Real life is not as tidy as our disaster recovery plans ought to be.
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in
While this was a most unpredictable disaster, the ensuing data loss could have been prevented if there had been suitable data backups, such as storing backed up data off-site. Studies show that human error accounts for 11% of all data loss.
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How to Prevent Man-made Data Disasters
Much can be done to rule out human error in the area of data loss.
- Primarily, backups should be made of critical data, and preferably stored away from the premises.
- Routine inspections of the facility can be carried out to check temperature (68 degrees constant) and humidity levels (50%).
- Good pest control methods can be followed and any stagnant water or debris removed from the premises.
- Materials can be properly stored, and insulated from dirt, dust and light, instead of placing them on the floor.
- Ultraviolet filters may be placed over fluorescent lights and windows.
- Heat generating appliances such as heaters and fans can be unplugged when not in use.
- Rules can be enforced regarding food, beverages, and unauthorised access to the computer network. (In one instance, a rotting banana left atop a hard drive, destroyed it.)
- Security checks can be carried out at closing time to ensure that all exits are locked, equipment turned off, and no unauthorised people are on the premises.
How to Protect Data from Natural Disasters
Although natural disasters account for just 3% of total data loss, they have the ability to wreak havoc on infrastructure, and can wipe out an entire company. What’s more, natural disasters rarely give you enough time to develop a plan for data protection because, by the time they occur, it’s too late.
Experts say that on-site backups may be the least expensive solution, but they have too many problems. If power goes out during a storm, or if there’s a flood or fire, on- site backups will suffer the same damages as the primary systems. This is the reason why many Wall Street firms have located their backup systems in nearby
Here are some ways to ensure your data is protected at such a time:
- Place computer systems and their peripherals, as well as power bars, some inches off floor-level. Water can damage computer equipment beyond recovery.
- Turn off the computer, and don’t turn it back on. The drive may seem dry but even if there is a small amount of water in the components, it can cause a short circuit.
- Flood water deposits contaminants, and can cause a head crash, if the system is switched on.
- Fire may damage the plastic cabinet of your hard drive as well as other components, but it is easier to recover data from a fire than from a flood.
- To fireproof your hard drives, have them encased in heat-resistant cabinets that can keep the heat at bay for up to three hours.
- If your hard drive gets drenched from the fire hose, do not attempt to dry it. Instead, seal it inside an air-tight plastic bag. This is because during a fire, extreme pressure changes suck debris and water into the drive through the air vents.
- If you cannot pull the hard drive out of the molten computer, leave it.
If during a power outage, power surge or lightning strike, you notice any smoke or sparks issuing from your hard drive, or your hard drive is not spinning, unplug all power cords connected to your system. This will prevent any further damage. - Once the power is back, wait at least half an hour before you switch the system back on. This is the time when the instability of the power supply can cause severe damage.
- Get yourself a UPS or a surge protector right away.
You cannot prevent natural disasters, but at least you can protect your data from their business-disabling consequences. However, you can, to a large extent, prevent man-made disasters if you take the right steps. Computer Forensics (also known as Digital Forensics) experts can recover data and will analyse the results to discover why it was lost or corrupted in the first place.