!
How frustrating is it to be at your computer, just trying to get your work done, when all of a sudden you’re attacked by intrusive pop-ups? Sure, you might learn about the next big deal on hair removal products, but these distracting windows can prevent you from getting the job done.
If you are getting annoying little popups while you work there’s a good chance your computer has a virus or malware. This intrusive and often dangerous software should be removed by a computer expert. Like the ones at my PC Techs.
We provide Expert Technology Solutions You Can Trust.
You don’t have to know much about computers, all you need is our number. We can help!
Call my PC Techs at 602.456.0150 and get your work done faster.
Most companies today depend on technology to survive and most people make use of a computing device at some point every single day to get the job done. In an ever more connected world, people work together using a combination of computers, tablets, and smartphones over local and global computer networks. It’s a fact that technology has changed the game for modern business, and the company with the best technology wins, allowing employees to work faster and more efficiently than competitors.
What’s the best way for you, the modern business owner, to manage the critical technology for your business? There are a couple of different options. First, you can let Joe, the ‘shade tree tech’ who works in HR, handle all of the technology issues. Second, you can hire a full time Information Technology Specialist. And third, you can hire a professional outside computer consulting company to handle the technology side of your business. Let’s briefly examine the pros and cons of all three options:
Enlisting a Non-Technical Employee
Pros:
Cons:
This is the lowest cost solution
Asking someone who is not technically inclined to do technical work can easily frustrate them, leading to an unhappy worker
Problems are often resolved the wrong way, what seems like a working fix at the time eventually leads to larger and more costly problems
Without detailed knowledge of the latest trends in the technology industry, these types of workers are unable to provide good input on hardware or software upgrades that can help your business run faster to remain competitive
Smaller jobs may be completed quickly, such as clearing a jammed printer, but projects that exceed this workers computer experience will take five to ten times longer to resolve than the time it would take a trained professional to do the same
They are unable to perform their main job functions while messing around with technical issues
Hiring a Full-Time Technology Worker
Pros:
Cons:
You usually receive a high level of technical support
Your business can stay abreast of new changes in technology to help remain competitive
This solution costs the most to sustain, since technology employees are specialized and annual wages to retain them are high
For most small businesses under twenty employees, your technical worker will not have enough work to justify a full days salary
Without someone already on staff with a background in technology, finding and hiring the right candidates for the job can become difficult and time consuming
If this worker leaves unexpectedly, they can leave your business in a very tough spot
Hiring to a Computer Consulting Company
Pros:
Cons:
This solution costs significantly less than a full-time employee, for as little as $3,800 per year you can keep your technology infrastructure running smoothly
You don’t have the overhead associated with employing or managing a full-time worker
The level of technical support you receive is often higher than that of an in-house staff, since the computer professionals you will be dealing with often have many years of in-depth hands on experience
A technology consultant has access to resources on his team that you don’t get with a single employee, including sophisticated tools, training materials, and additional technology specialists who can assist them with projects when necessary
Even when employees change, your IT infrastructure is safe
Your business remains highly competitive, as you’re dealing with IT professionals who work with dozens of businesses each year and know about all of the latest productivity enhancing hardware and software solutions available
Their up to date training includes many of the latest mobile apps that can help mobilize your workforce via smartphones, tablets, and the cloud
Finding a reliable company can be difficult
For most small to medium size offices the choice between a non-technical employee, a full-time technical employee, or a technology consulting firm should be a no-brainer. At going rates an outside IT firm can save your business $44,000 per year in operating expense vs. hiring a full-time employee. An outside IT company also provides the security of knowing that your critical IT infrastructure is safely managed by trained professionals.
What would one day of down-time going to cost you? What would one week cost? It’s not necessary for you to find out! For a minimal investment, an IT support company like my PC Techs can come into your Phoenix area office once a week or once a month and perform routine server maintenance, computer maintenance, and make sure the network and systems are running optimally. Beyond that, your expert computer technicians can provide group training on new software, help upgrade existing software to newer and faster versions, and provide consultation on how to spend technology budget in a way that provides the best bang for the buck.
Save time, save money, and increase productivity by hiring the experts at my PC Techs to maximize your uptime! Call (602) 456-0150 to schedule a free consultation today.
Are you a Technology Junkie and like to play with different kinds of devices?
Do you like to tinker with computers and load the latest software releases?
Have you ever used a Mac?
Do you upgrade to the latest smart phone when it is released?
Are you the the guy they call when friends and family have computer problems?
If you’ve answered yes to all the above, we are looking for you!
We are seeking a friendly Business Technology Consultant. You should have excellent customer service skills and enjoy helping customers with technology challenges. You will be visiting clients throughout the Phoenix metro area.
Submit your resume today to jobs@mypctechs.com, we will be scheduling interviews immediately.
No phone calls, submit your resume for review. Must be local to the Phoenix area.
my PC Techs is a locally owned team of information technology professionals based in Phoenix, Arizona, near Chandler Blvd. and the I-10. Our team is comprised of computer experts with many years of hands-on experience and we are currently searching for a fellow technology guru to join our family. The right person for this job enjoys a challenge, has fun working with computers, is social and enjoys meeting new people, is quick and responsive, and will appreciate our organizational culture of providing an honest service to help people better their lives through technology.
This is a mobile support, contract to hire position. You will service business and residential clients at home, in their office, or remotely throughout the Phoenix area. We repair computer hardware and software for residential and commercial clients, and provide a complete range of business IT Support services, including consulting, upgrading, and server administration. Your primary job function will include the following desktop, laptop, and server duties: Computer repair, computer installation networking, software configuration, software installation, virus removal, user and email management, training, and general IT support.
We have grown rapidly throughout the recession and have experienced even greater growth thus far in 2011. As a firm that deeply values our team members, you will be in an excellent position to share in this success as our operations continue to expand.
Requirements:
5+ Years of hands-on computer repair experience
MAC experience A+
For the right person, this could very well be the most rewarding job you’ve ever had.
WE WORK HARD FOR YOU, BUT DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT! We've helped over 1,000 satisfied businesses throughout the Phoenix valley, click here to view some of their testimonials:
Managed IT and Computer Repair services for these Arizona cities: Ahwatukee, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, Chandler Heights, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Higley, Laveen, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe
To learn how Managed IT and Computer Repair services can help your Phoenix area business save money and increase productivity, click here to visit Phoenix Computer Repairs.
my PC Techs | Expert IT and Computer Repair Solutions You Can Trust | (602) 456-0150
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Let’s face it, the most important asset your business has is data – without it, your business could be lost. Given that, it’s surprising how many businesses don’t do enough to protect this incredibly valuable asset. Whether your business is small or large, it is imperative to have a data backup and recovery strategy in place so you’re not scrambling to put something together after a data loss or breach occurs. With such a plan, you can have your systems backed up and running quickly even in a worst-case scenario.
Most companies today depend on technology to survive and most people make use of a computing device at some point every single day to get the job done. In an ever more connected world, people work together using a combination of computers, tablets, and smartphones over local and global computer networks. It’s a fact that technology has changed the game for modern business, and the company with the best technology wins, allowing employees to work faster and more efficiently than competitors.
