More Than Half of PC Users Risk Losing Data

Ian

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PC Review have the results of the backup survey performed over the last few months, as presented in the following press release from one of our sponsors, BackupMyStuff.co.uk.

8th August 2005


Whether it’s for work or at home, we all carry more and more crucial data, information, music and pictures on our PCs and laptops. But how many of us would be able to recover those vital files in the event of damage, loss, theft or system failure? A recent survey from online backup provider, www.BackupMyStuff.co.uk in conjunction with leading computer website, www.PCReview.co.uk, has revealed that over half of us NEVER backup the data held on our PCs or laptops. Moreover, latest studies indicate that just over half of the UK’s small businesses have absolutely no formal plans in place when it comes to the protection of their PC data.

The BackupMyStuff / PC Review survey asked over 2,000 computer users how often they performed a backup of their data, with some startling results:

· 53% never backup their data
· 29% only backup on a weekly or monthly basis
· just 18% backup their data every day


The implications of losing data can be severe: In 2003, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry found that 90% of businesses that lost data and had no disaster recovery in place, were forced to shut within two years. In addition, the Data Protection Act now means that many more businesses are legally required to have a secure, offsite backup of client or customer data. Despite this, many computer users still fail to backup their data on a regular basis.

Gordon Munro, Director of GMRK Systems Ltd (operators of BackupMyStuff), said:

“Information, in the form of electronic data, is the lifeblood of all business, regardless of size. Most of us do not realize the cost to our business should that data be lost, and have no backup or data recovery plan in place. Backing up data used to be a laborious, expensive and time-consuming affair, involving manual tape or disc backup, but that is no longer the case. BackupMyStuff.co.uk provides simple, safe, automated, offsite protection that is cost-efficient for any size of business. Once the service is set up, business owners can relax in the knowledge that, should the unexpected happen, they can recover all of their critical data in a matter of minutes.”

With the rollout of broadband infrastructure across the UK, increasing regulation regarding data protection and a growing awareness of the vulnerability of electronic data, online backup (or Electronic Data Vaulting) is a technology whose time has come. All computer users, whether home users, professionals or small-to-medium sized businesses, can now have the same level of protection as large corporations, at a fraction of the cost. Further research from BackupMyStuff underlines the importance of being able to recover data quickly and efficiently:

o 43% of companies which suffer large-scale data loss to due to disasters never re-open and 29% close within two years (Source: The Contingency Planning Research & Strategic Research Corporation).
o A single incident of data loss costs businesses an average of £5K. (Source: DTI)
o Studies have found that over 60% of corporate data resides on desktops and laptops and that less than 8% of users backup on a daily basis (Source: Gartner Group)
o The next big computer virus attack could cost the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises 2.2 million working days, and £2.1bn.
o Londoners top the world for leaving laptops in taxis. In the last six months, 4,973 laptops have been left in London’s licensed taxi cabs – more than double the number of those left in other cities around the world (Source: TAXI magazine).
o 20Mb of lost data typically takes 30 hours to replace. Lost time equals lost money!
o Recovery specialists normally spend 4 to 5 days to complete data recovery after a major data loss
o Spending just 15 minutes each day performing a manual back up adds up to 65 hours of time per year!
o Hardware or system failure accounts for 40% of all data loss; Human error accounts for 28%; Software corruption accounts for 13%; Theft accounts for 9%; Computer viruses, for 6%; Hardware destruction accounts for 3%; 1% of data loss is as a result of natural disasters. (Source: Graziadio Business Report)

For more information, please contact:

Eddie May
Threepipe Communications
T: 0207 470 8830
E: (e-mail address removed)

About BackupMyStuff

The BackupMyStuff service is aimed primarily at laptop, PC and small server users. The service uses software built by Connected Corporation which follows best practice guidelines for data protection. When a BackupMyStuff backup runs, the data is transmitted to one of two secure data vaults housed in geographically separate secure data centers in the South of England. The DataCenters feature onsite 24 hour security, multiple independent supplies of cooling, power and communications and constant onsite technical monitoring. Data replication between the two centers ensures that multiple copies of backups exist in both locations.

BackupMyStuff charges a monthly fixed fee based on the uncompressed data on your PC. Unlike other services who charge based on the space your data occupies in the data center BackupMyStuff does not penalize users for backing up more data one day than another and best of all the customer knows EXACTLY what their bill will be each month. There is no annual contract requirement and users can cancel with a months notice.

The BackupMyStuff service is provided by GMRK Systems Ltd and the service is based upon technology available from The Connected Corporation and Sungard Availability Services. The service is available to business and home PC users. More information about the online backup service can be found at www.BackupMyStuff.co.uk or by calling 0845 644 7522. Pricing details and a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the website: www.backupmystuff.co.uk


About PC Review (www.pcreview.co.uk)

PC Review consists of a team of dedicated individuals, from a variety of different computing backgrounds. We specialise in providing computing news and reviews which are honest and reliable to our readers. We have expertise in many areas of the IT industry, with knowledgeable experts in Hardware, Software, Design, Electronics, Engineering and Networking.
 

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Ian

Now that is really amazing?:eek:

I back up twice a day and only being a mere individual with no business:thumb:, yet companies that do not back up go through I wonder why!:blush:

:confused:
 
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Wow, I feel honered to be a part of this site, Ian I had no idea how popular your site really was. Do you have a job openening?
 

Ian

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Might be in the papers in the coming days apparently :)
 

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