Coping with Primary Hard Drive Failure

Consider me coping... yes, that's correct - recently I had a hard drive failure, my desktop workstation decided it was time for a break. Perhaps it was one too many power surges, or maybe the hundreds of times that I would reset the power strip with my feet, possibly the nearly full drive, maxxed out RAM, and too much solitaire when the boss wasn't around... Certainly a combination of all of the above, right?!

So I've been doing my best to deal with it and here are my reactions in order:

1) Disbelief
2) Anger
3) More disbelief
4) More Anger
5) Relief that I now have a clean slate to work from

Yes, there is a silver lining here - I have a fresh new hard drive, that is just waiting for me to fill it up with my latest marketing strategy document, multi-tiered public relations campaign, and 2006 advertising platforms for the company.
In all fairness, I went into data recovery mode and some things were recovered. But from now on when our company is faced with a primary hard drive failure we have all of our company data stored on a fireproof hard drive from ioSafe. It offers security from natural disasters such as fire, flood, water, etc. But also redundant backup (which should be part of everyone's business continuity plan!) and additional security from a potential virus.

Next time my computer takes a dump... well, I won't loose a thing... and better yet, I should be able to get back to playing solitaire that much sooner.

Digital Photograph Storage - Fireproof Hard Drives!

What would you do if your computer crashed or got a virus and you lost all of your favorite digital photos? All of your digital storage gone...

From family photos, vacations, to birthday parties... all gone.

I spend a large part of my free time taking pictures. Both with my Minolta AF5000 SLR Film camera (this camera takes splendid black & whites by the way...), a Nikon D100, Lomo LC-A, Orbit 360F, and with a canon powershot digital camera. Nearly every roll of film that I use ends up getting digitized and loaded on my hard drive so I can email family and friends and upload my photos to my Flickr Photostream... and of course the digital files get dumped directly to a dedicated hard drive. if I were ever to loose these images - in a computer crash or worse yet a fire... I would be devastated.

But along comes a man with an idea... His name, Robb Moore and he designed and created the first fireproof hard drive for redundant computer backup - in the event of a virus, crash, fire, or flood - the ioSafe Disaster Ready Drive will set your mind at ease.


As a photographer - I would reccomend that you look closely at both the ioSafe especially professional photographers who have their own businesses, as you can store all of your important company documents, etc in a manner that ensures the integrity of your digital data.

Many professional photographers choose the NAS storage device, ioSafe R4 for its high data storage capacity and RAID redundancy.

Fireproof Data Storage - Hard Drives with Complete Disaster Protection

Every day we get phone calls and emails from business owners, purchasing agents, buyers and IT management looking for fireproof backup solutions.

Currently there are two companies who offer on-site hard drive backup that offer protection from fire, water, viruses, computer crash, unauthorized access and more. While ioSafe was the first on the market to offer a disaster ready / fire safe hard drive the latest to join the movement to protect critical company data with real-time backup is the DataFORTRESS from Schwab Corp.Fireprof Safe Manufacturer and Western Digital Hard Drives.

Both hard drives feature the following:

High Capacity Data Storage
ioSafe - 200GB to 400GB
DataFORTRESS - 120GB to 640GB

Disaster Protection Planning
ioSafe - Comes standard with 3 year disaster protection plan and 24/7/365 support.Data Recovery, and product replacement in the event of a fire disaster.
DataFORTRESS - 1 year parts warranty, Life-time after fire replacement guarantee, hard drive data recovery.

Business Backup Software

Both come standard with the Dantz Retrospect backup software for either Windows or MAC

Plug and Play Compatibility
USB 2.0 or FireWire Connections for fast data transfer


So if you are looking for the best fireproof hard drive...Call KL Security Enterprises today and let our experts help you choose the right solution for your storage needs.

KL Security is a Data Storage and Records Management company that specializes in the secure fireproof storage of your vital records, data, DVD's, CD's, disks, tapes and more.

Resiliency, Passion, Life, Success, Happiness, Business

Recently I again contemplated how personal perspective can change your perception and definition of so many of life's' events and possibilities - even how we view disasters or disappointments.

Most days I go about my day to day activities (from breakfast, interaction with my friends - many of who are also business colleagues -, to work and my free time) with a positive attitude. Positive thinking, positive planning, sharing, and learning... Ther are always those times though, that the unexpected happens and throws a wrench in your entire system.

Case in point: As a small business owner in the 21st century I rely on many resources, services, products, information and tools that are beyond my control. From an internet connection, to a phone line, to even the electricity that makes this blog possible - my business functions with so many others as an intregal part of the 80% of our economy's' backbone.

