TRI Newsletter – December 2022
TRI Newsletter – December 2022
Backup Your Data!
There are many different ways to backup your data, and not all are created equal.
TRI recommends a 3-2-1 backup approach.
The 3-2-1 backup rule is:
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Keep at least three (3) copies of your data.
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Store two (2) backup copies on different storage media (external hard drives, optical disks, or a cloud backup service,)
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With one (1) of them located offsite. To clarify, let’s take a look at each point of this rule.
Keep at least 3 copies of your data.
Even a trivial event, such as a fire alarm triggering the sprinkler system could literally wash all your data away. Countless other incidents could bring about the same outcome – Therefore, having one backup isn’t enough, especially if it is stored in the same location as the primary data and on the same type of media. Obviously, the more backup copies you have, the less chance you have to lose all of them at once. Thus, the 3-2-1 backup rule states that you need at least three copies of your data, meaning the primary data and two backups of this data.
Store 2 backup copies on different devices or storage media
We must remember that any storage device will fail sooner or later. Hard drives fail over time, whether because of a defect or simply wearing out. Two devices of the same type have a much greater risk of failing around the same time than two devices of different types or two different storage media. Thus, the 3-2-1 backup rule says that if you keep your primary data on an internal hard drive, store your backup copies a different way – for example, using an external hard drive, optical disks, or a cloud backup service.
Keep at least 1 backup copy offsite
As it is obvious that a local disaster can damage all copies of data stored in one place, the 3-2-1 backup rule says: keep at least one copy of your data in a remote location, such as offsite storage or an online cloud backup service. Examples of an online backup service would be BackBlaze or Carbonite. An example of offsite storage would be to rotate 2 external hard drives between home and the office, achieving an offsite backup of your data.
While storing one backup copy offsite strengthens your data security, having another backup copy on-site provides for faster and simpler recovery in case of failure.
Verify your backups
Lastly, it’s best to verify your backups from time to time. When viewing your backups, verify that you can see current documents, photos, & other important items that are critical to have backed up. All too often techs come across backups that have been failing for months or years, making the recovery of data from a failed device cost thousands of dollars, if not completely unrecoverable depending on how damaged a device is.
Cloud Backup/Storage
There is also a misconception of online storage that comes with various programs or platforms (iCloud, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, or Dropbox, to name a few) are a form of backup. While these services can operate as a piece of your backup strategy, they have important shortcomings to consider.
For example: Onedrive is a folder on your computer that you can save or copy data to. It will then backup the data in the OneDrive folder to your OneDrive online account, which would preserve your data if your hard drive suddenly crashed. However, if you accidentally delete data from the folder on the computer it will also be lost in the Online storage as this synchronizes between the online storage and the OneDrive folder on the computer.
How Often Should you Backup
How often you do a backup is totally up to you but ask this question when deciding.
How much data can you lose and be OK? If you do a lot of documents in a day or week and don’t want to lose them then your answer may be daily or weekly. If I change the data in a file every couple of weeks a monthly backup might be a good fit.
Battery Backup units (UPS)
We have had a lot of power outages in the metro recently, which can be hard on your electronics, especially computers. A battery backup unit is a large surge protector that also has a battery, which can allow you the time to shut down equipment the proper way before it runs out of energy. Traditionally, there are 2 sections on the UPS; Surge and Battery+Surge. You plug critical items into the Battery+ Surge side like the computer and modem. Things like printers and speakers into the Surge only side. If the power goes out this allows you to finish what you are doing and shut down the proper way.
Cybersecurity Awareness
Cybercriminals continue to try to trick you into giving them personal information through an email(phishing), a phone call or voicemail (vishing), a text message (smishing) and scareware.
How can you spot a scammer? |
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How can you avoid getting scammed?
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Check the email address for the actual email, not just the name. (Says it came from Jane@Doe.com but the address is wer345@sdlfkj.com)
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Reaching out to the sender of a suspicious attachment via a method other than email. Call or text them.
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Familiarizing yourself with your antivirus’s look to avoid being fooled.
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Make sure your antivirus hasn’t expired.
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If you get a popup that tells you “You Are Infected” Don’t click on it. Click the home button of your browser if you can.
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Never allow access to your computer unless you started it. (By calling TRI)
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No one will call you out of the blue to tell you there is a problem. Only the scammers. Not Microsoft, Dell, HP, Antivirus Programs or anyone else…
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Don’t look up the number for companies like Microsoft, HP, Dell online.
Instead go to the program and look for the Help menu and support options under the help menu.
What to do if you think you have been scammed.
Shut down your computer.
If restarting didn’t solve the problem, call us. We can schedule a remote to fix it.
Most spyware can be cleaned off your computer in about an hour or less @ $150\hr.
If you clicked on the link/attachment, or called the number, there may be some additional steps to take.
Call your bank or credit card company if you gave out that info and have the charges reversed and account info changed.
Change any passwords that may have been compromised.
How to stop scareware
Don’t buy it, the fake antivirus or security suite will look very real and ask you to “Buy Now”. If you did not intend to upgrade your security, don’t believe it is real.
Call us if you have any questions on if it is real or fake.
It will tell you not to shut down your computer, because that’s the best way to get rid of it. Shut down your computer! The scareware exists in your RAM and when you shut down your computer it clears it out.
Contact TRI
The best way to reach us is by calling the mainline at 612-720-0233 or email at info@reinforceme.com. Please do not text or contact the techs directly. They are frequently in the field or working with other clients and often can’t respond promptly.
Calling 612-720-0233 is always the fastest way to get an appointment or a question answered.
! New Location !
Technical Reinforcements Inc
612-720-0233
15838 Venture Ln
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Thank you,
James, Chris, Brett, Adam, Clint & Suzi
