Affordable and Safe Data Protection Practices?

cfreeze asks: "With the recent fire at the University of Twente, I started to think 'Are the steps I'm taking to backup my home network sufficient?'. The first thing going through my mind was the need to mail a set of recent backup discs to a family member. I feel this is a good first step, but due to the distances involved it may prove to be impractical. The second was a small hidden personal safe that is fireproof. What steps are you taking?" If you are interested in truly protecting your data, you have to realize that making backups is just a start. Next comes protecting those backups from floods, fires, and other catastrophes that might occur. What do you do to protect your backups?

Comments

rsync with cp -al

[gambitdis]

We have just created a new policy of backing up to a remote location using rsync and cp -al. Basically we do an rsync then daily copies on the backup machine using hard links. There is a very good introduction here.

We're doing this in an enterprise environment, but it would be easy to co-ordinate between two friends as well.

--derek

gambitdesign.com

Re:Three words:

[BlueUnderwear]

keep in mind that banks usually do not insure safety deposit boxes,

The idea is to keep two sets of backups: one onsite (i.e. at home), and another one at a remote location (i.e. at the bank).

Even if the contents is not insured (what's the monetary value of your personal data anyways?), the probability that something happens both to your home and to your bank is quite slim.

Re:Three words:

[Skjellifetti]

The one problem you might have is if you die and your SO needs to get at the backups for some reason. Many (most) states require that the box be sealed on the death of one of the owners until the probate stuff is straightened out. This is the reason why you should not keep your will in your safety deposit box. Let the attorney keep it for you.

Of course, having said all that, I'll admit that I back up my data to CDR and put the CD in the safety deposit box at the bank. The one thing those backups contain that might cause a problem for my wife is the MS Money backup.

Re:Three words:

[YrWrstNtmr]

This is the reason why you should not keep your will in your safety deposit box.

There is usually a provision for 'Will discovery'. One family member, usually the proposed executor/administrator, is allowed to go into the box to look for and retrieve the will. Life insurance policies as well. Nothing else may be removed, though, until after probate.
IANAL, but I just had to go through this procedure.

Re:the safe may be fireproof

[ChazeFroy]

The submitter of this story should take a look at the ISO 17799 standard (formerly the British Standard 7799) for data security.

As for backups, best practices suggests that you keep one on site and one off site. The off site location should be at least 6.5 miles from the site. This distance was calculated throughout the years as insurance companies assessed damage caused by widespread natural disasters (hurricanes, floods) and the area that was impacted by them.

Re:Connected.com rules

[CodeWheeney]

Unfortunately, the poster of this Ask Slashdot question is the CEO of Connected.com.