The potential cost of loss associated with not having some sort of data backup plan like direct attached storage is obvious – but what about the out of pocket expense? Direct Attached Storage is not as expensive as you might think. Network Attached Storage: The next logical alternative to direct attached storage is network attached storage (NAS) where the RAID is not connected to the server itself, but can assess data across an entire network with multiple servers (Gigabit connection). This is beneficial for many companies, the set up and administration of a NAS is not time consuming and can be implemented very quickly.

Tape Backup Drive: Another popular alternative is the tape backup drive, be it stand alone or be within a tape autoloader or in a library. The benefit of tape is that they can be stored at a different location, thus minimizing exposure to natural disaster or theft. A tape backup drive is ideal for many types of businesses that need a record of a document’s progress throughout time. The tape library can provide a snapshot of a document, such as a customer contract, as it looked one at any point in its history. No matter what type of data backup plan you choose, it is most important that you implement something now before you encounter a problem. Companies that provide DAS, NAS or Tape solutions can work with you to assess your business needs and address the most effective solutions, thus preventing any significant down time.