This will deviate from my usual format this morning – a quick message to make you think not only about your data but how you create it. You’ve heard be many times say the importance of backups but one thing I haven’t touched on a lot is the software that is used too.
This year, I’ve had two clients with similar scenarios.
In one case, we have backups of the data but not the software. Their system failed and we had a catastrophe in that the software used isn’t supported nor available any longer so we had to find a work around.
The second scenario, they wanted to put a new system in, but couldn’t find the software used on the system. They had one custom package by a company no longer in business, as well as 3 commercial packages that were no longer supported or available. In one case, the software version was so old that the company doesn’t provide a migration path to the new version resulting in a search for a new database software that could do the same task and figuring out how to transfer from their old database to the new one. Another piece of software, the cost of transferring it to a new machine, was higher than replacing the printer that it supports.
Many people have seen similar issues with simple stuff like old Word Perfect files to newer Microsoft Word formats.
Bottom line, know what software you use, know where to get it and keep it up to date. If the supporting company is merged, goes out of business or discontinues it, prepare for the worst case before it happens so when you are forced to do something, it is a non event.
We can help with that process. Book a risk assessment at https://d-s-c.ca/dra
Dave Bour
President
Desktop Solution Center
905.381.0077
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