research project: Off site digital information storage

[chittnp]

Hey everyone, Im currently doing a project for my business management class where i have to start a fake business. My team and I chose to start an Off site digital information storage company. Id appreciate advice from anyone with any experience in the field or anyone with any ideas about what kind of things Ill be needing. also id like to know what you all would look for in a company that Stores your digital information. Thanks alot..Im looking forward to your replies

[Veland]

Well, a fast connection and good security, both physical and backup/UPS systems. That would be my primary conserns.

Actual access to data, physical and hacking, is easy to overlook. We (as in computer people) tend to thing of security as backup, redundancy and UPS systems. But for big corporations it just as important to make sure that no one else gets to your data. Can I mention the HL and Win2000 source code leak?

And having great systems is no good if somebody can just back their truck up at night time and drive away with all your servers..

[chittnp]

well, The plan is to lease space on a (former) military base in central NY, because there are still government activities taking place there, it is already patrolled by federal police, and Im also planning on "hiring" my own security. as far as UPS, they are part of the plan already as well, and Im also planning on a backup generator, as far as data security, I was thinking about possibly encrypting the data once it is recieved, and then possibly backing up on DVD, so even if someone did hack into it, it would be useless, and there would also be a hardcopy back up. any other thingss you can think of/suggestions??

[Xaotic]

Encrypt the data prior to transmission, 3DES at a minimum, preferrably higher. It can be obtained before it gets there. If you're doing large quantities of data, DVD will not cut it, automate backups to SAN or DLT, SDLT or LTO tape libraries. Offsite backups are a must for you, especially since there are government facilities in the same site. Terrorism should be a concern in the siting process. Plan on another secure facility for the offsite storage and additional security for media transportation if necessary.

[chittnp]

great suggestions...can you point me in the direction of some more information on the DES encryption...I'm not familiar with it.