Recently I attempted to switch a business phone line from a phone service provider to an audio and data phone service provider (VOIP) and I am still experiencing several business disruptions per day because of it. From service outtages (e.g. no outgoing faxes for 9 days straight) to hours of phone calls with technical support, it quickly became apparent that without our teams ability to adapt to the service disruption our business could suffer a very large loss of income.

Fortunately for us, (and at a larger level for the manufacturers we represent)our sales team has kept their cool, we're able to stay online, thought ahead, and everyone has continued to do what they do best - helping small and large businesses with their own resiliency in the time of real disasters like fires or floods.

As Bono of U2 so eloquently put it, "some days are better than others".


From 8 am until quiting time, my day revolves around resiliency as it relates to the business world

Creating Your Small Business Disaster Plan

Recently we at KL Security Enterprises had the opportunity to read a story about Donna Gunter, a very strong woman who helps small businesses succeed in the ever-changing and more difficult business environment - she is a true survivor, and here is her tale.


By: Donna Gunter

I'm a recent Hurricane Rita evacuee and survived the evacuation and the ensuing hurricane. Running from a hurricane isn't something I've ever had to do before, nor is it something I'd ever like to do again. However, as a solo business owner, I'm quite thankful that I have a virtual business. The fact that I'm virtual and can operate from anywhere that there's electricity and phone service was of great help to me in this disaster and helped me reopen my business a scant 4 days after the landfall of Hurricane Rita.

I've now returned to my home in Beaumont, TX, which was one of the cities devastated by the storm, and there are brick and mortar businesses that are still closed almost 4 weeks after the hurricane struck. Many are closed because of the damage to their buildings and they are gutting and repairing their buildings currently. Others are partially open and are serving limited menus (restaurants) or have limited items for sale, as they haven't been able to restock, or have imposed limited operating hours because their employees have not yet returned from the evacuation (or have been lost to another employer). Others simply appear to be closed, with no apparent reason or rationale for the closure.

As a solopreneur, what can you do to make your business disaster-proof? It seems that we have an increasing number of hurricanes making landfall in the coastal states, and add to that an increased number of other types of natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, mud slides, ice storms, blizzards, etc. makes me think that there is no ideal location in which to operate a business. Now accepting that natural disasters are here to stay, here's what I learned from my hurricane evacuation that helped me get my business back up and running quickly:

1. Know the location of your vital papers. You should be able to quickly put into a folder the following for you and your family: your marriage license, birth certificate, social security card, driver's license or state ID card, car title/mortgage info and insurance contact info, house deed/mortgage info and insurance contact info, employee ID card, and apartment lease or copy of a utility bill. In a disaster, you'll be asked to prove where you live and that you are who you claim you are, especially when applying for disaster assistance.

2. Have an online backup of all of your computer data. I back up my computer in two ways--to an external portable hard drive as well as to an online backup service. I use both because my files are my livelihood -- I would be dead in the water without them -- so I want to leave absolutely no room to lose my data. For my external backup, I use a 30 GB portable drive made by Iomega, www.iomega.com, and for my online backup, I have 10 GB of space that I pay for at XDrive, www.xdrive.com.

3. Create a file with vital contact information. I copied a file with all of my usernames and passcodes for websites, bank accounts, etc. to my USB flash drive (a key chain-like device with 512 MB or 1 GB of memory -- I use one from Lexar, www.lexar.com) as well as the physical and email addresses and all phone numbers of friends, clients and family members -- anyone I needed to contact during the evacuation period. You'll also want to take along your children's school contact info to be able to check on the current operating status of your child's school, as well as local media website info. My lifeline in getting current information about my home city was through the websites of Beaumont's newspapers and television and radio stations. If you keep your contact info in Outlook and have a Yahoo account, Yahoo offers a synchronization feature in which you can synchronize all of your info in Outlook to your Yahoo account. Find out more here: http://help.yahoo.com/help/intsync. All you need to access your info in Yahoo is a computer and to know your username and password. To manage my usernames and passwords, I use Roboform, found at www.roboform.com

4. Know the primary office/computer equipment that will be required to get your business up and running. I had operated with a minimal amount of my office equipment recently due to my being a house sitter for a friend for 2 months. So, upon receiving the mandatory evacuation order, I knew in relatively short order that to run my business, I needed my desktop PC, flat panel monitor, wireless mouse and keyboard, speakers, modem and associated cords, backup portable external hard drive, office telephone and associated cords, laptop computer, printer, box of software, and scanner. It sounds like a great deal of equipment, but I packed it all into 2 boxes from U-Haul (1 small and 1 medium box). I knew I could work for at least 2 months comfortably with just this equipment.

