Computer data loss is becoming a serious threat to all companies. Organizations experiencing such a disaster are usually unprepared for the many repercussions: loss of critical customer/financial information, company downtime and overtime pay to recreate data. In many cases, the lesson of not having a bonafide backup system is learned after the data is lost and cannot be retrieved. Even companies that vigilantly backup their data are exposed to the risk of theft, fire, flood, hardware failure and human error.

GTB’s new, secure backup service called StrongBox offers customers a low cost and convenient way to store their important information in an offsite location. Customers are provided with special software that encrypts their files and securely transfers their data via GTB’s managed network to a secure offsite location. In order not to interfere with the user’s daily activities, the process automatically begins at a time when the customer’s network is idle, usually after normal business hours. In the event that data needs to be restored, the backed-up files can be restored immediately on-line.

To perform the backup, GTB uses a unique, state-of-the-art technology called “Bit Backup”. This technology collects only those changes to files made at the bit level. The data is then compressed and sent offsite via the internet. In the past, any data change required the transmission of the complete data file, requiring extra backup time and data file space. The new technology reduces the time required for the individual backups and the amount of bandwidth used to transfer the data with the application.

While all organizations will benefit from this system, it is an extremely useful tool for those organizations required by law or industry standards to comply with various data regulations. Such businesses include financial institutions, medical offices and companies that store customer records on file.