Tips

Tips

• Top five tape archiving tips

  For many organizations, tape is a viable, cost-effective option for archiving. Check out our five favorite tips from the past year on tape archiving.  Continue Reading

• Vendors line up to deliver backup appliances

  When choosing a backup appliance, it is important to evaluate the functionality you need now, and what you may need going forward.  Continue Reading

• Transitioning from tape to a disk backup appliance

  This tip offers a step-by-step approach for making the switch from tape to a disk backup appliance.  Continue Reading

• Top five virtual backup tips

  The editors of SearchDataBackup.com have been closely following the virtual server backup market. Here are our top 5 virtual backup tips.  Continue Reading

• Will tape have a second life with data protection in the cloud?

  Disk and tape can be used in concert to meet your data protection requirements. Find out why tape may have a second life with data protection in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Keep application integrity in Microsoft Hyper-V backup

  When conducting a Microsoft Hyper-V backup, steps need to be taken to promote application integrity and prevent corruption of data.  Continue Reading

• Are traditional backup processes dead?

  Pundits have been predicting the death of traditional backup processes for a long time. Find out why in Tony Asaro's latest column.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V backup best practices: Hypervisor backup vs. VM backups

  In this tip, learn about Hyper-V backup best practices, as well as the differences between hypervisor backup vs. VM backup.  Continue Reading

• The importance of Symantec's OpenStorage Technology in backup today

  Learn about why Symantec's OpenStorage Technology (OST) and its role in backup and recovery today.  Continue Reading

• Backing up a Windows Server 2008 group policy

  While a Windows Server 2008 group policy is copied automatically, it is easier to manage when you make your own group policy-specific backup.  Continue Reading

• Virtual machine backup software checklist

  With this checklist, learn how to determine what features and functions you need in virtual machine backup software.  Continue Reading

• Backing up VMs: Traditional apps vs. virtual machine backup software

  In this tip on backing up VMs, learn about the pros and cons of traditional backup software vs. VM backup software.  Continue Reading

• Wbadmin backup tips for backing up Windows

  The Windows Wbadmin backup command can appear deceptively simple to use. In this tip, we'll teach you the basics of using Wbadmin and its commands.  Continue Reading

• Printer backup and recovery tips

  Learn the best way to back up and recover your printers when you upgrade a server from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008.  Continue Reading

• The benefits of deduplication and where you should dedupe your data

  With a growing number of vendors offering data deduplication solutions, we review the benefits of deduplication and specific dedupe products.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 archiving best practices

  With Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft Corp. made significant changes. Learn Microsoft Exchange 2010 archiving best practices in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Exchange 2010 backup strategies and Database Availability Groups

  Learn about the best Microsoft Exchange 2010 backup strategies in this tip and how Database Availability Groups can impact the way you do backups.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based email archiving pros and cons

  Cloud-based archiving is an attractive proposition for many firms, but before you start using the cloud, there are some things you need to consider.  Continue Reading

• Tape backup devices still used by majority of SMBs

  Tape is still the No. 1 backup method for SMBs. Check out out latest news and expert advice on tape backup devices.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft's Hyper-V snapshots offer quick VM backups, but with limits

  Microsoft’s Hyper-V snapshots offer a quick way to back up virtual machines during upgrades, but they’re no substitute for long-term archives.  Continue Reading

• Choosing a better SMB backup solution

  Choosing a better SMB backup solution has gotten easier, thanks to new cloud, disk, and backup appliance products.  Continue Reading

• Five IBM Tivoli Storage Manager backup errors and how to prevent them

  Learn how to correct the top five IBM Tivoli Storage Manager backup errors in this tip from backup expert Pierre Dorion.  Continue Reading

• Offsite backup tape storage and choosing a tape vaulting service

  Given the critical nature of offsite backup tape storage, you must perform due diligence in selecting a tape vaulting service.  Continue Reading

• Cloud backup provider checklist: Criteria for choosing a cloud service

  Read our cloud provider checklist before you sign on the dotted line with a cloud backup service.  Continue Reading

• Top three SQL Server database backup tips

  Check out our top three solutions to the most vexing SQL Server database backup problems.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager backup techniques

  Learn how to back up Virtual Machine Manager in this tip, and how to perform a manual and a scripted backup.  Continue Reading

• Will cloud data protection replace tape?

