As a technician you’re responsible for preventing disasters that could impact the organization. This means preparing for disasters by ensuring you have the organization’s data backed-up thoroughly.

Backup and Recovery

Data backups

When we think of data backups, we usually relate them to disasters. However, data backups are not just used to restore from disasters

We often use data backups when a user inadvertently

deletes some files

overwrites some files

or forgets where they put the files to begin with.

Data backups main purpose is

data loss recovery.

Image level Backups

An image-level backup creates an image of an entire volume including the operating system, applications, and settings.

This method enables the system to be restored to the state captured in the latest backup. There is no singular file or folder option here. The entire volume must be restored.

image-based backups also allow for a complete server to be backed up.

This type of backup is also called a Bare-Metal backup.

It’s called a bare-metal backup because if the server hardware were to fail, you would restore the backup to a new server (bare-metal) and restore it completely.

The only issue with these type of backups is that they require administrative intervention. However, the technology is impressive and prevents you from reinstalling the server from a complete blank scratch.

File Level Backups

Most of the time, your users will need to restore a single file or perhaps a few files. Therefore, you should make sure that one of the layers of protections allows for the restoration of individual files.

File Level Backups can be done multiple ways

Volume Shadow Copy/ Volume Snapshot Service (VSS)

Can be enabled on a volume-by-volume basis (disk-by-disk)

Once it’s turned on, all the shares on the volume are protected.

Can only have 64 snapshots at a time and volume shadow copy is not enabled by default

Has the amazing advantage of restoring individual files.

All the end-users have to do is right click the drive in file explorer, then right-click the file or empty space in the shared folder, select Properties → Previous Version Tab. This will open a list of snapshots.

From this point, the user can just double-click the snapshots to open them as if they were currently on the filesystem. Finally, hit the restore button to get the deleted file back.

Access by right-clicking a volume (drive/disk) and selecting properties

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File History

Feature has to be enabled

Allows you to recover your files if they were deleted from the recycle bin

Critical Application Backups

In the business environment, you need to plan backups for mission-critical applications in order to minimize downtime. Consider this as a business continuity solution as opposed to one of data recovery

There may be several types of applications that are custom to an organization, it’s important to have these applications backed-up incase things go hay wire.

Backup Testing

You should not consider data on a backup to be safe until you have proven that it has been restored successfully. Many things can go wrong during a backup restoration, the most common being a media failure.

It’s recommended to perform a restore backup at least once a month. This allows you to verify that you actually have data that is restorable in the event of an emergency.

Many backup products will allow you to schedule a test restore.

Backup Methods

There are several options for creating file-based backup jobs. Each backup method has its advantages and disadvantages. Below are the following methods:

Full

A full backup is just that — a full backup of everything. All the data.

Backup process

Requires the longest backup window out of all three methods

Restore Process

The fastest to restore because it’s all on one tape.

It requires the longest backup window of all the methods, because it takes the most time to fully backup everything.

Generally performed on weekends when you have the most time.

All the data is kept on one tape.

Incremental

An incremental backup is used to speed up backups through the week when backup windows are short.

Backup process

is much faster than the other two backup methods

Restore Process

is the longest to restore the data.

Backs up the data that has been changed since the last full or incremental backup.

Back ups the data one day at a time.

Ex. Monday - Full backup

Back ups only Tuesday’s data

Back ups only Wednesday’s data

Back ups only Thursday’s data

Back ups only Friday’s data

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Differential

only the data that’s been changed or added since the last known full back up is the data that’s backed up

To restore the data, you’d need both the full backup + last differential backup to fully store.

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image of all three types of backups

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Copy

Used when you want to make an exact copy of the server without resetting anything

Backup Media

When creating a backup job, you choose what you want to back up (source) and a destination where it is to be stored.

Each backup media option uses a specific media type, and each media type has a unique advantages and disadvantages.

Disk-To-Tape

LTO (Linear Tape-Open) technology is used in tape backups.

LTO can provide 6TB of free raw backup space per tape.

RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is the amount of time it takes for data to be backed up

In this strategy, a backup is stored first on a disk and then saved on a magnetic tape. As a result we have two backup copies: one on the disk medium and one on tape medium.

Advantages

Portable enough to move to an off-site location for safekeeping.

cost-efficient

Disadvantages

The tapes require a great deal of time to record the data, resulting in lengthy overall backup time

Tapes also must be searched linearly and cannot retrieve data as quickly

Disk-To-Disk

Have become more of a standard in datacenters because of the short RTO (Recovery Time).

Advantages

Can record the data quicker than traditional tapes, thus shortening the overall backup time.

They also do not require tensioning and seeking of the data like a tape does

Higher transfer speeds than using tape or floppy disks with shorter backup and recovery periods.

Non-linear data recovery for shorter and simpler file restoration than with a tape (tapes must be searched linearly and cannot retrieve data as quickly).

