CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF COMMERCE INNOVATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

GROUP 1 PRESENTATION TASK 5
OTILIA MADZIVIRE REG NUMBER R233891G
MAYBE NHIMBE REG NUMBER R237211G
EDDIE .N CHISINA REG NUMBER R213446H

QUESTION 1
(i) Discuss the importance of backup and disaster recovery in systems
administration
Backup and disaster recovery are crucial components of systems administration that
ensure business continuity and minimize data loss in the event of a disaster or
system failure.
IMPORTANCE OF BACKUP
Data protection since data is often a company’s most valuable asset backups protect
data from loss or corruption due to hardware or software failures human error or
malicious attacks. Backups enable organizations to restore critical systems and data
quickly, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity. It also ensures data
compliance since many industries are subject to regulations that require data
protection and recovery plans. Backups may be required by regulatory or compliance
standards to ensure data retention and availability.
They are many types of data backup plans. We also have a Full Backup which is
complete copy of all data, providing a comprehensive backup solution. Another type
is incremental backup which is a backup of only the changes made since the last full
of incremental backup, reducing storage requirements and backup time. Lastly we
have a differential backup. A backup of all changes made since the last full backup
providing a cumulative backup of changes.

Importance of disaster recovery is that it minimizes downtime. Disaster recovery

plans enable organizations to restore critical systems and data quickly
minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity. It also reduces data loss
Disaster recovery plans ensure that data is protected and can be restored in the
event of a disaster or system failure. Ensuring business continuity is another
important factor of data recovery. Disaster recovery plans enable organizations to
maintain critical business functions and services even in the event of a disaster or
future failure.
Disaster recovery planning is essential so as to come up with a counter measure
suitable data recovery for the organization. We have risk assessment where we
identify potential risks and threats to the organization’s systems and data. Business
Impact Analysis Determines the impact of a disaster or system failure on the
organization’s business operations. Recovery Objectives establish recovery time
objectives (RTOs) and recovery time objectives (RPOs) to guide the disaster recovery
planning process

Another method is Recovery Plan it develops a comprehensive disaster recovery plan

that outlines procedures for restoring critical systems and data. The best practices to
back up data and avoid disasters is regular backups which regularly backup critical
data and systems to ensure that backups are current and available. We also have
Test Backups which tests backups regularly to ensure that they are complete and can
be restored successfully. Another important method is Disaster Recovery Testing.
Test disaster recovery plans regularly to ensure that they are effective and that
personnel are familiar with procedures.

Offsite Storage Store backup’s offsite to protect against physical damage or loss.
Advantages of backup and disaster recovery are that it reduces risks. Backup and
disaster recovery plans reduce the risk of data loss and system downtime. It also
Improves business continuity. Backup and disaster recovery plans ensure business
continuity and minimize the impact of disasters or system failures. Regulatory
Compliance is another advantage. Backup and disaster recovery plans may be
required by regulatory or compliance standards.

In conclusion backup and disaster recovery are vital components of system

administration. They protect data , ensure business continuity, comply with
regulations, manage risks and ultimately save costs .By investing these strategies
organizations can safeguard their most critical assets and maintain operational
integrity in the face of unforeseen challenges

Question 1(ii)
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT BACKUP STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE DATA PROTECTION AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY
Backup strategies and techniques are crucial for ensuring data protection and
business continuity. One technique is Full backup which is a complete copy of all
data, providing a comprehensive backup solution. We also have Incremental backup
which is a backup of only the changes made since the last full or incremental backup,
reducing storage requirements and backup time. Differential backup is a backup of
all changes made since the last full backup, providing a cumulative backup of
changes.
Synthetic backup is a backup created by combining a full backup with incremental
backups, providing a complete backup without the need for a full backup. Mirroring
is a technique that duplicates data in real-time, providing an exact copy of the data.
One of the backup techniques that can be implemented is tape backup.A technique
that uses tape drives to store backups, providing a cost effective solution for large
amounts of data. We also have Disk-to-disk(D2D) backup. A technique that uses disk
storage for backups, providing fast backup and restore times.
Disk-to-Tape (D2T) backup is another method that can be used. A technique that
uses disk storage for initial backup and tape storage for initial backup and tape
storage for long-term archiving. Cloud backup is a technique that uses cloud storage
for backups, providing scalability, flexibility and offsite storage.

