Backup Tapes Policy
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A backup plan should include these factors:
- How often each workstation hard drive (staff and/or public) needs to be backed up
- How often each server hard drive needs to be backed up
- The backup process: medium used (tape, CD-RW, network hard drive), schedule, and person responsible for management
- Rotation of backup media
- Security of backup media
- Response process in the event of equipment failure, damage, data loss—how data will be restored
Also known as "data retention policy" or "computer file backup policy."
Sample Policies
Sample 1: The Business Office backups its files Monday through Friday. Backup of Horizon files is completed daily and weekly on Monday by staff of the Library. Backup tapes are stored in the safe at the Branch Library.
Sample 2: Files saved to network storage are backed up to tape on the following schedule: (a) All files are backed up over the weekend and (b) Any files that have changed since the prior weekend are backed up nightly. These backup tapes are retained for eight weeks and then erased, recycled, or otherwise destroyed. This means that any file deleted from network storage will be unrecoverable after eight weeks.
Sample 3: All of the Public Library's systems are backed up on the server at the University. The Public Library’s daily back-up tapes are kept in a safety deposit box at First National Bank.
