Back in 1980, when I was selling TRS-80’s at a Radio Shack/Tandy Computer Center, we sold a cassette tape deck specifically designed to copy data and programs created on the Model 1 computer. You’re probably asking yourself, “How old is this guy?” Back then, this was a great way to recover your information should something go wrong with the copy on your computer.
Since those days, technology has changed dramatically, but the importance of backing up your programs and data has become even more critical.
Back then, you weren’t concerned about malicious activity, and hackers weren’t a concern. For the most part, sensitive data was safe and secure from theft. Today, however, full system backups are an absolute necessity.
Most firms in the business of supporting IT systems offer these services through a Managed Service Plan (MSP). Invariably, those MSP offerings include data backup. With that said, not all MSP’s provide the same level and quality of backup. Here is a list of the features that your backup should include:
- The backup should provide a copy of all of your data, your applications, operating system, user authentication files and all security patches and updates
- The backup files should be located on a local device to facilitate file restores quickly and efficiently
- The files should also be saved in the cloud off-site, ie. at a location outside of your office.
- In the case of a major disaster, the cloud location should have the ability to run your systems remotely within a short period of time while you rebuild or restore your local systems.
- These remote cloud capabilities to stand in for your local systems should be tested annually to confirm their readiness to provide support in a disaster recovery.
- These readiness tests should be fully documented, and those documents presented to you after each test. This documentation should also include the actual time it took to start up each application
A good MSP provider shares the responsibility for keeping your systems running smoothly with you and your team. It’s imperative that part of your plan includes a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery backup plan. If you would like more information about what this might look like for your company, contact us!
Authored by Donald Nokes
Nick Eckman joined NetCenergy in 2016 from an international gaming company. Nick’s experience with supervising and implementing secure, fiber and copper wire infrastructure services provides our clients with a team of highly trained and experienced technicians. In addition to the skills required to manage our infrastructure services department, Nick brings a very experienced and focused approach to project management and is a stickler for accurate documentation for every project designed and built by his team.
Peter Lachapelle joined NetCenergy in 2015 and is responsible for leading all of NetCenergy’s operations and accounting functions. Each department within NetCenergy reports through Lachapelle. He brings his years of experience to maintain a pragmatic, efficient, client-focused team at NetCenergy. Lachapelle joined NetCenergy after completing a 27-year career with a Rhode Island, federally-charted bank which culminated in his senior management position as COO and CFO for the bank.
Peter Nelson has 25+ years of technology and management experience and has been with NetCenergy since inception. Peter serves as the VP of Engineering at NetCenergy. His role consists of managing the engineering staff, driving the companies technology strategy, and ensuring NetCenergy keeps up to date on new technologies and solutions.
As a Founding Partner, Dan is a result oriented individual who is always focusing on what is best for his client. He understands that business applications empower an organization and that technology must support those critical business applications. Dan’s technology career started in 1990 at EMC Corporation. Through the years, he has represented technology and consulting services for several organizations until 2003, when he and Don Nokes founded NetCenergy.
As President of NetCenergy, Don is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, overseeing overall performance, and for providing direction to the organization. Prior to co-founding the firm with Dan Charland, Don held senior leadership positions with IT service firms ranging in size from $3 Billion to $10 Million in annual sales.
With decades of hands-on HR experience, Margery Ahearn is our Director of Human Resources, overseeing all hiring of new positions for NetCenergy with a careful eye on sourcing technology savvy engineers and skilled office-based professionals who fit our company culture, understand our commitment to our clients, and bring their time and talents to our team. Margery has both a BA and MBA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.