Some of the consideration that we look into when we select types of backups are
Frequency which determine the frequency of backups based on data change rates
and business requirements. Retention is also another factor. Determine the
retention period for backups based on business requirements and regulatory
compliance. Storage plays a crucial role also. Choose the appropriate storage media
and location for backups, considering factors such as cost, capacity and accessibility.
Ensuring the security of backups by implementing encryption access controls and
other security measures.
Some of the best practices of backing up data are the 3-2-1 Rule. Which maintain
three copies of data use two different storage types and store one copy offsite. We
also have Regular backups which regularly backup critical data and systems to ensure
that backups are current and available. Test backups to regularly to ensure that they
are complete and cannot be restored successfully. Maintaining documentation of
backup procedures including backup schedules, retention policies and restore
procedures
benefits of backing up data are data protection. Backup strategies and techniques
protect data from loss or corruption due to hardware or software failures human
error or malicious attacks. Backup strategies and techniques enable organizations to
restore critical systems and data quickly, minimizing downtime and ensuring
business continuity. Backup strategies and techniques may be required by regulatory
or compliance standards to ensure data retention and availability

To sum up by implementing a comprehensive backup strategy and technique,

organizations can ensure data protection, business continuity and regulatory
compliance.
Question 3a.Differentiate between data recovery and data backup.
The term backup describes keeping a copy of the original data on hand in case it is
lost. Backup is regarded as one method of protecting data. To safeguard
significant data, the organization's important data must be effectively backed up.
Recovery is the process of using certain procedures to restore lost data. Recovery
procedures can be used to retrieve data that has been lost, even if it was backed
up. The difference between backup and recovery are as shown below in a table

BACK UP RECOVERY
backup refers to storing a copy of original Recovery refers to restoring the lost
data separately. data in case of failure.
We can therefore define a backup as a copy We might therefore define recovery as
of data that is used to recover the original the process of returning lost, damaged,
data following a loss or damage. or corrupted data to its initial
condition.
In simple backup is the replication of data. In simple recovery is the process to
store the database.
The prior goal of backup is just to keep one The prior goal of recovery is retrieving
extra copy to refer in case of original data original data in case of original data
loss. failure
It helps in improving data protection. It helps in improving the reliability of
the database.
Backup makes the recovery process easier. Recovery has no role in data backup.
The cost of backup is affordable. The cost of recovery is expensive.
It’s production usage is very common. It’s production usage is very rare.
Backup is not created automatically There is automatic generation of
restore points by your computer.
A backup stores copies of the files in a A restore is carried out internally on
location that is external to it. your computer.
Backup requires extra storage space. Restore is internal so it does not
require extra external storage space.
Backup offers a means of recovery. Recovery aims to guarantee the
atomicity of the transaction and data.
In conclusion, data backup and recovery guarantee data security in the case of
unforeseen malfunctions. Recovery refers to returning lost, corrupted, or damaged
data to its initial state, while backup entails keeping the data apart for safety. To
protect against data loss, both of these procedures are essential. Although there are
costs involved with backup and recovery, they are greatly outweighed by the
advantages they provide in terms of data preservation and restoration.

Question 3 b As a system administrator at CUZ what factors would you consider

when finding a backup strategy. Address technical, economic and ethical issues
Every firm needs a backup plan to secure its important data from data corruption,
human error, and cyberattacks, particularly the dreaded ransomware threat.
Additionally, since poor backup procedures can put companies at risk for
noncompliance, robust backups are essential for achieving compliance regulations.
Frequency of data change is another factor to look at considering that since we
enroll students timeously means we have to back our data more frequently. Also
backup software tool is very important. The software should be easy to use, reliable
and provide functions such as automation, encryption and reporting. Putting into
consideration the vast number of students we have and their sensitive information
should be secure.
At minimum, a backup solution should regularly and safely restore your data to a
dependable and convenient place. One of the factors I will look at is adaptability. The
integration of your backup system with your existing technological infrastructure
should be smooth. The CUZ must be able to scale as it expands and adapt to new
developments, including implementing cloud-based backup techniques. Steer clear
of inflexible systems that restrict its flexibility. Additionally, since safeguarding data
at rest is usually simpler than protecting it while it's in transit, give it top priority.
Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) find that working with an
experienced third-party supplier is more practical and cost-effective than
implementing their own backup system. To meet your unique needs, Layer One
Networks provides a variety of flexible Backup and Recovery service tiers.

Cost is an important consideration when choosing a backup solution, especially for

small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The cost of backups can add up over
time, and costs may increase. Purchases of hardware and software, maintenance
agreements, and staff training are just a few of the many factors to take into
consideration.

As our data volumes grow, we may need more equipment or storage, particularly in
cloud-based models. However, it is imperative that a cheap initial cost not be used
as an excuse to sacrifice the solution's efficacy and quality. Choosing a low-cost
solution that may eventually run out of storage space or lack necessary functionality
will result in higher costs for things like deduplication. Rather, aim for a backup
solution that strikes a compromise between functionality and affordability. Selecting
the appropriate solution will ultimately prove to be a prudent investment for CUZ,
offering increased productivity and shielding you from the possible financial
consequences of data breaches or other calamities.

If you choose to use a third-party provider for your backup solution, find out if there
are any up-front or ongoing maintenance costs associated with data retention and
storage.
Reference
https://www.businesstechweekly.com/operational-efficiency/cloud-computing/
online-backup-vs-cloud-storage/
https://www.researchgate.net
https://www.researcguidelines.njit.edu