When your PC Backup is not enough

Author: Harvey Segal

If you are dependant on your PC for running a business venture on the
Internet then it is vital that the loss of your PC does not damage or cause
the downfall of your business.

In other words you must make sure that you regularly backup the data
on your PC.

Now this should not be news to you, but here are two vital warnings.

#1 It is NOT SUFFICIENT just to backup your data.

How do you know you can RECOVER it ?

Have you ever tried ?

Yes, I know it’s meant to work but who knows what can go wrong.

When my car once failed to start the mechanic correctly identified
that the battery needed replacing.

Did he check that the car would start after fitting the new one ?

No need - it’s "supposed" to work

Did it start ?

No !

So are you going to take the RISK that something will work because
it is "supposed" to work - and say goodbye to your online business
if it doesn’t.

Because you’ll have lost all your data - gone forever.

So test out the recovery option - NOW.

#2 If you make backups of ALL of your hard disc (maybe you have a
high capacity backup unit) - then skip this section.

The rest of us are making copies (hopefully) of our CRITICAL data to
floppy disc.

So if your hard disc crashes you will be up and running in no time ?

Afraid not.

* What about the programs and utilities that you regularly use

- do you have the original discs ?

- if you downloaded them from the Internet do you remember the source ?

* Can you recall the personalised configurations that you have applied to
your software or those simple shortcut keystrokes which you use so often
that it’s hard to recall the original method ?

* Can you remember all the passwords you are using - for connecting to
your ISP, retrieving your POP mail, checking the statistics on reseller sites
set up for you ?

* Do you have vital contact information such as your ISP dial up number ?

* Are there files, not directly under your control, which need to be part
of your critical data - for example address books embedded in your
Email software ?

Imagine this situation.

Your computer has been wiped out, stolen, gone up in flames.

All you have left is a backup copy of your critical data.

(And, by the way, you are keeping a spare copy in a separate
building - aren’t you ?)

In your hour of need when you are desperate to get back online and
attend to a mounting army of Emails or orders the last thing you need
is to struggle to connect to the Internet, to find your passwords, to be
deprived of the tools which simplify your PC work.

What is the solution ?

You need to keep a RECORD of all the vital information mentioned
above (passwords, configuration details etc).

* Put this into a file which is part of the critical data that you regularly back up.

* Keep a PRINTED copy handy - and another one in a REMOTE location.

* You can even copy the file to your web site.

And also review the backup content of your critical data to check for
any other files, such as address books, that need to be included.

Do this NOW.

Don't miss Harvey's FREE book  The SuperTips Book of Internet Marketing  And there's more great articles, ideas and tips at  the SuperTips website http://www.supertips.com