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Hardcopy Data

In the event that there is a disruptive event such as a natural disaster that disables the local power grid, and power dependency is problematic, there is the potential to operate the organization's most critical functions using only hardcopy data. Hardcopy data is any data that are accessed through reading or writing on paper rather than processing through a computer system.

In weather-emergency-prone areas such as Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana, many businesses develop a “paper only” DRP, which will allow them to operate key critical processes with just hard copies of data, battery-operated calculators, and other small electronics, as well as pens and pencils. One such organization is the Lynx transit system responsible for public bus operations in the Florida Orlando area. In the event that a natural disaster disables utilities and power, the system does have a process in place where all bus operations will move to paper-and-pencil record keeping until such a time as when power can be restored.

Electronic Backups

Electronic backups are archives that are stored electronically and can be retrieved in case of a disruptive event or disaster. Choosing the correct data backup strategy is dependent upon how users store data, the availability of resources and connectivity, and what the ultimate recovery goal is for the organization.

Preventative restoration is a recommended control: restore data to test the validity of the backup process. If a reliable system (such as a mainframe) copies data to tape every day for years, what assurance does the organization have that the process is working? Do the tapes (and data they contain) have integrity?

Many organizations discover backup problems at the worst time: after an operational data loss. A preventative restoration can identify problems before any data is lost.

Full Backups

A full system backup means that every piece of data is copied and stored on the backup repository. Conducting a full backup is time consuming, bandwidth intensive, and resource intensive. However, full backups will ensure that any necessary data is assured.

Incremental Backups

Incremental backups archive data that have changed since the last full or incremental backup. For example, a site performs a full backup every Sunday, and daily incremental backups from Monday through Saturday. If data are lost after the Wednesday incremental backup, four tapes are required for restoration: the Sunday full backup, as well as the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday incremental backups.