Data Backup & Recovery

Golden rule for hard drives:

It's not a matter of IF a hard drive will fail, but WHEN!

When the inevitable happens, will all your files be safe? Do you know when you completely backed up last? Do you keep a complete and current backup of your data in an off-site location?

If you answered "no" or "I'm not sure." to any of these questions, your irreplaceable files may be in jeopardy. At Kelley Data, we believe in the "3-2-1" rule for securing data.

3 copies of every file on 2 separate devices with at least 1 copy stored in a different location.

By explanation: It's not a good idea to keep your backup files on the same hard disk as the original. Some PC manufacturers configure their PCs with a C and D drive that are simply two partitions on a single disk. While you think you're making a backup copy to your D drive, in reality the copied file is on the same disk as the original. Hence the 2 device rule. Backups must be stored on a completely separate device, be it disk or tape. If you make backups to tape, CD, DVD or a USB drive and store it in the same building as the original files, what happens in case of fire or theft? That's why it's so important to keep a fresh copy of your files in a separate location.

There is one more very important rule regarding backups:

If you have to remember to backup, it won't happen.

We have experience backing up hundreds of desktops and servers on a regular basis following the 3-2-1 rule. There's no way to keep up with a manual schedule that complicated. We believe even the simplest backup schedules aren't followed routinely if someone has to remember to do it. That's why we promote tools to keep all your data backed up regularly, automatically. The software involved isn't expensive. In fact, there are several free tools that work just fine. We will determine your needs and sculpt the best backup solution for you. We only install tools that will help you adhere to the 3-2-1 rule without having to remember a single task. In all our years in the IT business, we've never lost a file that couldn't be recovered.