  Could the cloud replace tape? Learn how cloud data protection could be a good choice for your organization.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V recovery: Top tips for restoring Hyper-V virtual machines

  Good backups are only one half of a solid data protection plan. Check out our best tips for solving common Hyper-V recovery problems.  Continue Reading

• Global data deduplication explained

  Global data deduplication can yield significant capacity savings, but its most attractive feature may be the architecture it's built upon.  Continue Reading

• Top tips for troubleshooting Hyper-V backups

  Follow these Hyper-V troubleshooting steps to give you help you solve Hyper-V backup issues when they arise.  Continue Reading

• The changing face of iPhone data backup and recovery

  iPhones can boost end-user productivity, but they also create backup headaches. Learn how to manage iPhone data backup and recovery in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Removable disk drives vs. tape storage for small businesses

  Removable disk drives offer a lot of benefits that tape storage doesn’t. Find out if removable disk storage is right for your SMB from these tips and articles.  Continue Reading

• Remote backup systems: Solutions for getting rid of tape

  Anyone responsible for a remote backup system that involves tape can relate to the challenges tape backup can present. This tip will look at remote backup solutions other than tape.  Continue Reading

• A look at target-based deduplication appliances

  Data dedupe is a must-have feature in modern backup systems. Learn about the pros and cons of target deduplication appliances in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Exchange Server backup strategies: Backing up multiple versions

  Microsoft Exchange Server backup can be challenging if you have more than one version of Exchange to back up. Find out what you can do to alleviate these problems.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Hyper-V backup strategies

  Users of Microsoft Hyper-V have some of the same problems with data backup that VMware users have. Learn the best Hyper-V backup strategy in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Top five small business data backup tips of 2010

  We've compiled our top five tips on small business data backup from 2010. Learn about tape libraries, tape vs. disk, cloud archiving and more.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 tips for small business data storage in 2010

  Here's a look at the top 10 SMB storage tips from 2010. Learn about primary storage data reduction techniques, the pros and cons of cloud storage for SMBs and more.  Continue Reading

• Data archiving techniques: Choosing the best archive media

  Read this tip about data archiving techniques and to discover what's the best archive media for your organization: tape, disk, optical or the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Three ways to reduce backup windows on a budget

  The volume of data continues to increase, but the time allotted to back up this data stays the same. Follow these steps to reduce backup windows in your environment.  Continue Reading

• Is Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) right for your organization?

  Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) is a solid backup app, but it does have limitations. Here are some of the most common DPM errors and problems.  Continue Reading

• Create redundant backups to prevent removable media storage disasters

  Learn how to prevent removable media storage disasters by creating redundant backups in this tip by Brien Posey.  Continue Reading

• Backup for laptops: Make use of cloud backup services

  Laptop backup is a thorny issue for many organizations. Learn how cloud backup can be a good solution for your laptop backup issues.  Continue Reading

• Developing an electronic data retention policy

  Every organization should have a documented electronic data retention policy. Learn how to develop and enforce a data retention policy in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager: Using DPM's System Recovery Tool

  Learn how to use Microsoft's System Center Data Protection Manager's System Recovery Tool to recover a failed server in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Preventing online backup security threats to your network

  More and more employees are using online backup services to back up their data on work computers. Learn about how to prevent online backup security threats in your organization.  Continue Reading

• Data backup management strategies: Combining tape backup and disk-based backup

  Even though disk-based backup is all the rage, tape still has its place. Learn how you can get the best of both worlds in this data backup management tip.  Continue Reading

• VM backup strategies: Backing up virtual machines in VMware vSphere

  Problems backing up virtual machines? Learn about the latest VM backup strategies when backing up VMs in VMware vSphere.  Continue Reading

• Tape vs. disk backup: Get the best of both worlds with D2D2T

  Tape vs. disk backup is an ongoing battle in data storage. Find out how D2D2T technology combines the best of both worlds.  Continue Reading

• How to back up and restore domain controllers with Windows Server Backup

  Learn how to back up and restore domain controllers with Windows Server Backup in this backup tip by Brien Posey.  Continue Reading

• Virtual tape libraries (VTLs) remain attractive to larger enterprises

  The future of VTLs for backup and data protection is getting a mixed review. Find out if a VTL is still right for you.  Continue Reading

• CommVault Simpana 8 backup tips: Storage policies and data retention

  Learn important data backup tips using CommVault Simpana 8 about storage policies and data retention.  Continue Reading

