The value of data protection

By Michael
October 3, 2012

There is a proper way and an improper way to store and maintain backup tapes. Not all companies follow the best standards of practice in securing, maintaining or monitoring these drives, sometimes for no better reason than they feel impervious to attack. Needless to say, this is a recipe for disaster.

The chance of failure
Chances are, companies of any size will experience an attack on corporate information at some point during the business’ tenure. Whether it’s an internal or external threat, an intentionally malicious endeavor or basic carelessness, a loss of continuity is almost certain to occur. Taking preventative measures before this happens would make sense, but not all companies are pursuing these opportunities.

For those that overlook precaution, about half of them can expect to incur more than 15 percent annual revenue loss. Mena FN reported that a recent IDC conference of IT and security leaders showed data stating these figures came from companies of all kinds, regardless of industry or structural size. Outages ranged between 300 and 1200 hours each year per affected entity.

Heeding the warning
Some would think that alone would be enough to scare IT and other personnel straight, but not even many of those with enough computer savvy to know better are paying attention to the signs. Instead, it seems companies even with the technical know-how on staff to protect data assets are flagrantly ignoring backup tape management protocols and throwing caution to the wind in light of cost savings, because honestly, there is no cheaper storage solution right now than not having one at all. It’s when any information needs to be recalled that a sudden, gaping hole in revenue and continuity is likely to pop up.

Such was the case with Guerilla Studios, a game developer partnered with Sony on the PlayStation 2 and 3 systems. Gamasutra wrote that the entity failed to properly enact tape tracking and security for its Killzone source code, which it chose to store in a shoebox in a coworker’s basement, resulting in a nearly 100 percent loss. Fortunately for the company, after hundreds of hours sorting through tapes and records, Guerilla located the original code and was able to proceed with its new project, but the entire process could have been significantly foreshortened had proper guidelines been observed.

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