Losing critical company or personal data – through hardware meltdowns, accidental deletions or malicious hackers – can range from frustrating to catastrophic.
- Without recent invoice backups, an accounting mix-up could critically disrupt client cash flow.
- Without properly archived pivot tables, months of analytics modeling could vanish instantly.
- Without replicated customer data assets, a startup‘s entire business model could collapse overnight.
Yet research shows only 29% of small firms have recovery time objectives for critical systems data, and less than half appropriately test existing backups.
But protecting your precious digital assets doesn’t need to overwhelm or confuse. Together, we’ll unpack 7 major data backup types – from old school tape drives to real-time cloud mirrors. With crystal-clear explanations plus insider tips from over a decade managing enterprise data, I’ve got you covered!
Let‘s start with an aerial view before diving into storage trench details.
Data Backup 101
Data backups capture and copy information at specified intervals from a primary data source to alternate storage locations. So what exactly are we protecting ourselves against here?
Threat Forces Aligning Against Your Data
No matter how meticulous or Tech-savvy, thedata loss forces collectively array against your systems would terrify any IT manager.
Just a handful to keep you up at night — or diligently backing up.
- Hardware Headaches: From faulty disks to detached SAN cables to buggy NIC chips, over half of data loss crises relate to failing equipment.
- Human Head-Scratchers: Accidental deletions, incorrectly programmed scripts, premature drive wipes — ‘uh-ohs‘ from distracted or under-trained staff prove inescapable (don‘t worry, I‘ve accidentally deleted entire databases before).
- Hacker Horror Shows: Ransomware, DDoS attacks and malicious deletions fear no firewall. When cyber gangsters penetrate defenses to lock files or halt critical systems, recovery hinges wholly on backups untainted by spreading malware.
- Disaster Domino Effects: Hurricanes, fires, burst pipes — when nature goes haywire, recovery depends on offsite backups unscathed by facility flood damage.
Now multiply the risk of any single event by unrelenting data growth across devices, apps and users outside IT oversight. Over 80% of companies anticipate data volumes expanding 25-50% annually.
The stakes have never been higher to get backup planning right.
Thankfully, today‘s backup technologies let us cost-effectively counter the threats…as soon as we understand available options.
We‘ll unpack the key flavors momentarily. Before then, let‘s cover….
4 Fundamentals to Data Backup Zen
1. Determine backup scope – Which systems, servers, devices and file types make the cut based on sensitivity, regulation and value?
2. Set backup frequency – Hourly changes? Nightly system images? Monthly archives? Align backup types and schedules to operational needs.
3. Follow best practices – Validate completeness via checks, test restoration processes, store backups offsite, etc. Too few companies actually do this today!
4. Securely automate – Eliminate reliance on people remembering to manually click "Backup!" Program retention policies, schedules, storage rules.
That‘s the 30k foot backup view! Let‘s pinpoint options for safeguarding those precious bytes.
Backup Technology 1: Tried and True Full Backups
If data‘s your dog, full backups take a lifelike plaster cast mold – exact and comprehensive.
Full backups incorporate complete copies of ALL selected data from a designated point in time. This typically includes:
- Operating systems
- Applications and software configs
- Every designated file and/or database
- User settings, permissions, metadata
In my early days as a solo IT consultant, full backups were my old faithful standby. Just slap a tape in the drive after hours and let ‘er rip! Grandpa-approved, if a bit dusty by today‘s standards.
But with data now dubbed "the new oil" across industries, full backups still deliver simplicity and assurance for many.
The Full Breakdown on Full Backups
Benefits
- Restore Simply – No worrying about incremental chains. Just reload latest full backup from disk/tape/cloud.
- Retains Integrity – Complete system pictures allow clean OS reloads.
- Predictable Storage – Forecast needs from consistent full copy sizes.
Limitations
- Slow + Big – Full backups for busy/big data require ample time windows and storage capacity.
- Strains Systems – Servers choked up committing complete data snapshots to storage disks/tapes.
