The Benefits of Virtual Backup Services
Computer users are constantly faced with the challenge of recovering from system crashes as quickly as possible with minimum loss of data.
These are issues for everybody from sole traders to large companies with IT systems managers.
Virtual backup is an option that is becoming very popular.
It is available at a relatively low cost, and offers many benefits.
It may help to understand the usefulness of this type of backup by looking at a common scenario that most people will have encountered at some stage.
A sole trader runs an online business from home.
The trader has a single PC that he uses to store product and customer information, and to connect to the internet.
He uses word processing, spreadsheet and database applications that he has installed on his machine.
He also owns a laptop that he uses mainly for entertainment.
The trader understands the importance of backing up his data, and copies all his important files on to CD-ROMs several times each day.
His business is totally reliant on his PC.
He cannot handle customer queries or process sales orders without it.
Two hours after doing his last backup, the system crashes.
The trader knows enough about computers to fix the problem without having to call in professional help.
All the recovery tools he has access to cannot repair the problem, and he is left with no option but to reinstall his operating system and all the applications he uses.
Doing all this takes several hours.
When he restores all his applications, all his user selectable preferences are lost and will have to be recreated, taking more valuable time.
Additionally, any data processed between the last backup and the crash have been lost.
There will be a financial loss as a result of the crash.
All the time the trader uses solving the problem is time that could have been spent earning money.
Had the same trader been using virtual backup and virtual software, the effect of the crash would have been greatly minimized.
When using virtual technology, none of the data and applications are stored on the local machine.
In the example outlined above, when the trader's PC crashed, he could have simply used his laptop to carry on working.
He could have repaired his PC in his spare time, or sent it to a repair shop to have it fixed.
Using virtual backup and virtual applications software completely removes the dependence of the business on any local computer.
Using virtual processing would also remove the need to do local backups, saving perhaps several hours every week.
Real time backups are done behind the scenes, requiring no input from the trader.
Secondly, using virtual backup would mean the trader did not have to worry about how to protect his backup media.
In our example, had his CDs been damaged or stolen, he would have lost his backed up data.
By using virtual technology, the trader is free to concentrate on his core business.
These are issues for everybody from sole traders to large companies with IT systems managers.
Virtual backup is an option that is becoming very popular.
It is available at a relatively low cost, and offers many benefits.
It may help to understand the usefulness of this type of backup by looking at a common scenario that most people will have encountered at some stage.
A sole trader runs an online business from home.
The trader has a single PC that he uses to store product and customer information, and to connect to the internet.
He uses word processing, spreadsheet and database applications that he has installed on his machine.
He also owns a laptop that he uses mainly for entertainment.
The trader understands the importance of backing up his data, and copies all his important files on to CD-ROMs several times each day.
His business is totally reliant on his PC.
He cannot handle customer queries or process sales orders without it.
Two hours after doing his last backup, the system crashes.
The trader knows enough about computers to fix the problem without having to call in professional help.
All the recovery tools he has access to cannot repair the problem, and he is left with no option but to reinstall his operating system and all the applications he uses.
Doing all this takes several hours.
When he restores all his applications, all his user selectable preferences are lost and will have to be recreated, taking more valuable time.
Additionally, any data processed between the last backup and the crash have been lost.
There will be a financial loss as a result of the crash.
All the time the trader uses solving the problem is time that could have been spent earning money.
Had the same trader been using virtual backup and virtual software, the effect of the crash would have been greatly minimized.
When using virtual technology, none of the data and applications are stored on the local machine.
In the example outlined above, when the trader's PC crashed, he could have simply used his laptop to carry on working.
He could have repaired his PC in his spare time, or sent it to a repair shop to have it fixed.
Using virtual backup and virtual applications software completely removes the dependence of the business on any local computer.
Using virtual processing would also remove the need to do local backups, saving perhaps several hours every week.
Real time backups are done behind the scenes, requiring no input from the trader.
Secondly, using virtual backup would mean the trader did not have to worry about how to protect his backup media.
In our example, had his CDs been damaged or stolen, he would have lost his backed up data.
By using virtual technology, the trader is free to concentrate on his core business.
