To date a large number of primary schools have backed up crucial, sensitive data to a tape drive or USB hard drive. This typically inclues the school management system e.g. SIMS/FMS, email and the admin office files.This requires any  new server purchase to include an expensive tape drive and will require a set of backup tapes, which need to be replaced regularly as they are degradable media. 

In addition to the above a member of staff would have the responsibility to change the backup tape and upon good advice take the tapes away from site. The reason backup tapes have been taken off site is so that should a fire, floor or other disaster occur in the school the backup of the data would be safe away from school. However this method also leaves the backup data at risk. Following a recent data backup survey it was found that a large number of the staff responsible for backup tapes will do the following:

• Place the tape in a handbag, take offsite and leave it there until the next day
• Place the tape in the glove compartment of their car and leave until the next day
• Often forget the tape and leave it in school
• Do not complete test restores regularly
• Do not replace the backup tapes annually (if at all)

Another major issue with a tape backup is that the backup data is not encrypted. This means that should the tape fall into the wrong hands it can easily be inserted into another compatible tape drive and the data taken. Also, because the tapes are degradable, leaving them in a glove compartment where temperatures will fluctuate or leaving in a handbag which could be left in various areas can cause the data to be wiped. This highlights the need to regularly test a restore of files from the backup tapes.

SIMS and FMS modules supported with Oakford Backup!