• Windows NTBackup restore troubleshooting tips

  Organizations that use Windows NTBackup discover all too often they can't restore their backups. You'll learn how to avoid problems with NTBackup restores in this tip.  Continue Reading

• The future of backup to tape and a look at LTO-5 tape technology

  This tip explores some of the reasons why backup to tape is still popular, and takes a look at the latest iteration of LTO tape technology, LTO-5.  Continue Reading

• Branch office backup questions and answers

  What can IT organizations do about branch office backup headaches? Get your most important branch office backup questions answered in this backup and recovery tip.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting common NDMP backup errors

  Learn how to troubleshoot the most common NDMP backup errors, and what you can do to prevent them.  Continue Reading

• Buying your first backup tape library: What you need to know

  In this tip, find out what you need to know when buying your first tape library, including when to consider a library, the cost of libraries and which format best fits your needs.  Continue Reading

• Data destruction services: When data deletion is not enough

  Learn about data destruction services for old disks and tape, and about data degaussing and data overwrite programs for secure data destruction.  Continue Reading

• Best cloud backup and recovery tips: A primer on cloud data backup

  We've collected our top five tips on cloud backup. Learn about cloud data backup security, how to choose the best cloud backup service, cloud backup management, and more.  Continue Reading

• Data archiving best practices: The difference between backups and archives

  In this collection of data archiving tips, learn data archiving best practices and the differences between backups and archives.  Continue Reading

• Buying the best backup tape library: Tape libraries vs. tape autoloaders

  Learn about how to buy the best backup tape library and the key differences between tape libraries and tape autoloaders in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Cloud archiving: Choosing the best features from the best cloud service provider

  Cloud storage and archiving continue to gain support, but which provider should you choose? Read about two popular options to help you decide.  Continue Reading

• Cloud data storage services for smaller businesses: The pros and cons

  This tip explores the pros and cons of cloud data storage services for SMBs.  Continue Reading

• What you need to know about Microsoft Exchange Server backup and recovery

  There are a lot of new changes in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. In this tip, discover what you need to know about Microsoft Exchange Server backup and recovery.  Continue Reading

• What you need to know about LTO-5 tape: Tips and news on LTO-5 backup tape storage

  We've collected our best resources on LTO-5 tape backup to help you stay up to date on this new technology.  Continue Reading

• Data backup and storage networking basics: Why back up network hardware?

  Learn about why it's important to back up your network hardware, get troubleshooting tips and expert advice about network hardware backup in this article.  Continue Reading

• Common Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2007 message errors and how to fix them

  Here's a look at the most common Microsoft Data Protection Manger 2007 errors and what you can do to prevent and fix them.  Continue Reading

• Small business data backup tutorials and tips

  In these data backup tutorials for small businesses, learn about using tape backup, the pros and cons of disk-based backup and about the newest data backup option for small business backup -- cloud backup.  Continue Reading

• Macintosh backup and recovery: Best practices for Mac and PC backup

  This tip looks at Macintosh backup and recovery best practices, and some things to keep in mind when backing up Macintosh and PC environments together.  Continue Reading

• Data reduction solutions for your data backup plan in addition to data deduping

  There are other data reduction solutions worth considering in addition to data deduping. Single-instance storage, data compression and data deletion are other options for reducing your data.  Continue Reading

• Network server backup best practices: Backing up clustered servers

  Backing up network servers can be tricky, especially if you're backing up clustered servers. Learn clustered server backup best practices in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Using disk imaging software in data backup and recovery

  Disk imaging software can help simplify and save time in your daily data backup and recovery process, but it's important to know what to look for in disk imaging software.  Continue Reading

• New features in modern virtual tape libraries: Data dedupe and tape virtualization

  Here's a look a how new features in modern virtual tape libraries (VTLs) are changing the way VTLs are used in data backup and recovery enviornments.  Continue Reading

• Service-level agreement management considerations when using online data backup services

  There are many service-level agreement management considerations to be aware of when using online data backup services. Read our list before you sign on the dotted line.  Continue Reading

• Tiered data backup storage strategies

  Tiered data storage is often neglected in data backup and recovery plans, but tiering your data is crucial to reduce risks and costs.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to Microsoft SharePoint 2007 backup and recovery

  SharePoint integrates data from many sources, presenting it in a simple Web interface. Because data is pulled from various locations, it can be difficult to back up and recover.  Continue Reading

• How to back up encrypted files and how to use the Encrypting File System

  With data backup security being such a high priority, more organizations are encrypting the contents of their file servers. Although encryption improves security, it can complicate an organization's backup efforts.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of tape media storage for backup and recovery in SMB environments

