Q. Is Remote Backup HIPAA Compliant? A. Ultimate RBS complies with the Final Security Rule, but please read on... Ultimate RBS Software compresses and encrypts data before it is sent to the Backup Server. The Encryption Key is known only to the customer, and is never transmitted to the Server nor to Lucent Glow, LLC. Data are stored on the Backup Server in compressed and encrypted archives that are not accessible by Lucent Glow, LLC.
Ultimate RBS Software is adequate to help companies comply with the Final Security Rule. It also complies with the Privacy section, even though Lucent Glow, LLC is not a "Covered Entity" as defined by the current rules, and thus are not required to comply with it.
In addition, Ultimate RBS can help customers comply with other provisions of the rules as part of a larger data protection and disaster recovery plan. At the time of this writing there is no "HIPAA Compliance" certification for backup software, and it is important to note that under the current rules, no software is truly "HIPAA compliant," because there are no regulations that specifically address backup and privacy software.
Q. What if we already have a tape backup system? A. Using a tape backup system and Ultimate RBS offers the best of both worlds. Critical files, like billing, customer contact files and databases can be kept on the remote backup system. While, the tape system can be used to create a full backup of the entire system once or twice a month, instead of on a daily basis. The tapes and drive will last longer and require less maintenance. Ultimate RBS can provide a quick and easy way to retrieve critical files and databases without the hassle of searching through tapes.
Q. What if we already have a Zip drive? A. Frankly, we believe that it is not optimal for most users should not use a zip or other removable disk media for backup. A remote backup service is completely automated and has the required file redundancy to protect important data. The only safe way to use a zip drive for backup is to have three disks and make the same backup three times. That way when one of the disk fails you are still protected.
Q. How long will a remote backup take? A. Offices with high-speed internet connections should find this service comparable with tape drives. Dial up users will be able to do incremental backups in thirty to sixty minutes. The initial backup can take several nights to complete. We recommend backing up the most important files first and then selecting other files as the backup progresses. Or, the initial backup can be run over the weekend. Also, we can come to your office and make the initial backup of your system.
Q. Onsite, Offsite - What's The Difference? A. Basically, remote backups work like regular tape backups, with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media attached to the computer being backed up, a remote backup sends encrypted file data over the internet to a computer file storage system safely off-site.
This usually happens at night while your business is closed and nobody is using the computers. It's completely automatic. In fact, you may forget it's working every night.
Q. Why Are Remote Backups Considered More Beneficial? A. The data is immediately stored off-site using an automated backup system. Also, only an internet connection is needed. Completely eliminating the need for expensive backup equipment and media. And, since the system is automated, manual labor is eliminated.
Q. How Secure Are Remote Backups? A. Very. All files are encrypted using Blowfish or DES encryption which is selected by the user with their own personal encryption code which is only known by the user of the system. Blowfish encryption has never been broken by a hacker. DES is used by the federal banking system.
Q. What is encryption? A. Encryption is basically a mathematical formula that scrambles a data file. And the only way to unscramble it is with the encryption code.
Q. How often is the Backup done? A. Backups are done on schedule, every night. Most businesses don't do this. For one reason or another, they don't keep a regular backup regimen. Usually it's because the person responsible for doing backups (if there is one) is too busy doing something else, or someone is using the computer when it's time for a backup, or they simply forget. Since Remote Backups are done with automated software at night, when nobody is using the computer, backups are always done on schedule.
Q. What data is Backed up? A. Ordinary backup software is often installed with a list of files to be backed up. This set of files usually represents the state of the system when the software was installed, and often misses critical files. Further, it often fails to back up files that are added later. Compounding this problem, VERY few businesses take the trouble to reset their backup software regularly to include new files. Remote Backup solves this problem with a sophisticated system that constantly reevaluates your system, adding files to the backup as needed.
Q. Seems like a lot of redundancy, why? A. The general definition of "proper" backups requires redundancy. That is, one must keep multiple copies of the same files at different points in their development, called versions. As an example, you should have a different copy of each backed-up file for each day of the week, one for each week in the month, and one for each month in the year. Further, you should be able to easily restore any of your files up to any given point in time. This is much too important to overlook. Banks do it, big corporations do it, and so should small businesses. Only Remote Backup has such an easy to use version control system.
Q. Does it work if our company has a firewall? A. Absolutely. The software works behind almost all firewalls with no extra configuration.
Q. I have mirrored /RAID hard drives. Won't that protect me from viruses or data loss? A. No. Mirrored hardware only protects you from a hardware failure. Since 90% of data loss is due to data corruption or user error, mirrored equipment offers no protection. This is because corrupt data gets instantly written to the mirror equipment. The only way to protect your data is by having a backlog of backups to restore from.
Q. If your backing up the data does that mean you can view my confidential files? A. No, All the files and file names are encrypted by a password known only to you before they are sent. We can't even see what type of files you are sending, there is no way we or anybody else can open them.