How does it work ?

Remote Backup works basically like regular tape backups, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer it is backing up, a Remote Backup sends it over the Internet (or modems and phone lines) to our secure servers safely off-site. It does this (usually) at night while the business is closed and nobody is using the computers. It's completely automatic. In fact, you may even forget it's working every night.

Most small businesses put their lives on the line every night and don't realize it. With businesses depending more and more on the data stored in their computers, proper backups are becoming much more critical. Remote Backup accomplishes several essential steps that are often overlooked or done improperly by other backup software - especially in the regular non-automated backup systems.

• Backups are done on schedule, every night. Most businesses don't do this. For one reason or another, they don't keep a regular backup regimen. Usually it's because the person responsible for doing backups (if there is one) is too busy doing something else, or someone is using the computer when it's time for a backup, or they simply forget. Since Remote Backups are done with automated software at night when nobody is using the computer, backups are always done on schedule.
• The correct files are backed up. Ordinary backup software is often installed with a list of files to be backed up. This set of files usually represents the state of the system when the software was installed, and often misses critical files. Further, it often fails to back up files that are added later. Compounding this problem, VERY few businesses take the trouble to reset their backup software regularly to include new files. CDS's Remote Backup solves this problem with a sophisticated system that constantly reevaluates each client's system, adding files to the backup as needed.
• Redundant copies of files are stored using a sophisticated version control system unavailable in any other backup software of any kind. This is much too important to overlook. The general definition of "proper" backups requires redundancy. That is, one must keep multiple FULL copies of the same files at different points in their development, called versions. As an example, you should have a different copy of each backed-up file for each day of the week, one for each week in the month, and one for each month in the year. Further, you should be able to easily restore any of your files up to any given point in time. Banks do it, big corporations do it, and so should small businesses. Only CDS’s Remote Backup has such an easy to use version control system.
• Backups are encrypted for complete security. Would you want someone to be able to slip one of your backup tapes into a pocket and take it to your competitor? It happens all the time. Tape backups are not generally encrypted, so anyone can read them and gain access to your client database, billing records, payroll, tax info, and everything else on your computer. CDS's Remote Backup system encrypts its backups for complete security so nobody, not even us at CDS, can read them except the client himself.

Finally and most importantly - Backups are immediately sent off-site and stored safely away from the computer and the business. This is where almost every business makes its biggest mistake. Even if you do everything else perfectly, your backups are of little use if your building burns or you are unable to physically recover your tapes from the premises. Most small companies who do backups leave the tapes in the building with the computer, where they can be destroyed right along with the computer