Disaster Preparedness
Overview
When we evaluate a publisher's computer systems we will ask;
| Question |
Small
Press
-Yes- |
Medium
Press
-Yes- |
Large
Press
-Yes- |
| Do you backup your data files daily? |
50% |
100% |
100% |
| Do you test your backups quarterly? |
5% |
50% |
100% |
| Are your backup restoration
procedures documented? |
5% |
33% |
100% |
As you can see from the chart, large companies (with a dedicated
IT staff) are most likely to backup their files, test their backups
and document the restoration process.
Small book publishers
are least likely to follow these best practices for data protection.
Consquently, they are at most risk for losing access to their data.
Data Backup
Policy 1: All datafiles shall be backed daily up to
two backup file destinations.
We recommend that companies backup their files to two
locations; an online backup service and a local hard drive.
This ensures that you have access to your data-files if one of
the backup devices or services fails.
Policy 2: All backup files shall be tested
quarterly.
Policy 3: All backup file restoration routines
will be documented.
Surge Protection
Policy 4: All computers shall be protected by
surge protectors.
Surges in electrical power are the most common cause of computer
failure. They can result from a malfunctioning transformer, a
lightning strike, or powering up a building air conditioner unit.
Updated December 28, 2009 |
