You probably have already heard about the colossal failure of Microsoft and Danger s cloud system, leading to the loss of roughly 800,000 T Mobile users cell phone information. The unique methodology T mobile employed to manage their customers information experienced a disastrous failure on October 5th and while questions still loom as to how this could have occurred the take home lesson for all PC users is plain as day : always backup your data properly. This can include a single local backup for standard data or a more complex plan involving local and online ( internet ) based backup for critical information.
Sidekick data was not stored long term on the cell phone itself, unlike the other cell phone models. Instead, data was uploaded to Microsoft / Danger s cloud : a cluster of many PCs sharing the load of information storage and computing power. Systems like this aren t all that strange, if you use gmail or flickr you have already got data stored in a cloud. When one PC in the cloud fails, typically there s minimal to no information loss. If many computers fail, or if the software connecting the PCs has a difficulty, all the data may be lost forever.
Thankfully Microsoft had some backups of the Sidekick information and finally began restoring it to client cell phones on October 20th, 15 days after the 1st loss of data. In the meantime, thousands of blog content, news stories and RSS feeds flooded the Net with bad PR about T Mobile and Microsoft. The feedback was totally justified as well, due to early concerns within Microsoft the backup information had somehow been damaged or lost in the same event that took down the cloud. The assumption a company with the kind of resources and expertise as Microsoft could have made such a rookie mistake of creating backups that were depending on the same resources or software as the cloud is inconceivable to tech pros.
The cost of this disaster is more than only data loss and bad press, the monetary toll is still growing. Between users terminating contracts early ( without the customary fee ), $100 T Mobile gift cards being offered to users whose data was lost, and pulling Sidekicks from shelves and internet stores, the final cost could be somewhere in the millions. The cost to customers themselves is unknown, but expected to be just as large. Lost contacts, missed opportunities due to not having the correct phone numbers, and many other problems plagued sidekick users.
Data recovery is a difficult and expensive process, and it s not always successful. To keep your information safe, whether it s tax records or footage of your kids, you should always keep a secure backup. It s a simple, cheap, and reliable step that will help stop multi million dollar calamities and private heartbreaks, but it must be done correctly. Geek Choice techs are trained professionals who can help ensure that your backup solution is safe, even if your system fails. If you haven t already, take the time to call us at 1 800 GEEK HELP (433 5435) about backing up your information today.
Author Resource:
Gregg Housh holds the position of Technician Manager at Geek Choice. At Geek Choice we solve computer problems such as: http://www.geekchoice.com Slow computer, http://www.geekchoice.com/virus-and-spyware-cleanup.php Virus Removal, http://www.geekchoice.com/virus-and-spyware-cleanup.php Spyware Removal, Computer startup problems, Printer not printing, Not connecting to the Internet, the "blue screen of death", and much more.
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