- Overkill For Some – Fully backing up minor daily changes often unnecessary.
Ideal For
- Small/medium datasets
- Systems with longer retention needs
- Applications requiring seamless restores
- Minimizing backup management complexity
Industry Examples
- Law firms backing up case files
- Companies archiving old financial records
- Small retailers backing up basic POS systems
Now let‘s get into…
Backup Technology 2: Incremental Data Backup
Like obsessively snapping photos to capture every moment from that European vacation, incremental backups capture daily data changes since the last backup instance.
Incremental approaches only archive files demonstrating assigned metadata changes since the past backup cycle. This might entail:
- File timestamp alterations
- File size growth
- Adjusted permissions
- Content additions/deletions
So rather than overwriting full data snapshots, incremental processes:
- Mark existing files with archive bit flags as already backed up
- Backup new/altered files by clearing archive flags
- Repeat the process per defined schedule
This saves considerable capacity versus repeats full backups. It also prevents repeatedly backing up unchanged data.
Assessing Incremental Backup Merits
Benefits
- Conserves capacity not re-backing all data
- Faster cycles backing up less cumulative data
- Resource-friendly not reprocessing all files
Limitations
- No standalone restore capability
- Chained backup dependency slows restores
- Complex data orchestration and checks needed
Works Best For
- Larger, continually changing data sets
- Constrained storage budgets/capacities
- Longer retention requirements
- Priority on minimizing backup windows
Common Applications
- Transactional data in banking
- Evolving patient medical records
- Supply chain inventory management
Now, let‘s move on to preferential cousin improving on incremental limitations…..
Backup Approach #3: Differential Backups
Differential backups blend strengths of full and incremental options, while mitigating limitations of both.
These processes backup all data altered since the last full backup instance based on archive bit tracking. This enables consolidating all changes since the last full backup into a single differential file.
Restoring data then involves just reloading the last full backup, then overlaying the most recent differential file to replay all changes since the full instance.
Let‘s analyze the differential difference.
Balance of Benefits
Pros
- Faster than running full backups
- Reduces capacity demands significantly
- Consolidates changes into single file
Cons
- Still requires full restoration then diffs
- Potential for large diff files over time
- Added complexity over full backups
Best For
- Growing data volumes with continual changes
- Require abbreviated backup cycles
- Lean storage budgets
Use Cases
- Remote office data replicated to headquarters
- Database log backups combined with monthly full backups
- Enterprise email archives backing up continual increases
Onward for mirror imaging and RAID backup approaches!
Backup Option 4: Mirror Backups
Unlike backing up to secondary storage disks, mirror backups simultaneously write data copies to paired storage volumes in real-time. This is commonly referred to as RAID-1 (Redundant Array of Independent Disks).
The simultaneous write approach constantly maintains two identical data copies. If one disk fails outright, zero data goes missing! Operations instantly cut over to the surviving mirror disk with no outages.
While technically RAID-1 fits under data availability more than backup, it serves a backup function by eliminating single points of failure. Compared to backup intervals, mirroring offers continous protection.
For context, RAID originally evolved for servers needing enhanced disk performance OR fault tolerance. But RAID-1 specifically focuses on fault tolerance by duplicating data across disks.
Doubling Down on RAID-1
Let‘s analyze the mirror mirror on the wall.
Advantages
- Real-time copies with continuous availability
- Instant cutover if disk failures
- Simple to deploy and manage
- No performance impact
Disadvantages
- Costly to duplicate storage capacity
- Lacks historical version recovery
- Rebuilding mirrors adds server load
- Bound by disk size limitations
Best For
- Smaller data sets needing 24/7 uptime
*Localized redundancy to sustain operations
Use Cases
- ATMs and remote kiosks
- Communications systems
- On-site medical devices
For more expansive redundancy, let‘s ascend backup to the cloud!
Backup Option 5: Cloud Backup
Instead of tapes, disks and local servers, cloud backup solutions transmit data to managed, remote cloud providers. These fully managed platforms handle everything related to storage, security, availability and data integrity.
