Task A, security plan for hard copies and photos:
All my collected data relating to my research is scanned, and available in digital format on my “main” computer. My scanned data is in notebooks on shelves, and is not in water proof containers. My irreplaceable original hard copies are stored in our safety deposit box at our credit union. Those are limited to records of a family estate and a hand-written genealogy handed down from an ancestor.
Task B: Secure hard copies and photos in waterproof containers:
I have no plan to store my data in waterproof containers, since I have digital copies of every page, and a total of 3 backup copies of all digital copies. The volume makes it impossible to even dream of waterproof storage.
My limited number of ancestral photographs and keepsakes are stored at home in a fire-proof safe. Digital copies and or photographs reside on my computer. I have not investigated the possibility of waterproof containers for the photos.
Task C: Back up all your data, external, flash, CD, online, or whatever.
Please refer to my data backup plan. This has been in effect for 2+ years and I am satisfied my files and digital photographs are safe. You can enlarge by clicking the thumbnail.
If you have questions, please post them in a comment, I will be glad to answer.
Task D: All hard copies and photos scanned and secure them either in a fire-proof safe or offsite in SD box/secure environment. OK, on this one I admit I am confused. Should the hard copies and photos be in a fire-proof safe, and a waterproof container? Task B says waterproof, this one says fire-proof. Help!!!!!! Please comment on this one.
My plan does not change for this. Some irreplaceable photographs are stored in a fire-proof gun safe here at home, but it is not practical to store every document there.
Task E: all data is backed up digitally and secured physically and you can recover form any disaster while only losing one month or less of research.
I am confident about my plan for my digital data. I do not feel I will lose more than a month of data. But I am not waterproof and I cannot tell if the tasks build on each other.
I hope some of my GeneaBlogging friends will comment here and tell me what award I deserve. I am not waterproof, and probably will never be, but my digital copies are safe. The award criteria is:
- Complete Task A – Bronze Medal
- Complete Task B – Silver Medal
- Complete Task C – Gold Medal
- Complete Task D – Diamond Medal
- Complete Task E – Platinum Medal
As much as I think I am safe, and deserve at least a diamond medal here, I am open to opinion and suggestions for improvement. What say you?
5 comments
Skip to comment form
I’m with you on being a little confused about the backup category. My original thought was that each consecutive task was for an improved state of backup from the previous one and it wasn’t necessary to achieve each specific level – but I’m not so sure about that. From reading other progress reports, there seems to be a several different interpretations which only serves to further confuse me. My biggest question is task E – “all data . . . ” . What exactly is ALL data? Is that every piece of paper you’ve accumulated? Who would qualify for that?
I’m so impressed with your diagram! Wow, you’re really have a wonderful system here!
Sue Ed
Author
Thanks for the complement! Years ago I worked in a quality department which did not back up their computer. A janitor (outside company) knocked the computer CPU off the desk and we lost the hard drive contents. It was a disaster. The day after that happened, I came home and backed up all my data on my home computer on those little hard disks we used to use, remember those? Later it was zip disks, then CD’s. My career advanced some and I became a RAB quality systems auditor, and did project management for the same company. Quality people love diagrams, time lines and flow charts almost as much as software designers. Perhaps you have to have experienced a disaster to warn against one!
I have been wondering about this as well. I have decided that if you will not lose more than a month’s worth of research in a disaster, you should qualify for the Platinum medal. I have my documents (the few that I have) and photos scanned and backed up online. I think we should both qualify for the Platinum medal.
.-= Tina Lyons´s last blog ..Winter 2010 GeneaBlogger Games – Days 9 & 10 Recap =-.
Author
Thanks for your input, Tina.