TTUHSC IT Policies
1.4.4 BACKUP/RECOVERY
Shared resources of Institutional servers are the primary method of protecting Institutional data. Customers should save Institutional data utilizing these shared resources. Institutional shared resources are limited in physical size so, personal data should not be saved on those resources.
Institutional server backup schedules are defined in the Data Center Backup Scheduling Procedure. Generally, Institutional servers are backed up on a scheduled basis as listed.
Nightly - Incremental backups will be performed to be retained until the next full backup is performed.
Weekly - Full data backups will be performed to be retained for five weeks.
Monthly - Full data backups will be performed to be retained one year from the date of the backup.
Annual - Full data backup will be performed to be retained for five years.
Per disaster recovery best practices, backup tapes are stored off-site. The details of the off-site storage are outlined in the I.T. Division Disaster Recovery Plan, Section 50.41 - Backup Services and Procedures.
Desktop Backups
Personnel should submit, in writing, to the Managing Director of Network, Security, and Systems any requests to backup desktop computers. This request must detail the following:
- Specific need for the backup,
- Value of the data,
- Security and or encryption requirements for the data,
- Demonstrate proof of data integrity (i.e. assurance the data is free from viruses and other security hazards to data),
- Reason why the data is not stored on an Institutional shared resource,
- Identify the specific path to the directories where the data is stored separately from the program files and operating system files,
- Define the time period to retain the backup, and
- Specific needs or requirement for repetition of the backup.
Approved desktop computer backups will be performed on data directories only. The Schedule and Procedure for approved backups will follow these steps.
- Customers with approved desktop computer backups will copy the data to an Institutional shared resource (to be identified on the approval document) on Saturday mornings at 4:00 a.m.
- This Institutional shared resource will be backed up to tape on Sunday evenings at 11:59:59 p.m.
Data Restoration
Data may be restored to any resource provided the backup is within the storage timeframe as defined above. Restoration of data may be requested through the I.T. Helpdesk workorder process.