Backup Backup

September 11, 2001. Twin towers of the World Trade Center burning. I am writing this specially to remind you to take backup of your data. What is backup? Copy program AND data on a ‘removable media’. No definition is NOT complete. Copy program AND data on a ‘removable media’ and take backup and store in another place (say, another office or home). Once, a person came with a bag holding high and dangling in the air. “I lost the key, and some important documents are inside the bag”. You will respond: “Don’t you keep a duplicate key?” He says: “yes, yes, but it is inside the same bag”. :-). Would you believe, I asked this question: 'have you taken backup?' Pat answer comes, 'yes, yes, it is on another computer'. :-( ERP server is a machine, mostly nothing happens, but who could imagine, that twin tower can be destroyed all of a sudden? Please make a ‘disaster management plan’ and include this para: “take backup on a CD (or DVD or tape) and store in another safe place, EVERYDAY”. In one factory, which is situated next to a river, the server computer was under water, because of unexpected rain in the night. But, the ERP coordinator was religiously taking back up and the MD was taking the same home. Even the Hard drive was damaged. The data and program were saved. Remember, Airtel fire in Mumbai. Server was damaged in Fire. The company had to cut a sorry figure by confessing the ‘backup was not taken, for over a week’. Some companies take backup of data but not of software (e.g. DNS ERP exe). Do not forget to take backup, of program folders also. In company, company ERP coordinator could not take backup because accounts did not sanction money for buying CD/ DVD ! The cost (and time) required for backup is negligible, as compared to the value of data. Effort of re-entering data again is waste of time and money. Let us wish nothing will happen, and God forbid, you will never require to use the backup. However, it is wiser to take necessary precaution. I am specially writing this today, because today is nine-eleven. A line of confirmation that you have been taking backup regularly, will be appreciated. Pl. ignore, if you are routinely taking backup. Zaveri 09/11/2009.