The Backup Wrap-Up

In this eye-opening episode, we examine a real-world disaster recovery test gone wrong from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our guest Paul Van Dyke shares his story of intentionally taking down an entire server environment over a weekend, armed with only backup tapes and determination. This disaster recovery test example showcases both what not to do and valuable lessons learned.

Paul walks us through his bold 2001 decision to reorganize storage across five servers by completely wiping them all at once. What was supposed to be a weekend project turned into a five-day marathon, including sleeping on his office floor to swap backup tapes. While he eventually succeeded in restoring everything, this disaster recovery test example demonstrates why proper testing and planning are crucial for any major infrastructure changes.

Join us for this candid conversation about backup testing, restoration planning, and the unique challenges of managing IT infrastructure on a remote Alaskan island. Learn from Paul's experience so you don't have to learn these lessons the hard way!

Ready to level up your disaster recovery testing game? This episode covers everything from basic restore testing to full-scale DR scenarios. Curtis and Prasanna share real-world experiences and practical advice for implementing effective disaster recovery testing strategies.

Learn why starting small is crucial, how to define clear success criteria, and ways to test without risking your production environment. We discuss different infrastructure types, from physical servers to cloud platforms, and explain how each requires its own testing approach. Plus, get insights on creating effective runbooks and ensuring your team can execute recovery procedures without depending on specific individuals.

Whether you're planning your first DR test or looking to improve existing procedures, this episode provides actionable guidance for building confidence in your recovery capabilities.

BTW if you want to watch/listen to the Alaska DR story, I'm actually going to repost it next week.

WC

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Detecting ransomware requires more than just good antivirus software - it demands a comprehensive approach using multiple tools and techniques. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, security expert Mike Saylor breaks down the essential components of ransomware detection, from endpoint protection to network monitoring.

Learn about the latest detection tools like XDR, EDR, and SOAR, and discover why many organizations might benefit from working with a managed security service provider. We discuss real-world examples of ransomware detection, including unusual signs that might indicate an attack in progress. Whether you're managing IT for a small business or an enterprise organization, this episode provides practical insights into detecting ransomware before it's too late.

In this essential episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we dive deep into RTO vs RPO – the foundational concepts that drive backup and recovery system design. Curtis and Prasanna break down why these aren't just technical metrics, but crucial business decisions that should come from your stakeholders.

Learn why different applications need different RTOs and RPOs, how these metrics influence your backup frequency and system design, and why getting them wrong can cost your company millions. We'll show you how to have productive conversations with stakeholders about recovery objectives, and why the common answer of "zero downtime" isn't always the right one. Whether you're new to backup or a seasoned pro, this episode will reshape how you think about recovery objectives.

Experience the backup from hell in this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up. What started as a straightforward 40TB backup spiraled into a months-long battle with 400TB of data, failing tape drives, and directories containing hundreds millions of files.

Host W. Curtis Preston shares his first-hand account of tackling this backup from hell, including the challenges of dealing with SMB protocol limitations, tape drive failures, and the infamous "million file problem." Learn why backing up 99 million files in a single directory isn't just challenging - it's nearly impossible over standard protocols.

Discover the solutions that finally worked, from switching to disk-based backup to implementing local tar backups. Whether you're a backup admin or IT professional, this episode offers valuable insights into handling extreme backup scenarios.

In this important episode, we tackle the crucial topic of election integrity. As a seasoned poll worker and site manager, I take you behind the scenes of our voting process, revealing the numerous safeguards and checks in place to ensure fair and accurate elections. We debunk common myths, explain the importance of paper ballots, and discuss how mail-in voting actually works. You'll learn about the rigorous signature verification process, the role of election observers, and why it's nearly impossible to commit large-scale voter fraud. Whether you're skeptical about our electoral system or simply curious, this episode provides valuable insights into how we maintain election integrity. Don't miss this chance to understand the nuts and bolts of our democratic process and why you can trust in the security of your vote.

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we look at the dangers of the consolidating backup market, a trend that's reshaping the industry. We talk about recent major acquisitions like Cohesity's purchase of Veritas and Salesforce's takeover of OwnBackup, examining the implications for customers and the market at large.

After covering each acquisition, we talk about the often-overlooked risks of keeping legacy backup systems operational post-consolidation, including security vulnerabilities and ongoing costs. We also address the challenges of data accessibility and the potential legal ramifications of retaining old backups. Whether you're a seasoned IT professional or new to the world of data protection, this episode offers valuable insights into navigating the complex landscape of backup market consolidation.

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we look at the dangers of the consolidating backup market, a trend that's reshaping the industry. We talk about recent major acquisitions like Cohesity's purchase of Veritas and Salesforce's takeover of OwnBackup, examining the implications for customers and the market at large.

After covering each acquisition, we talk about the often-overlooked risks of keeping legacy backup systems operational post-consolidation, including security vulnerabilities and ongoing costs. We also address the challenges of data accessibility and the potential legal ramifications of retaining old backups. Whether you're a seasoned IT professional or new to the world of data protection, this episode offers valuable insights into navigating the complex landscape of backup market consolidation.

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up that proves Curtis right :) we look into the shocking case of a rogue administrator who held an entire company's IT infrastructure hostage. We explore how Daniel Rhyne, a core infrastructure engineer, managed to lock out his colleagues and demand a $750,000 ransom. This real-world example highlights the critical importance of safeguarding against insider threats.

We look into practical strategies to prevent such incidents, including implementing least privilege access, enforcing "four eyes" principles for critical changes, and maintaining robust logging and auditing systems. The discussion also covers recovery options and the vital role of off-site immutable backups in mitigating damage from rogue administrators. Whether you're an IT professional or business leader, this episode provides essential insights into protecting your organization from the potentially devastating actions of trusted insiders gone rogue.

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we explore the critical process of a business impact analysis (BIA) and its importance for organizations of all sizes. Our expert guest, Dr. Mike Saylor, shares valuable insights on conducting effective BIAs, including why it's best to have a third party perform them. We discuss how business impact analysis informs disaster recovery plans, aligns IT with business needs, and helps justify crucial investments in resilient systems. You'll learn about the steps involved in a BIA, from stakeholder identification to financial impact assessment, and understand how this process can save your organization time, money, and headaches in the long run. Whether you're an IT professional or a business leader, this episode provides essential knowledge for protecting your organization's critical functions and ensuring business continuity.