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--- computing:backup:backup_grooming [2016/10/04 10:46]
gcooper
+++ computing:backup:backup_grooming [2016/10/04 11:17] (current)
gcooper
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Groom Backup Jobs to Save on Backup Costs ======
-:!: The basic **goal** is to **minimize the cost of backup** without **additional risk** and at a minimum of **administrative effort** (//your// effort).
+See also **[[computing:backup:multi_level_backup|Multi-Level Backup System]]**
-**The cost of your backup is closely related to the amount of data being backed up.**  With online backup, the cost is usually directly related to the storage space used.  With our online backup system, the account sizes and pricing on based on **compressed** storage.
+:!: The basic **goal** of this page is to **keep the cost of backup as low as possible while mitigating risk and minimizing administrative effort** (//your// effort).
+**The cost of your backup is closely related to the amount of data being backed up.**  With online backup, the cost is usually directly related to the amount storage space used.  With our online backup system, the account sizes and pricing on based on **compressed** storage.
 While some of the recommendations made on this page may be specific to our own online backup system, the concepts are generally applicable to most backup systems.
@@ Line 15: / Line 17: @@
 :!: In most common small business scenarios, **the retention area is a very small percentage of the total storage space used**.  This means that **retention adjustments to backup jobs rarely result in the desired outcome** of cheaper backups.
+{{ :computing:backup:ahsay_account_storage.png?750 |Backup Account Storage Utilization}}
 ===== Data Area Options =====
-This is where adjustments to backup job definitions can result in significant changes to the amount of backup space used (to keep costs lower).
+:!: This is where adjustments to backup job definitions can result in significant changes to the amount of backup space used (to keep costs lower).
-Here are a few things one can do to minimize the amount of data being backed up and, therefore, reduce your backup costs:
+Here are a few things one can do to **minimize the amount of data being backed up** and, therefore, **reduce backup costs**:
-  * Exclude certain folders (directories) on the source from being backed up
+**Exclude certain folders (directories) on the source from being backed up**:
-    * Oftentimes a folder might contain data/files that may not need to be backed up:
-      * Backup files - don't always need to be backed up again
+  * Folders/directories often contain data/files that **may not need to be backed up**:
-      * Downloaded files - are usually easy to re-download
+    * **Backup files** - don't always need to be backed up again
-      * Temporary files - don't usually need to be backed up
+    * **Downloaded files** - are usually easy to re-download
-  * Calculate the importance of files currently being backed up
+    * **Temporary files** - don't usually need to be backed up
-    * Perhaps you have a multi-level backup system in place:
+  * **Calculate the importance** of files currently being backed up then **minimize the files selected for backup**
+    * Perhaps you have a **multi-level backup plan** in place where:
       * The 'level 1' (local copy) backup system may back up **everything** to be useful for disaster preparedness
-      * 'Level 1' backup systems may allow you to prioritize only core files/folders for online/offsite backups in order to save on backup costs
+      * 'Level 1' backup systems may allow you to prioritize only core files/folders for online/offsite backups in order to save on costs
 ===== Retention Area Options =====
@@ Line 38: / Line 43: @@
 :!: We generally recommend at least a **90 day retention period**, but many prefer longer.
-Changing the retention settings, even drastically, will probably not save much space.  However, there are sometimes good reasons to adjust retention settings:
+**Changing the retention settings, even drastically, will probably not save much space.**  However, there are sometimes **good reasons to adjust retention settings**:
   - You need to **lower the amount of used space immediately**
     * You can change the retention to a shorter period
       * Wait a day for the system to clean out the retention area
-      * Then set the retention period to the desired setting
+      * Then (re)set the retention period to the desired setting
-  - You **recently moved or renamed files/directories on the source**
+  - You **recently moved or renamed large folders/directories on the source**
     * You can change the retention to a shorter period
-      * Wait a day for the system to clean out the retention area
+      * Wait a day for the system to back up all the 'new' files/folders and clean out the retention area
-      * Then set the retention period to the desired setting
+      * Then (re)set the retention period to the desired permanent setting

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