Disadvantages

the capacity is much smaller than a tape because the drives remain in the backup unit.

Disk-To-Cloud

Often used with Disk-to-Disk backups to provide an off-site storage location for end-of-ongoing cost and lengthy recovery time.

Advantages

You do not need to purchase expensive backup equipment to actually perform the backup.

The advantage is that it is independent of physical media and relies solely on the accessibility of a remote server (internet).

It requires little infrastructure on the client side: There are no tapes to house data to verify, and retrieving a backup is as simple as connecting to the remote server on the internet.

Disadvantages

Anytime you want to restore data, you have to download it. Depending on the internet connection speeds, this may take quite a while.

If there’s an internet outage, you lose access to your backups pretty abruptly.

Battery Backups

UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)

A battery backup system that allows for power conditioning during power sags, power surges, and power outages.

A UPS should only be used until a generator turns on; the generator can supply a steady source of power.

The UPS allows for systems to shutdown gracefully; UPS only have a certain amount of juice in them so they can’t be used like they’re full generators

UPS batteries should be used to supply power while a generator is starting up; this protects the equipment during the power sag that is created during a generator’s startup

Types of UPS

Standby-UPS

The most common type of UPS that you find under a desk protecting a personal computer.

Line-Interactive UPS

used for small server rooms and racks of networking equipment

Online UPS

the standard for huge data centers

power is constantly supplied from the batteries

Surge Protector

a device that prevents an electrical power surge from damaging electrical equipment

a power surge is an electrical input upward of 500 volts for around 1/1000s of a second, but that’s all that’s needed to cause damage to your equipment

Causes

Lightning strikes are the most common cause of power surges.

When the electrical company transfers a load back on to the power grid, a brief surge can sometimes happen

Power Conditioner (Line conditioner)

It supplies a constant steady power source during power surges and brown outs

They are more expensive than surge protectors, but they protect a computer from over voltages, under voltages, and adverse noise conditions over electrical lines.

A line conditioner monitors AC electricity. If the voltage is too low, the line conditioner boosts voltage to the proper range. If the voltage level is too high, the line conditioner clamps down the voltage and sends the proper amount to the computer

Types of Power Issues

Overvoltage Events

Power Surge

a power surge is an electrical input upward of 500 volts ranging from a few seconds to a minute. But that’s all that’s needed to cause damage to your equipment

Power Spike

a power spike is an increase in over voltage to your electrical systems for an extremely short period of time, a few milliseconds

Because it’s such a short amount of time, most of the time no damage is done to your equipment

Undervoltage Events

Brownouts

an undervoltage condition that happens for extended amounts of time, sometimes minutes or hours

these can causes PCs to reboot and can cause equipment failure

Power Sag (dip)

An undervoltage event that occurs only briefly, maybe a millisecond or a few seconds

Cloud Storage vs Local Storage Backups

Cloud Storage

Pros

Highly reliable

Can be stored off-site

Providing more protection from fire, floods, etc.

Widely available

Can perform scheduled encrypted backups

Cons

Need internet access to access the data

no internet means no storage access.

Local Storage

Pros

Data is backed up to another physical disk, machine, or an off-site location.

External disks, SSD Devices, optical media can be used to store portable backups.

Allows for total user-control of the data.

Cons

If the local storage is kept on site or close nearby, the local storage would be in danger of disasters.

Account Recovery Options

Disaster can strike in several different ways and its not limited to data loss or power problems.

An admin account or an important user account may have been accidently deleted or you may have just forgot the password to it. There are a few ways to recover an account.

Online Accounts

When you setup windows for the first time, the default is the use of a Microsoft online account. A Microsoft account allows you to download applications and content from the Microsoft store.

It also allows you to recover your account by using Microsoft services. Whenever you sign up for a Microsoft account, you’re asked for backup email accounts and even your cell phone number for text messages.

Having an Online Microsoft account gives you many alternate ways to recover your account if you lose your password.

Local Accounts

Using a local account to login into a computer will slightly limit your options for account recovery. Fortunately, starting with Windows 10 version 1803, there is a built-in option to recover a password for a local account.

During the setup for the admin account, the OS will ask you three security questions. Simply answer these 3 security questions to recover your account.

If you’re not running Windows 10 version 1803 or later, your only option for local account recovery is to do a system restore.

Domain Accounts

Forgotten Password/ Locked Account

You can use admin accounts on the domain to reset the password or unlock a locked account.

Deleted Domain Accounts

Use the Active Directory Recycle Bin to recover deleted domain accounts.

Once an active directory account is deleted, it will show up in the deleted objects container. Right click → click restore

Restore Domain Accounts from Backup

Almost all Windows backups have a way to backup Active Directory.

Use the Windows Backup Utility to do this. Perform an authoritative restore.

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