When Bad Things Happen to Good Data

We've all been there: despite your best efforts or intentions, something goes wrong. Sometimes it's as simple as breaking something by accidentally dropping it on the floor. However, if the problem involves a computer, there can be serious consequences. As we've become more and more dependant on our computers, any issues with them are more costly then ever. After all, the quote "To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer" is famous for a reason!

Take ServiceCEO. It's a powerful application that can seamlessly integrate all aspects of your business for maximum efficiency. However, if anything happens to ServiceCEO, all of your customer data is suddenly gone. This is why database backups are absolutely critical to the success of your business. Making backups a part of your everyday life is like purchasing insurance against computer problems!

Backing up your database means that you will still have all of your data if your computer acts up in any way. They protect you if your computer crashes - with a backup file, all you need to do is deal with the computer problem, not typing information for the last week back into ServiceCEO. In short, with just a little bit of effort, you can protect yourself from the disaster of data loss.

There are two ways you can back up the ServiceCEO database:

  1. Manually. You can easily backup your database at any time.
  2. Automatically. You can configure your computer to perform the database backup for you.

We highly recommend that you make a backup at the close of every business day. If you do this, the automatic method is your best bet, because you don't have to remember to start the process every night. However, there are other times where making a manual backup is essential, including:• Before Upgrading. You must backup your database before upgrading your version of ServiceCEO. This will ensure that no data is lost in the unlikely event that there is an issue during the upgrade process. After the upgrade, immediately check to make sure that everything is working correctly.

  • Before upgrading or installing anything onto your server computer.
  • Prior to importing any type of data into ServiceCEO.

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind when working with database backups:

  • Keep your backup files safe. Don't store them on the same computer as the ServiceCEO database, because if something happens to that computer, you lose both ServiceCEO and your backup file. We recommend you store them in an external media file (CD, external hard drive, tape backup, etc.)
  • You'll need to perform the backup on the server computer hosting the ServiceCEO database.

For details on the backup procedures, you can read the following sections of the ServiceCEO Help System:

Please note that if you have problems setting up an automatic backup, our support department can assist you.