System Backups 

If the first line of defence in a disaster recovery solution is protecting the data, the second is undoubtedly protecting the application. By itself, the data provides a means for recovery – in time – however in reality the data doesn't exist in isolation.  

For instance if you have a mail server, such as Microsoft Exchange, then if the Exchange application is not operational users will be unable to access the contents of their mailbox and further the organisation will be unable to send or receive e-mail. Similarly if an organisation's main line-of-business application utilises a database like Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle or SAP; then unless the actual database application is functional business operations will be severely disrupted as users will not be able to access the data contained within the database. Even 'simple' files such as documents and spreadsheets are normally stored on a network drive on a file server, if the file server is "down" then again the data is inaccessible. 

In the preceding section we discussed Data Backups, which are typically performed at least daily. There is a second type of backup known as a System Backup, which unlike a Data backup copies the operating system, the registry and installed applications. Only a System Backup can restore a "broken" computer to an operational state, in the event that a computer will no longer start-up or one of the applications is no longer operational. 

We can supply and install the necessary equipment to allow you to perform System Backups of your servers (or important workstations). Contact us for details.

Data Recovery and Disaster Recovery