DALLAS, July 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- It only takes one equipment melt-down, computer theft, hurricane, landslide, or fire to immediately see the value of data protection. And yet, three out of five small to mid-sized businesses still do not regularly back-up data, according to a recent survey by IDC.
When faced with the feat of creating and implementing a data back-up system, many small business owners are overwhelmed by the task and never put a data protection plan in action. The unfortunate result is that when disaster strikes, at least a quarter of small businesses that close aren't able to recover enough data to open again, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety.
"Most small to medium-sized business owners know that they should back-up their data, but put it off because of the initial time and cost investment. The hardest part is deciding that today is the day to start," said Russell Morgan, President of the Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance (ITSPA). "A local technology consultant or 'solution provider' as they are called, can help you figure out what you need, set it up, and develop a system to make sure you will always have access to the information that allows your business to run smoothly."
With today's technology, a broken hard drive is no longer an automatic loss, but the sophistication of data recovery services is giving some small businesses false confidence. Even though the technology exists to retrieve data from failed equipment, the expense is a heavy burden for small and medium-sized businesses. Depending on how fast the data is needed, the cost of recovering files can range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $10,000, according to ITSPA. Instead of spending money on frantic emergency data recovery services, there are now a number of affordable and efficient ways for small businesses to proactively back-up data and guard against the risk of losing important information.
"Finding the perfect data storage product is not the place to start because shopping for technology can be overwhelming and confusing if you don't know what you need," said Carolyn Bosco, Small and Medium-sized Business Marketing Manager for Hewlett-Packard. "For growing businesses, it's more important to first figure out the business needs and establish a data protection plan to meet those needs. Using the plan as a guide will help you choose the best system, and fortunately there are a number of options today that HP has specifically designed and priced for small and mid-sized businesses so you don't have to buy more than you need."
Tips for Getting Started -- A quick guide from ITSPA for developing a data back-up plan:
-- Know the rules. Many industries have requirements for keeping
records. Know what you need to keep, in what form, and for how
long.
-- Decide how often you need to back-up your data by completing this
sentence: In the event of an emergency, my business would be okay
with recovered data from (last month, last week, yesterday, 10
minutes ago).
-- Establish your options. Data back-up can be done in a number
of ways, from nightly tape records to continual transfer of data
to off-site storage terminals. Some solutions can even be set up
to automatically back-up data every time you log on and off the
computer.
-- Document the plan in case of an emergency so all key employees
know how and where to retrieve data.
-- Work with a solution provider to develop the most efficient,
cost-effective, and secure back-up plan. ITSPA can help you find
a local service provider who knows your business and knows how to
protect your important information from emergency, accident, and
security breaches. Contact ITSPA at findapartner@itspa.net to
locate a qualified solution provider in your area.
About ITSPA:
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance (ITSPA) is a national, non-profit alliance serving as a reliable and credible resource for businesses hoping to take advantage of the benefits of new technology. ITSPA is dedicated to helping small and medium-size businesses adopt technology and grow by using local solution providers to solve business challenges.
Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1742