  Learn about the pros and cons of tape media storage, and if tape storage is the right fit for your SMB environment.  Continue Reading

• Protecting disk-to-disk backups and continuous data protection

  Continuous data protection (CDP) products offer numerous advantages over traditional tape backup techniques but disk-to-disk backups have other downsides you need to be aware of.  Continue Reading

• New features in VMware vSphere that benefit data backup and recovery

  Here's a look at the new features in VMware vSphere that will make data backup and recovery chores easier.  Continue Reading

• Preventing tape backup system disasters

  If a tape system is properly installed, configured, maintained and operated, it is highly reliable. However, it does require some effort and knowledge on the part of the storage/backup administrator to make this happen. Here's what you need to know ...  Continue Reading

• Using different types of storage snapshot technologies for data protection

  Storage snapshots are commonly used to enhance data protection systems and dramatically shorten recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs). Here's a look at the different types of snapshot technologies and the pros and cons...  Continue Reading

• Top five tape storage backup and recovery tips of 2009

  Here's a look at the top five tape storage backup and recovery tips of 2009. Learn about tape backup and tape trends in 2009 with these top tips.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 data backup and recovery tips of 2009

  Read about the top 10 data backup and recovery tips of 2009. Learn about topics from data replication to CDP to data deduplication.  Continue Reading

• Storage snapshot technologies in data backup and recovery

  Storage snapshot technology was originally architected to solve several data backup problems. Learn about the different types of snapshots in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 data backup and recovery storage tips for SMBs in 2009

  We've compiled our top 10 data backup and recovery storage tips for SMBs from 2009.  Continue Reading

• Top five data deduplication technology tips of 2009

  Although data deduplication is a relatively new technology in data backup environments, users quickly saw its many benefits. And its popularity continues to rise today.  Continue Reading

• Data backup vs. data archiving: Is data backup closing the gap?

  The data backup and recovery community advocate that backups are not archives, but are backups closing that gap? Learn about their similarities and differences in this tip.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to data backup tape rotation schemes

  Learn about the different types of data backup tape rotation schemes to determine which one is best for your environment.  Continue Reading

• A review of VMware disk-to-disk backup apps: Veeam, Vizioncore, PHD Virtual and VDR

  Learn about the features in the newest disk-to-disk backup products for vSphere.  Continue Reading

• Cloud, disk or tape: Choosing the right data backup and recovery method for SMBs

  Choosing between cloud, disk and tape backup can be difficult for SMBs. Learn about the pros and cons of each data backup and recovery method before you choose an option for your company.  Continue Reading

• Criteria for choosing the right tape encryption solution for your data backup plan

  How do you decide which tape encryption product is right for your enterprise? Learn about what factors you need to look at before deciding on an encryption product.  Continue Reading

• Creating a System Recovery Disk in Windows 7: A step-by-step tutorial

  Learn how to create a Systems Recovery Disk in Windows 7 for a bare-metal restore in this step-by-step tutorial.  Continue Reading

• New data protection schemes impact RAID rebuild times

  Data protection isn't just about protecting disks, but information. Learn about technologies that will shorten RAID rebuild times and still give good data protection.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server backup and recovery best practices

  Learn the top SQL Server data backup and recovery best practices and tips in this article.  Continue Reading

• Low-cost data storage replication options for SMBs

  Learn about affordable and reliable data storage replication options for SMBs.  Continue Reading

• Secure your data backups with encryption key management best practices

  Here are several essential key management best practices you need to know about to maximize your investment in encryption and minimize your business risks.  Continue Reading

• Data backup for virtual machines: Alternative methods to VMware Consolidated Backup

  Data backup expert W. Curtis Preston discusses alternatives to VMware Consolidated Backup for backing up virtual machines: using point products, and using data deduplication and continuous data protection.  Continue Reading

• Upgrading from LTO-3 to LTO-4 tape for data backup and recovery

  Upgrading from LTO-3 to LTO-4 to take advantage of LTO-4 improvements in speed and capacity is a good idea for many organizations. Here's a look at potential issues.  Continue Reading

• Fail-in-place systems: Avoiding hard disk drive failures

  Fail-in-place storage systems, such Atrato's V1000 and Xiotech's Emprise 5000 or ISE, can virtually eliminate hard disk drive replacement service calls.  Continue Reading