Having the ability to determine a quality computer backup system is the key difference between drafting a prize or a terrible data center disaster recovery plan. Though several aspects come into play, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle is the system’s versatility. In simpler terms, you must understand the system’s effectiveness in an assortment of different areas. Especially in your data center disaster recovery plan’s ability to recover from a wide range of disasters.

And not all disasters are what you think. They could be as simple as an employee tripping over, and pulling out the plug of a PC, crashing the CPU and effectively destroying a year’s worth of important files and data. It could also present itself as a virus that infiltrates and corrupts your data center just as your company is about to secure a major project. Or, even as a natural disaster, or your office catching fire and destroying all of your companies in office hardware. What I am trying to say, is that disasters, just like computer backup systems, come in all shapes and sizes themselves. Some are just minor glitches; some can deliver a devastating blow that if unprepared, your company may not be able to recover from.

So how does one determine a computer’s backup systems versatility? It’s actually quite simple. You should start with checking the systems data storage capabilities. Does the system relying on just a single form of medium to store data, or does it accommodate pretty much every medium going? Does the computer backup system include online backups as part of the package? Are there feature in the system that will allow you to easily keep track of all your files, or will it be a difficult task in locating them every time?

Since there is no way to tell what, if any disasters your company may encounter, nor when they will come, you and your system must be prepared at all times. The best way to do this is to have as much backup media as possible. This will ensure that even if one form of media fails, there will be others in which your company can recover from and move on with.

In the end, by having a computer backup system that can stand up to variety of disaster, you can rest assured that your data center disaster recovery plan will not end turning into a disaster of its self.