Three ways to take and store offsite data backup

Often, the most overlooked component of IT services is the process of taking and storing backups of critical data. The corporate backup strategy should follow the 3-2-1 model. Three copies of the data, two onsite and one offsite. Here are three methods of handling off-site backup data:

Off-site location

The most basic and common method is to take the backup on-site and then transport the tapes (or disks) to an off-site location at regular intervals. There are several disadvantages to this approach, but the most pressing is that the backup is not secure until it is off-site. For many organizations, the risk is too great to lose 24 hours worth of data. No operation should run without this level of data safety.

DR Site

Another option is to use the disaster recovery site as the offsite data location. The typical approach is to colocate a server at a Los Angeles data center and then transfer the data through the internet. The data is then in a secure location, there are no transport risks, and data verification is possible at the destination.

Real-time

A slight expansion on the above would be to run real-time backup operations directly to the server at the data center. Running backup operations directly to the data center will require additional infrastructure and storage. Data center providers like Rack Alley can provide the cabinet space and bandwidth you will need.

Published by: 0

Creating effective marketing communications for a small business

Small businesses will not have large budgets to spend on marketing and communications. Therefore, it is important that small businesses have a clear plan when embarking on any form of advertising.

When you are looking at selecting advertising methods ensure that they grab your consumers’ attention, provide information and offer consumers a reason to buy your product or service. Any marketing campaign should try to create a relationship, that will build a two-way interaction between the business and the consumer. Your message to your consumer must nudge the consumer to buy your product or service by providing a clear message that is visual and one that offers the consumer a single inspiring idea.

When creating a marketing campaign, consider starting the project with clear objectives. Clear objectives will provide a single creative message that will help the team working on the project. Reaching out to any target market can be difficult, as people are busy and distracted with the large number of marketing messages they receive. Making your idea stand out is key to fuel interest and inspire action.

Gather inspiration from campaigns that used key features of their product to make a statement in the market. Look at the “got milk” ads and the “smell like a man” old spice slogan. These messages resonate in consumers’ minds as they are simple and give you an overall idea about the product and focus on the products need to the consumer.

 

Published by: 0