Christopher Greaves

416-621-9348 cgreaves@chrisgreaves.com
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Encryption And Off-site Backup Storage (Home) ; Overview ; The Problem ; The Essence Of The Solution ; How Long Does It Take To Do A Backup? ; Assumptions ; Breakdown Of Tasks ; The Stand-Alone Solution ; The Networked Solution ; Let’s Get Started ; Mounting The Backup Drive ; Mounting An Encrypted Drive ; Waiting For The Backup Drive ; Processing Each Local Drive ; RoboCopy New And Later Files ; RoboCopy Parameter Files ; Append Session Details To A Log File ; Shutting Down the Computer ; Review For Local Systems ; Putting Together The Local Backup System ; SUBSTituting A Drive For A Folder ; Assembling The Batch File ; ( TITLE commands ); Running The Backup Batch File ; Examining Our Results ; Waiting For A Set Of Drives ; Issue the Backup Command To A Set Of Drives ; Modifying The Driving Batch File ; What About The Log File? ; The Upgraded Set Of Batch Files ; Encryption of backup data ; What Is Involved In Encrypting A Backup Device? ; ( Advice On Passwords ); What Is Involved In Mounting An Encrypted Device? ; User Mounted Or Automated? ; Using A DOS Batch File To Facilitate Mounting ; Using A DOS Batch File To Facilitate Dismounts ; Making The External Drives Available Across The Network ; Mounting A Shared Drive For Sharing ; Installing On A Networked Computer ; Running On The Big Beige Box ; An Improved Method Of Waiting ; Shutdown Or Restart? ; At Long Last! A Working Version! ; The Backup.BAT file ; The Mount.BAT file ; The ProcessDrive.BAT file ; The Shutdown.BAT File ; The Encryption Process

Toronto and Mississauga, Friday, December 03, 2010 8:27 AM

Encryption Of Backup Data

There’s no point in locking the front door and leaving the back door open.

Your external backup drives ought to be encrypted in a reasonably secure fashion. If your backup drives are stolen, mislaid, or even inadvertently picked up by someone else, the data will be secure from any prying eyes.

Again, it’s not the cost of reproducing the data (in this case, purchasing a new external drive, formatting, encrypting, and waiting while a full copy of your network is copied across) that hurts. It’s the cost of loss-of-confidence by your clients when you have to tell them that their data might be compromised.

Encryption with TrueCrypt is secure, reasonable, and free.

There’s no excuse.

Finally, although no one can see your encrypted data – not even the TrueCrypt people! – you might consider using your telephone number as part of the device label. If you leave your external drive on the counter, or on the subway car, a technical person will be able to spot the number and give you a call. Make it easy for nice people to be nice to you!

What Is Involved In Encrypting A Backup Device?

Toronto and Mississauga, Friday, December 03, 2010 8:27 AM