|
|
|
   
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: |
Is
Skynet's offisite backup service HIPAA compliant? |
| A: |
- Skynet's offsite backup service complies with the
Final Security Rule, but please read on...
Our Software compresses and encrypts data before it is sent to our
Data Center. The Encryption Key is known only to the customer, and
is never transmitted to the Server. Data is stored on our Server in
compressed and encrypted archives that are not accessible by Skynet,
Inc.
Our backup software is adequate to help companies comply with the
Final Security Rule. Skynet, Inc. also complies with the Privacy
section, even though Skynet is technically not a "Covered Entity" as
defined by the current rules, and thus are not required to comply
with it.
In addition, Remote Backup can help customers comply with other
provisions of the rules as part of a larger data protection and
disaster recovery plan. At the time of this writing there is no "HIPAA
Compliance" certification for backup software, and it is important
to note that under the current rules, no software is truly "HIPAA
compliant," because there are no regulations that specifically
address backup and privacy software. (For more information go to
http://www.skynetinc.net/bakHIPPA.htm.)
|
| |
|
| Q: |
Why use
Skynet, Inc. for your offsite data backups? |
| A: |
- Skynet's business is making sure you have piece
of mind with your data backups. We recognize that backups can be
time consuming and sometimes difficult to maintain. Most off-site
backup companies sell you backup software and charge you for space
on their servers and still leave you with the burden and
responsibility of backing up your data. When you signup for our
remote backup service it's like you hired a full time backup
administrator that most companies pay professional salaries for.
Skynet routinely checks your backup schedule and performs
verifications of successful backups. In the event of an error or
failure, we will contact you and inform you of such error and inform
you of actions needed to correct the error. Skynet sends email
notifications each time your backup completes. You are always
informed of your backup status. The most common mistake companies
make is never testing for a successful restore. You may restore your
data at anytime and check for data integrity.
|
| |
|
| Q: |
What is an offsite data
backup? |
| A: |
- Most organizations are aware of the need to
protect their most important asset - their data. Human error, a PC
crash, a virus, malicious actions, flood, fire, theft or loss of a
notebook - can all too easily put this data and therefore the
business at risk. Offsite backup is the backup of computer data to a
separate physical location remotely stored using the internet
securely. Offsite backups have become a much more attractive option
and provides a no-worry, simple, secure, reliable an very affordable
alternative to traditional backup methods.
|
| |
|
| Q: |
What are the
benefits of offsite data backups? |
| A: |
- Perhaps the greatest benefit of our offsite
backup is the ability to store your important data files offsite in
case of unforeseen disaster. You do not need trained staff with the
responsibility of backing up your data. Remote Backup is cheaper
than cost of expensive backup equipment and software, peace of mind
knowing your data is stored safely and securely, no additional
storage media costs, low operating cost, and simple restores means
you do not have to dig through boxes of old tape cartridges hoping
you can find the one cartridge that will work
|
| |
|
| Q: |
Is your backup service secure? |
| A: |
- Skynet's Offsite Backup is very secure. All data
is encrypted to at least 128-bit level before it leaves your system.
The encryption is not removed until it is restored on your system.
Data is never transmitted or stored un-encrypted, including during a
restore process. An account number, password, and further option
encryption key all ensure that only the authorized user has access
to the data.
|
| |
|
| Q: |
What
are the limitations of your offsite data backup? |
| A: |
- As with any backup method there may be some
practical limitations depending on your requirements in relation to
the time taken to backup or restore. Outlined below is a summary of
how this limitation may occur and mitigating factors.
Our Offsite Backup requires an internet connection to work,
therefore the volume of data to be transferred and consequently the
time it takes to do. This is a factor to consider if you create a
very large amounts of new data on a daily basis or if have large
files (>500Mb). For broadband enabled users this is rarely a
problem.
The initial full backup, which only requires to be completed once,
will normally take considerably longer to complete than subsequent
backups, which are significantly faster because only the compressed
files that have changed are transmitted which significantly reduces
overall backup time over the internet.
If those changes are typically only one or two megabytes per backup
then a standard dial-up or ISDN connection is suitable. However if
those changes were several hundred megabytes per backup then a
dial-up connection would simply take too long to transmit. A
broadband connection such as ADSL, Cable, DSL or Leased Line would
be required. These have the advantage of faster transmission rates,
no usage call charges and the ability to handle large volumes of
data.
In a data recovery scenario again the limiting factor may the time
taken to transmit the data. In most cases the immediate requirement
is only for a relatively small number of files.
In the event of total data loss as a result of a disaster it is very
unusual in our experience to require all the data immediately. In
most disaster recovery cases only a subset of data is required for
restoring to a temporary system while replacement equipment is
located and configured. This subset can be restored immediately to
minimize lost productivity. We can then deliver the remainder of
your data, perhaps on a hard disk drive that could be plugged
straight into your system, the next day.
|
|
 
 |
 |
 |
| |
"The average failure rate of disk and tape drives are 100%.
All drives will eventually fail." |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
"There are two types of hard drives - those that have failed and
those that will fail." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