5. Know the location of your primary paper files for your clients/business. I have 2 sets of files -- ones for the immediate short-term that I use frequently and my lateral file drawer files that are primarily reference files. I grabbed the contents of the two drawers of my 2-drawer file cabinet (which hold my immediate short-term files), all of which fit into one small U-Haul box.

6. Have a backup telephone plan. I wasn't sure what I was going to do for phone service for my business, as all of my clients are scattered across the US and in Canada. Just to be safe, I upgraded my cell phone plan, and had a prepaid calling card (purchased an AT&T calling card at Sam's, www.samsclub.com) at my disposal if I needed it. As luck would have it, my hotel offered an unlimited Internet access/long distance plan for an additional $1.88 per day, so I happily signed up for that, saving myself a fortune in phone calls and Internet service fees.

7. Have a backup Internet access plan. Since power restoration to my home was estimated at 2-8 weeks, I had to find temporary lodging. I looked for a hotel that offered high speed Internet access and was able to use their system for my Internet access. However, once I found the hotel, I also called the tech support of my DSL ISP and found the local dial-up numbers for the area in which the hotel is located. I never had to use the dial-up service, but it was good info to have. If you have cable or DSL Internet service, now is the time to discover alternate Internet access plans to be able to get online should your DSL or cable access be out-of-service. You should also know how to access your email online through your ISP if you don't have access to your computer. If your ISP doesn't offer a version of webmail, you can use this service free-of-charge, Mail2Web, www.mail2web.com.

8. Bring along adequate office supplies for a month. I threw in pens, pencils, post-it notes, a calculator, stamps, envelopes, tape, stapler, paper clips, note pads, etc. that would last me at least a month while I was out of my office. I used a portable plastic file case in which to carry these items.

9. Outline your office procedures to help you operate independently or be able to delegate tasks. I carry much of my info in my head to run my office, or have what I need stored in various files across my computer. What makes more sense for the future is to document all of my office procedures, as well as computer and client info, so that everything I need is in one document. I can then upload this doc to my Yahoo account, my backup files, or carry it with my on my USB flash drive. My colleague, Jean Hanson, has designed a great template that asks you to note and record everything you (or someone else) would need to know to get your business back up and running. It's the Home Office Procedures Manual, available for purchase here: http://tinyurl.com/bagxs

10. Bring a digital camera to record the event and/or record damages to personal property. I wish I'd had a digital camera to record all that I witnessed during my evacuation from Hurricane Rita. My sister took tons of pics, but I would've loved to have had the same opportunity. More importantly, however, is the need for a digital camera to record damage to your home and property. In a wide-spread disaster, it can be at least a month before your insurance adjuster will be able to assess damages to your property. In the meantime, however, you need to start repairs, like placing a tarp on your roof, boarding up broken windows, removing downed trees from your house or yard, or cleaning your refrigerator of spoiled food. In many cases, your insurance will cover the repairs or food replacement, but you need to carefully document the "before" scenario in order to receive compensation for your loss.

Don't let a natural disaster destroy your business. Take some time now to prepare your disaster-readiness plan, and get back into business as soon as you can!

(c) 2005 Donna Gunter

For more information, visit Donna's website at http://www.onlinebizcoachingcompany.com

Businesses paying up for disaster prevention

-Story from the Miami Herald -

In Wilma's wake, South Florida companies are increasingly taking steps to protect their businesses from disasters. By Christina Hoag choag@herald.com


Pompano Beach insurance agency Frank H. Furman Inc. didn't wait for Hurricane Wilma to hit. It put in the call last Friday to its business recovery service to get a mobile-home-like unit on the road, equipped with satellite phones and Internet, computer stations and servers.

Tuesday morning, Furman's office had no power or phones but agents were busy calling customers and processing claims from the trailer parked in the company's lot.

''I don't anticipate any lost income at all,'' said Dirk DeJong, president. ``We're fully operational. We've been getting claims out via satellite.''

After being socked with a punishing series of hurricanes in the past two seasons, South Florida businesses are starting to get smart.

Companies are signing up by the droves for everything from waterproof/fireproof safes to data protection services to cellular building repeater systems.

