Darragh Canavan

Darragh Canavan, sales director with Secure Technologies, said he had seen similar trends in Irish companies.He estimated that around 70pc of organisations back up to tape, while 10pc have no backup policy at all.Anecdotally, some small firms such as solicitors often have their secretaries back up files on a USB memory key - a technique used in around 20pc of cases, said Canavan."It's just not a safe option," he said, pointing out that if these devices went missing or were stolen, the information could be easily accessed."Some programs encrypt tapes, but there's no encryption on CDs or memory keys, so anyone can read them."Canavan claimed that under the Data Protection Act, 2003, organisations are obliged to keep their electronic information safe and secure.He pointed out that backing up to a secure facility over the internet is starting to become popular, with providers such as Eircom, Iron Mountain and Secure Technologies offering similar services."Online backup hasn't taken off in the Irish market because of broadband speeds and because people aren't educated in the way it operates," he claimed.His observation is supported by the MJ Flood survey, which found low levels of awareness of this option.Just over half of respondents (51pc) said they had never heard of online backup services.Of those who had considered it, 34pc cited cost and 18pc cited security as the main reasons why they had not chosen it as a backup platform."People don't know how simple it is," Canavan added."A lot of consultants would rather make their profit margin by selling you a big server and a load of tapes," he said.