Actually, there's no sure fire method of preventing data loss-there are
only degrees of increasing sophistication in cultivating habits
in data loss prevention.
For example, while daily backups are recommended, the computer could get
damaged in a fire so that the hard drive loses all of its information.
Similarly, if backup occurs to a floppy, that could get lost, stolen,
mistakenly erased, or damaged. This scenario also applies to backups on
zip drives that are portable. In addition, the portability of laptops
also makes them vulnerable.
One could do direct web-based backups, but what happens if the company
that hosts the website has damage or a theft occur in the room in which
the server machine is kept?
A good strategy for minimizing data loss from viruses and people is to
limit the number of people who have access to the computer, always have a
current antivirus program working while the computer is on, have firewall
security if you can get it to limit attacks on your system from hackers,
and have a separate machine for sharing someone else's disc, and
downloading email attachments and other types of web-based information.
Finally, keep multiple floppy disc or zip drive backups in different
places, i.e., if your data is that important to you, keep discs at the
office, at home, and a family member or friend's place. And, if you can,
keep hard copy paper printouts too so that you can scan back information
lost from a disc.
These multiple strategies for data backup should help to limit the
potential for data loss for most users.
Cordially,
Karun
<http://www.angelfire.com/biz/kksi>
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Karun K. Singh, PhD Candidate (Administration), CUSSW
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NCA: AOM Conference, Chicago, IL, August 6-11, 1999
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NCA: ARNOVA Conference, Washington, DC, November 4-6, 1999
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