Does it make sense to backup all files on the server?
That depends on several factors, such as how often the data changes, how fast your Internet connection is, and whether or not you have a good backup image. If you have a slow Internet connection, and a good image of the server, you may be able to backup only your data files. Applications and other system files that don't change don't need to be backed up, as they are on your disk image. The system state should be backed up, however, to ensure changes to system files since your drive imaging are backed up. This can be done using the built in Microsoft Backup program to dump the system state to a file. A script is included on our support page. This file can be restored by booting into Active Directory Restore mode on your server.
 

How do I backup Microsoft SQL Server databases?
You can backup SQL files easily by using SQL Enterprise Manager to dump the databases to a file. This file can then be backed up using CU Data Vault. This process ensures the integrity of database backup and that you will be able to restore the backup, as you will use Enterprise Manager. Please note that as with any application, you should speak with your software vendor to ensure you are backing up everything you need. It may not be enough to just backup the database - configuration or other files may also be needed.
 

How do I backup Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange can be difficult to backup, however like the system state, it can easily be done using the Microsoft Backup program. All you need to do is schedule Microsoft Backup to dump exchange to a file, then backup that file using CU Data Vault.
 

Won't the backup take forever if my Internet connection is slow?
The first backup is likely to take a long time, particularly if you are backing up a lot of data. We recommend doing your initial backup over a weekend, so that the backup doesn't impact network users trying to access the Internet. You can also resume a canceled backup, allowing you to resume where you left off if you need to cancel the backup due to a busy period. After the first backup, the time required should diminish considerably.
 

We have a lot of data - is it really practical to use online backups?
Of course. As we noted above, the initial backup will likely take a long time. However, our special technology makes subsequent backups quick as we only backup the actual bytes of the file that have changed. This technology really kicks in on the third and subsequent backups. Also, the data is compressed (and encrypted) prior to being transmitted, for even more efficient use of bandwidth.
 

Can I backup non-Windows based data?
Yes. You can do this by either having the non-Windows server dump the information to the Windows server being backed up, or by creating a mapped drive to the non-Windows server.
 

What if I lose my fast Internet connection and need to recover data?
You have two options, actually. First, you can use a dial-up connection to connect to the Internet, then download the data - any Internet connection is usable, although it will be slower. Second, you could have us put the data on CDs or DVDs and overnight them to you, for a reasonable fee. This will provide you with a complete offline restore solution for all the data.
 

How will I know if my backup succeeded or failed?
The backup client software can be configured to send an email after each backup or only when problems occur. A copy of the backup log can also be attached.
 

Can we back up more than 1x per day?
Yes. While we recommend performing full backups nightly to minimize the impact on your server resources and bandwidth, backups can be performed anytime. In fact, separate backup schedules can be created to backup just mission critical information, more often.
 

How secure is my data?
Very secure. First, your data is encrypted on your server using 3DES or Blowfish encryption. The encryption key used is unique to your server or credit union, and the data cannot be decrypted without it. We cannot even decrypt your data, so be sure to keep that encryption key safe!

Once encrypted and compressed, the data is transmitted to our servers where it remains encrypted. Our servers are protected by firewalls and intrusion detection systems, and are isolated from other public servers to ensure maximum security. Also, we monitor security closely and have an experienced CISSP on staff to supervise security matters.

For maximum stability and data protection, our servers deploy triple redundant power supplies, and utilizes RAID 5 disk subsystems, providing terabytes of storage capacity.
 

How long is my data retained on the server?
Backup data is store on the server for 120 days. Files from any individual backup set can be retrieved as needed. Files that are deleted from your server will remain in the prior backup sets until they fall outside the 120 day window. We can optionally extend the data storage period if needed, although data that is already outside the restore window cannot be recovered after the fact.