''Unfortunately, it does take a disaster for people to say `holy cow! We should have had this in place','' said Johnny Klemme, marketing director of K.L. Security Enterprises, an Indiana company that sells indestructible safes for computer hard drives and waterproof/fireproof filing cabinets.

The now-familiar post-hurricane panorama of extended power outages, vast wind destruction and severe flooding is making companies all too aware of the hazards of not taking precautions to protect valuable data, as well as the importance of staying open for business despite an emergency.

''We cannot afford to be down at all,'' said Thomas Travis, managing partner of Miami's Sandler Travis & Rosenberg. ``We live in a global economy where communication is instantaneous, we work 24 hours a day.''

The law firm is one of a dozen new clients that have come knocking at Terremark's downtown Miami bunker since Monday.

In a windowless, fortified steel and concrete facility designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, Terremark can store computer hardware and software prior to a storm or jump-start a company's servers and Internet in a posterior blackout.

Armed with its own generators, fuel, air-conditioning system and food and water for personnel, Terremark can maintain itself as an island in the middle of a storm for more than three weeks -- continuously maintaining its network connectivity.

Since last year, business has jumped more than 10 percent, said Terremark's Chief Marketing Officer Javier Rodríguez. Still this week marked a few firsts.

''We've seen things we've never seen before,'' he said. ``We had a company roll up here with a truck full of computers.''

Some companies like Furman Insurance opt for a business recovery service. They pay a monthly fee, ranging from around $200 to $1,250, and when business looks like it's heading for force majeure, they call for a portable office to be trucked in within 48 hours so they can keep operating.

''We've had 21 clients calling from Florida since Monday,'' said Bob Boyd, president of Agility Recovery Services of Charlotte, N.C. ``We're bringing them generators, satellite phones, whatever they need.''

The phone's also ringing off the hook at K.L. Security Enterprises from such Floridians as Cheryl Young, administrative assistant at Polaris Connectors, a manufacturer of electrical wire connectors.

The company didn't suffer damage from Wilma, but reports of others' misfortune was enough to prompt Young to plunk down $1,285 for a waterproof/fireproof safe.

''We've been through preparing for four hurricanes in the past 15 months, and we read a lot of articles about people not having emergency preparedness plans,'' she said.

At Coral Springs company CellAntenna, President Howard Melamed is dealing with requests for antennas and other products that improve cellphone reception when networks are congested and towers are knocked out. ''We sell a lot to FEMA,'' he said. ``We'll get a lot of calls next week, that's what when we saw clients come in with Katrina.''

Companies say that Hurricane Wilma has shown that backup systems have become an essential business expense.

''This is not a luxury,'' said Travis. `This is a requirement.'

Bank Safes – High Security & Tool Resistant

If you don’t know anything about safes you should know that there are many different types - dedicated to a wide variety of applications including: Fireproof or fire resistant, Classified Document Rated, and Tool and Torch Attack Resistant, etc. These ratings are normally set by the Underwriters Laboratory, an independent testing organization for thousands of products in the United States.

Tool resistant safes are engineered tough to protect against forced entry. However the ratings applied to the safes vary according to how they are tested and how well they perform. One such rating for high security bank safe application is a forced entry resistance rating. This is vital for any business such a bank, financial institution, jewelry store etc., looking for a safe to protect valuables from burglary. Below we have outlined a list of forced entry ratings with definitions to help you make an informed decision on which safe is right for you.

TL-15 U.L. Labeled: A safe that has been tested to be resistant to a certain list of tools for a period of fifteen minutes. During this test only the door is attacked. The body of the safe must be at least 1 inch thick steel. The safe must also be at least 750lbs. or it must have a way to anchor to the floor.

TL- 30 U.L. Labeled: A safe that has been tested to be resistant to a certain list of tools for a period of thirty minutes. During this test only the door is attacked. The body of the safe must be at least 1 inch thick steel. The safe must also be at least 750lbs. or it must have a way to anchor to the floor.

TL-60 U.L. Labeled: A safe that has been tested to be resistant to a certain list of tools for a period of sixty minutes. During this test only the door is attacked. The body of the safe must be at least 1 inch thick steel. The safe must also be at least 1000lbs. or it must have a way to anchor to the floor.

TR – Adding the letters TR to a tool rating means that the safe is torch resistant for the specified amount of time. (TLTR-15)

TX - Adding the letters TX to a tool rating means that the safe will resist Nitroglycerine and other high explosives for the specified amount of time. (TXTL-15)

X6- Adding this to a tool rating means that the rating applies to all six sides of the safe not just the door as is the case in ratings without the x6. (TLTR-15x6)