Today, backing up to disk vs. tape has become a popular alternative to the traditional tape methodology. For many computer applications, it's important to have backup data immediately available when the primary disk becomes inaccessible. In this scenario, the time to restore data from tape would be considered unacceptable. Disk backup is also a better solution because data transfer can be four-to-five times faster than is possible with tape.

Data backup and developing a plan to restore aren’t the first steps in business continuity planning. However it's still a critical element. Without a solid backup and disaster recovery plan, your organization could face important risks and stand to lose financially due to downtime or data loss.