We ve probably all heard horror stories about companies (or individuals) that failed to back up their data and suffered the consequences. For many individuals, the loss of data is an inconvenience, although rarely a serious one. For companies whose businesses depend on the data stored on network computers, the consequences can be severe. Still, many companies, particularly smaller ones, have inadequate backup and recovery strategies. Backing server files up to tape and storing the tape in the desk drawer hardly constitutes a secure backup and recovery strategy, yet that s just what takes place in many companies.

Backing up and restoring data is your failsafe option when all else fails, you rely on backups to restore your systems and network to their operational states. The task of backing up data can enhance security in an organization. If you think of security in broad terms such as ensuring authorized users have access to needed data and protecting network data and services, you can easily see that the very act of backing up and restoring a system is a fundamental security task. In this section, we ll look at designing a secure strategy for backup and recovery. You ll find these kinds of questions on the exam and you ll certainly want to use this information on the job.