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There are two types of computer dependent business’s -
Those who have lost important data, and those who will.
If your business was to suffer a major disaster like a fire, flood or burglary could you cope?
Consider this: If your computer systems failed, were stolen or destroyed by fire -
- How would you know who owes you money?
- Where would you get your most up to date list of client’s details from?
- Where would you get your most up to date list of supplier’s details from?
- How would you pay staff?
- How would you sort out the VAT return?
- How would you continue in business?
It is common to downsize staff and to have to do more with less. Most often, the backup will be what doesn’t get done because someone is busy with another project and doesn’t have time or forgets because he/she has too much to do.
That long-term employee you had to let go after 12 years gets disgruntled and erases some data on the last day at the office as a little gesture of you hurt me, I’ll hurt you. Do not be mistaken, this happens more than you would imagine!
An employee takes the backup home so it’s offsite. But, did you know that they have been secretly planning on starting a company to compete with you? And thanks to you, they now have everything they need to do just that!
There are very few things, fortunately, that can bring a company to its knees in less than 24 hours. But data loss or destruction is most certainly one of them. Data is your most important strategic asset, regardless of the business or industry you are in. Whether your business is three years old or 30 years old, many talented people, you included, have worked hard to get to where you are. Don’t put the whole business at risk.
Most small businesses put their lives on the line every night and don't realise it. With businesses depending more and more on the data stored in their computers, proper backups are becoming much more critical. Offsite backups accomplish several essential steps that are often overlooked or done improperly by other backup software - especially the regular non-automated backup systems.
Online (offsite) backups work basically like normal backups, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer that is being backed up, an online backup sends it over the Internet to another computer safely offsite. It does this (usually) at night while the business is closed and no one is using the computer systems. It's completely automatic. In fact, you would even forget it's working every night but for the email notification from the system confirming that the backup has taken place and listing which files have been backed up.
TopLogic offers its Online Data Backup Service using secure, user-friendly software. The software is designed to copy versions of your important files to a private, secure location on a scheduled basis, or on-demand when you have added important files that you want protected. While the data does travel over an Internet connection, it is securely wrapped in an impenetrable 448-bit encrypted envelope to prevent any chance of unauthorised access.
With our Online Backup Service you get:
- 24 hour-a-day access to your data using any Internet connection.
- Off-site, encrypted, secure storage.
- Automated, background backups.
- Storage of multiple versions of your most valuable files .
- No local storage devices to configure or extra media to buy.
- Email notification from the system confirming the backup.
If you have a working Internet connection for your Network Server, PC or Laptop, you can use TopLogic's Online Data Backup Service to keep your important files safe from disaster on a daily basis. The service saves each revision of your files, so you can always restore the latest, or any of the previous backed up versions (up to 999 Months of backed up Data)!
Provided you have some form of connection to the outside world from your computer whether it be a standard dial up, ISDN, broadband ADSL, SDSL or leased lines we can provide you with a service. Obviously the more data you have to transfer the more beneficial a fast communication link will be. With the explosion of broadband services and businesses generally investing in fast communication links this has opened up opportunities to transfer large amounts of data electronically.
In the event of failures in the communication link the backup process is automatically restarted. There is no dependency on staff, magnetic media or the need to change anything if you go away on holiday or are off sick.
Backups are done on schedule, every night. Most businesses don't do this. Usually it's because the person responsible is too busy, or someone is using the computer when it's time for a backup, or they simply forget. Since online backups are done with automated software at night when nobody is using the computer systems, backups are always done on schedule.
The correct files are backed up. Ordinary backup software is often installed with a list of files to be backed up. This set of files usually represents the state of the system when the software was installed, and often misses critical files that are added later. Our online backup solves this problem by constantly re-evaluating each client's system, adding files to the backup as needed. Further, you should be able to easily restore any of your files up to any given point in time. Banks do it, big corporations do it, and so should small businesses.
Backups are encrypted for complete security. Would you want someone to be able to slip one of your backups into a pocket and take it to your competitor? It happens! Backups are not generally encrypted, so anyone can read them, and gain access to your client database, accounting records, payroll and personnel information, in fact everything on your backup. Our online backup system encrypts its backups for complete security, so nobody can read them except the client.
Finally and most importantly - Backups are immediately sent off-site and stored safely away from the computer and the business. This is where almost every business makes its biggest mistake. Even if you do everything else perfectly, your backups are of little use if your building burns, you are burgled or you are unable to physically recover your backup media from the premises. Most small companies who do backups leave the backup media in the building where it can also be destroyed.
To Summarise.
Backup Timing - The scheduler allows you to backup when it is convenient for you.
Safe and Secure - With our online storage and data backup service, rest assured that all data is transmitted, stored, and retrieved with military level blowfish 448 bit encryption before being sent safely over the internet to the dedicated Backup Servers.
Seamless - Online Data Backup provides an entire backup solution. There is no hardware needed, no hassles with media, and the chance of human error is eliminated.
Answers To Frequently Asked Questions.
Which Systems are Supported? - The client software can be installed on any Windows 98SE, Me, NT/NT Server, 2000/2000 Server, 2003 Server (.NET), or any XP or Vista computer.
Can you backup Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft SQL Server? - Yes the client software has the required connectors built in.
What is FastBIT Compression? - This technology is used to keep backups as small as possible. Much of the data on the backup schedule is in use every day with minimal changes made to it, including spreadsheets, word processing, accountancy software and databases. FastBIT recognises these data changes, and will only create a backup file – or ‘patch’ – of the changes that have been made, resulting in the data storage volume used being reduced each month by an average of between 85% and 99.9%.
How easy is it to restore lost data? - If you ever need to restore your system from one of the backups held on our servers, it couldn’t be easier. Just open the client software, go to the Restore tab, select the files you wish to reinstate and click on Restore Now. Very large amounts of data can be made available for restore on CD/DVD or other removable media for a small charge.
How do I know how much storage space I will need? - The amount of storage space you are likely to need depends on the data that you wish to backup. To find this out, open your data location select all the data folders, right click and select Properties, then click on the General tab at the top. The Size on Disk field will tell you how large the data set is. A fair estimate for the amount of storage required would be around 60% of your current data capacity – remember your data is compressed before it is encrypted and sent over the internet for storage, so you only pay for compressed data.
Some Sobering Statistics:
- 99% of all businesses do not do a daily backup.
- 60% of backups are incomplete.
- 50% of restores fail.
- Only 25% of backup media stored offsite.
- Data Protection compliance with backups is only 8%.
And the consequences of this can be severe:
- On average, by the 6th day of a major data loss, companies experience a 25% loss in daily revenue. By day 25 it is 40%.
- 43% of companies that experience a severe data loss disaster, and that have no recovery plan in place, never reopen.
- The average cost to a UK small business of a virus attack is £843 with an average downtime of 7.2 hours.
The Data Protection Act, 1998 insists that businesses take care: "You must safeguard your own or anyone else's data, by appropriate precautions against loss, corruption or unauthorised disclosure".
So how much would this cost? Surprisingly very little.
- If you want you can install and configure the client yourself at no cost. If you choose this option it is recommended that you perform a thorough survey of where your data is located.
- Alternatively a client installation and configuration fee will apply.
See Standard Rates & Terms. Normal installation onto one PC or Server takes approximately 60 - 90 minutes, dependant on your system configuration.
Then a small monthly storage fee as indicated in the “Monthly Fee Table” below.
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