The data contained in a database is valuable. For SkyWrite Ink, data represents time and money. No one can predict when or how a database will be damaged. If human error or a technical malfunction destroyed or damaged the data, all employee data would be lost as well as the valuable customer and flight information. To prevent this, you should make a copy of the database on a regular basis. The copy is referred to as a backup. You can store backups on a tape drive, on a hard disk, or on floppy disk(s).
While it seems like extra work to make regular backups, it is good insurance and not difficult. With a backup, you can restore the data. Without a backup, your database is gone.
If you do not make good, consistent, daily backups then how important is your data? Yes, there are software utilities and techniques available to recover data from damaged databases, but no method is 100% reliable. None is guaranteed to recover 100% of your data, and using such a data recovery method may involve hours to days of down time.
Restoring a current backup and re-entering any missing data is by far the fastest and most accurate method of data recovery. A current backup usually ranges between 12-24 hours since the data was last modified. With the number of commercial software programs available to do backups there is no excuse for not doing them. If you have a large database, invest in a streaming tape backup. The cost of regular backups saves money. You will recover the cost of the backup and more the first time you use it.
Store backups away from the computer. Use off site backups for the most important, irrecoverable data. Store disks in a locked, fireproof box.
Test your backup procedure to make sure the procedure works. The time to find out that there is a bad disk or the data did not copy is not when you need to restore the backup. Who has not heard of users faithfully executing backup commands, but, until they needed to restore, not realizing that the procedure is not completing successfully? In fact, two different backup methods are best for vital data.
How important is your data? How much time and effort would be involved if you had to recreate the data from scratch, assuming that you can recreate all the data? What state would your business be in if someone breaks into your office and steals your computer? What about a hard disk failure? Do not assume "that will never happen to me". It happens and it only needs to happen once. Backups do not take time; they save you time, and money.