IaaS providers like Amazon AWS offer robust backup/recovery tools natively integrated with cloud server options. Platforms like Acronis, Carbonite and Datto also focus specifically on cloud data protection.
Getting Your Head in the Cloud
Let‘s float those files to the cloud!
Benefits
- No local storage/hardware needed
- Protection against site disasters
- Global availability based on cloud scale
Limitations
- Reliant on internet connectivity
- Cloud provider security and compliance variable
- Potential bandwidth impacts on backups
Ideal For
- Distributed workforces and data
- High scalability needs
- Buying over building data infrastructure
Use Cases
- Rapidly scaling SaaS companies
- Remote office data protection
- System standbys/failover for on-premise
Now let‘s revisit local backup options for when cloud isn‘t in the forecast…
Backup Option 6: Local Data Backup
Local backups directly connect storage devices to servers via NAS, SAN or direct-attached configurations. Compared to cloud storage round trips, local backup eliminates internet dependencies while potentially improving reliability and recovery speeds.
Common local backup hardware includes:
- External hard drives
- High capacity tape drives
- Attached backup disks
- SAN-connected storage arrays
For businesses needing cloud alternatives balancing control, responsiveness and costs, local wins out.
Weighing Local Backup Merits
Let‘s consider use cases where keeping data local makes sense.
Advantages
- Internal infrastructure reliance
- Better performance than clouds
- Lower costs than cloud subscriptions
Disadvantages
- Vulnerable to same site disasters
- Storage capacity restrictions
- More hands-on management
Ideal For
- Tighter user control requirements
- Faster backup and recovery needs
- Existing unused storage capacity
Use Cases
- Small office redundant storage
- Short-term backup storage targets
- Archives transferred less frequently to tapes
For resuscitating crashed systems, let‘s wrap with failback capabilities!
Onsite Failback Capabilities
Beyond routine backups, organizations must architect infrastructure to restore business functionality ASAP amid outages. For incidents crippling onsite systems, offsite failover and failback offer last-resort mitigation.
The failover process transfers site operations to designated offsite infrastructure in event of primary systems failures. This might entail:
- Reassigning DNS routes to offsite servers
- Transferring large数据集
- Reconfiguring communications
- Rebuilding affected servers/apps
Once underlying causes remediate (i.e. flood damage cleanup), the failback processes transitions site operations back to the original or new primary on-premise infrastructure.
The Failback Breakdown
Let‘s review failback/failover scenarios.
Advantages
- Shields against location-specific disasters
- Provides last-resort redundancy
Disadvantages
- Substantial orchestration complexity
- Requires regular testing to perfect
- Extended outages if gaps exist
Ideal For
- Mission-critical onsite infrastructure
- Covering primary site vulnerabilities
Use Cases
While most organizations will leverage cloud or disaster recovery platforms for convenience, companies with custom-built onsite apps may architect failover capabilities using backups running on identical offsite infrastructure. Think ecommerce package sortation running on proprietary logistics apps, where restoring on generic platforms proves impossible.
Let‘s Restore Some Sanity!
While we covered critical ground together on backup options and strategy, don‘t let uncertainty slow your progress.
Follow these 3 steps to get started NOW:
1. Document Everything Needing Protection
Map out all business systems, operations and infrastructure. Pinpoint applications, databases, file shares and devices housing data requiring backup.
2. Estimate Backup Frequency Needs
Profile how often core data changes shape day-to-day. This helps dictate ideal backup intervals, whether hourly for fast-changing sources or nightly/weekly for more static data.
3. Right-size Backup Targets
Choose backup targets balancing retention needs, recovery speed, infrastructure costs and data security concerns. An amalgamated approach often proves smartest.
And remember, even an imperfect data backup running consistently outweighs no backup at all! Let uncertainty or complexity paralysis your progress no longer.
Now if any aspect still proves confusing, I‘m just an email away. Let me know how else I can help in your backup quest!
