A backup or data backup is a copy of computer data stored somewhere else. It is important to have a backup to prevent data loss in the event of any disasters. Your data recovery plan depends on backup, always ensure that the backup process works.
Your data recovery plan relies upon backups, so it’s critical to ensure your backup method works. Don’t allow those backup troubles purpose your data recovery approach to fail. Here are 6 Common Backup Challenges and Solutions:
1. Corrupted Backup
There are numerous reasons as to why a backup is corrupted, old media can get damaged or corrupted through terrible handling or by age while readable backups won't have the application-consistent data, so even after you restore the file applications it may not come up successfully.
Solution: Make a couple of backup copies in different types of media and use an application-aware backup method to make certain applications backed up in a consistent state and available immediately.
2. Inaccessible Backup
If you've got only one copy of your backup and it is inaccessible during a disaster, you are unable to use it to restore your data.
Solutions: Make multiple copies of your backup and save them in a minimum of 2 different locations.
3. Backup Failed To Start
If the backup fails to start, the backup will not be created, simple.
Solution: Schedule backup jobs to run automatically, instead of relying on a staff member to manually initiate the process. Automation also eliminates the possibility of making mistakes in parameter settings when manually starting the process.
4. Backup Failed To Complete
If the backup process has problems running, critical data is not protected and the backup would fail to complete.
Solution: implement monitoring to alert staff to failure of backup jobs. Check your storage capacity frequently to make sure you have enough space for your backup files. Track the growth of the database to make sure you have enough storage space for backups.
5. Incomplete Backup
Not all incomplete backups are due to the process not completing. Backup procedures can lose files either because someone thought they were unnecessary or because they were never added to the script.
Solution: Be thorough and non-selective when deciding what to back up. When a new application or database is deployed, add it to the backup process as part of the change management and distribution process.
6. Slow Backup
Backup jobs must be completed as part of the end-of-the-day process. Slow backup procedures can cause delays that affect the start of work the next day.
Solution: For network backups, make sure you have a reliable network connection with sufficient bandwidth. Keep an eye on database growth and the time required to perform backups; you may need to reschedule the job or perform incremental backups for the job to complete, with a full backup carried forward to weekends or other long periods of inactivity.
Conclusion
Always ensure that your backup is working and tested regularly to prevent data loss and reduce business downtime. Store multiple copies of your backup in different locations to be more secure.
Need help with data backup and recovery?
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