Pulkin Computer Services Remote Online Backup Software Protects Against Data Loss

Q: What if we already have a tape backup system?

Using a tape backup system and an online backup system offers the best of both worlds. Critical files, like billing, customer contact files and databases can be kept on the online backup system, while the tape system can be used to create a full backup of the entire system once or twice a month. The tapes and drive will last longer and require less maintenance. The remote backup system can provide a quick and easy way to retrieve critical files and databases without the hassle of searching through tapes.

Q: What if we already have a Zip drive?

Frankly, we believe that it is not optimal for most users to use a zip or other removable disk media for backup. A remote backup service is completely automated and has the required file redundancy to protect important data. The only safe way to use a zip drive for backup is to have three disks and make the same backup three times. That way when one of the disk fails you are still protected.

Q: How long will an online backup take?

Offices with high-speed internet connections should find this service comparable with tape drives. Dial up users will be able to do incremental backups in thirty to sixty minutes. The initial backup can take several nights to complete. We recommend backing up the most important files first and then selecting other files as the backup progresses. Or, the initial backup can be run over the weekend. Also, we can come to your office and complete the initial backup of your system.

Q: Onsite, Offsite - What's the difference?

Basically, remote backups work like regular tape backups, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media, a remote backup sends encrypted file data over the internet to an offsite computer file storage system.

This usually happens at night while your business is closed and nobody is using the computers. It's completely automatic. In fact, you may forget it's working every night.

Q: Why Are remote backups considered more beneficial?

The data is immediately stored off-site using an automated backup system. Also, only an internet connection is needed, completely eliminating the need for expensive backup equipment and media. Since the system is automated, manual labor is eliminated.

Q: What is BitBackup?

BitBackup is a special kind of backup that backs up only the changed parts of files instead of the full files. It is sometimes called "sub-file" backup or "patch" backup. BitBackup is especially useful for very large files when only small parts of the files change between backups. For example, if only a five-character word changes in a 2 megabyte document, BitBackup will back up only five characters. This can save large amounts of storage space on the Server, and it can significantly speed up the time needed to do a backup.

BitBackup always backs up a full file the first time. Thereafter, it backs up only the changed parts of the file. Each of the BitBackup backups sent after a full backup can restore the file up to the point in time when that backup was done, called cumulative backups. So, as time goes on, BitBackup archives become larger as they contain more changes.
Periodically, BitBackup needs to reset - a process called Roll-Forward. To do this, Remote Backup sends the full file again, and then resets BitBackups, which reduces their file size back to the minimum. This process cycles according to the settings at the bottom of this screen.

Roll-Forward Threshold - This is the number of BitBackups that will be done before Remote Backup resends the full file again.
Threshold Size - The percentage of BitBackup size to full-file size. In the example on this screen, when the size of the most recent BitBackup archive exceeds 50% of the size of the full file, Remote Backup will perform a Roll-Forward, resending the full file.

Using the Threshold Size feature instead of the Roll-Forward Threshold setting takes more time during preparation of a backup, because Remote Backup needs make a BitBackup archive to compare its size to the full file

Q: Do I have to install the backup software on every PC that I want backed up?

If your computers are connected over a network, you only have to install the software on a machine that can connect to all the computers you want to back up. You then map the network drives that you want to back up, and select the desired files on the network drives. This means you can back up files stored on Macs, Linux boxes, or UNIX servers, if you can view their files over the network.

Q: What happens to my data once it is at your remote storage facility?

We back up the contents of our servers to CD ROM on a regular basis. These CDs are then stored in a fireproof data safe for a second level of protection. Your data backups are available to you online for at least six months before they are removed.

Q: How Secure Are Remote Backups?

Very. All files are encrypted using Blowfish or DES encryption which is selected by the user with their own personal encryption code known only by the user of the system. Blowfish encryption has never been broken by a hacker. DES is used by the federal banking system.

Q: What is encryption?

Encryption is basically a mathematical formula that scrambles a data file. The only way to unscramble it is with the encryption code.