One thing for sure and two things for certain: Court reporters write a lot of words in a day, and that means a lot of files that you need to back up. So that means that your back-up system is something you want to be absolutely positive is working for you. That leaves us with a few questions for you: When was the last time that you checked on your back-up system? Have you considered implementing any refinements recently to make your system more efficient? To make this a little easier on you, we asked NCRA’s Technology Committee for their top tips on backing up.
3-2-1 DATA SAFETY
Tamara Chapman, RPR, CRR, of Austin, Texas, new to the Technology Committee this year, recommends the “3-2-1 Backup Rule,” a strategy recommended by IT experts for ensuring data safety and resilience against data loss.
What does that rule mean?
3: Keep at least three copies of your data
One primary copy: This is the data you use daily, such as files stored on your computer or main device. Two backup copies: In addition to your primary copy, you should maintain at least two backups. This redundancy protects against the failure or corruption of a single backup.
2: Use two different storage mediums
To avoid losing data due to the failure of a single type of storage, use at least two different kinds of media. These include:
- External hard drives
- SSDs
- Network-Attached Storage (NAS)
- Optical discs (DVDs, Blu-rays)
- Cloud storage
Diversifying your storage media ensures that a vulnerability in one medium (like hardware failure or degradation) doesn’t compromise all your backups.
1: Keep one copy off-site
To protect against risks like natural disaster or theft, store one copy in a separate physical location from your primary data. Options include:
- Cloud Storage: A popular and convenient off-site solution.
- Off-Site Location: A safe deposit box, a trusted friend’s home, or a secure facility.
This ensures that your data is safe even if your primary location is compromised.
Additional Tips
REGULAR UPDATES
Ensure all backups are updated regularly to reflect the latest data.
TESTING
Periodically test your backups to verify they work and the data can be restored.
ENCRYPTION
Encrypt sensitive data to maintain privacy and security, especially for off-site backups.
Remember, the whole point of backups is to be ready in case something goes wrong – a hardware failure, accidental deletion, cyberthreats (such as a ransomware attack), or even natural disaster. By following the 3-2-1 rule, you can ensure that your data remains safe and accessible even when the worst happens and you need to rebuild your kit from scratch.
Stay tuned for additional tips on backing up your data from the Technology Committee. Have questions for the Technology committee? Send them to JCRfeedback@ncra.org.
Tamara Chapman, RPR, CRR, is a freelancer from Austin, Texas. She can be reached at austincourtreporter@gmail.com.
Comments are closed.