Check out our companion blog!

Episodes

Your 4-Hour Recovery Time Objective is Fantasy
Feb. 24, 2025

Your 4-Hour Recovery Time Objective is Fantasy

Ever wonder why your recovery time objective seems impossible to meet? In this episode, we challenge the common assumption that a four-hour RTO is achievable for most organizations. Host W. Curtis Preston and guest Prasanna M...

Listen to the Episode
Passwords vs Passkeys: The Future of Backup Security
Feb. 17, 2025

Passwords vs Passkeys: The Future of Backup Security

In this eye-opening episode about passwords vs passkeys, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi expose why traditional password protection isn't enough for your backup systems anymore. They break down the evolution from ba...

Listen to the Episode
No one cares about your backup window!
Feb. 10, 2025

No one cares about your backup window!

Understanding your backup window is crucial for effective data protection, but there's a twist - it's not just about backup speed. In this episode, we explore why focusing solely on backup speed misses the point entirely. The...

Listen to the Episode
Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Backup?
Feb. 3, 2025

Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Backup?

Artificial intelligence in backup isn't just marketing hype - it's changing how we protect our data. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the practical applications of AI in backup systems, fr...

Listen to the Episode
Disaster Recovery Testing: The Execution Phase
Jan. 27, 2025

Disaster Recovery Testing: The Execution Phase

In part two of our disaster recovery testing series, we explore the critical steps of executing a DR test. From coordinating teams and documenting issues to maintaining communication channels during the test, this episode cov...

Listen to the Episode
Choosing the Best Cloud Backup for Your Small Business
Jan. 20, 2025

Choosing the Best Cloud Backup for Your Small Business

Looking for the best cloud backup for small business? This episode cuts straight to what matters. Host W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi share their expert insights on choosing the right cloud backup solution for your...

Listen to the Episode
Laptop Restore Nightmare: 900GB Recovery Story
Jan. 13, 2025

Laptop Restore Nightmare: 900GB Recovery Story

A personal laptop restore that should have taken days stretched into weeks, highlighting critical lessons about backup and recovery. When our guest's laptop hard drive failed, he thought replacing it with an SSD and restoring...

Listen to the Episode
Making the Case for Your Backup IT Budget
Jan. 6, 2025

Making the Case for Your Backup IT Budget

Getting the right backup IT budget can feel like pulling teeth, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi share real-world strategies for securing the...

Listen to the Episode
DR Case Study: A first hand-account
Dec. 23, 2024

DR Case Study: A first hand-account

(For frequent listeners, I made a mistake with last week's episode. THIS is the episode I meant to publish last week. I know it has the same description. Sorry about that.) This disaster recovery case study takes you inside...

Listen to the Episode
DR Case Study: When a Hurricane Hits Your Data Center
Dec. 16, 2024

DR Case Study: When a Hurricane Hits Your Data Center

This disaster recovery case study takes you inside a real DR scenario when a hurricane devastated an island's data center. Our guest shares his firsthand experience managing recovery efforts with limited resources, no mainlan...

Listen to the Episode
Surviving a Data Center Flood: Real Recovery Stories
Dec. 9, 2024

Surviving a Data Center Flood: Real Recovery Stories

Get ready for one of the most compelling disaster recovery stories we've ever featured on the Backup Wrap-up. (It's a very popular episode from a few years ago.) A veteran backup administrator shares his firsthand experience ...

Listen to the Episode
Free NetBackup Reader: S2|DATA's Game-Changing Tool
Dec. 2, 2024

Free NetBackup Reader: S2|DATA's Game-Changing Tool

S2|DATA has released a free NetBackup reader that gives users complete control over their backup data without requiring a full NetBackup environment. This standalone application allows anyone to quickly catalog and restore da...

Listen to the Episode
Disaster Recovery Test Gone Wrong
Nov. 25, 2024

Disaster Recovery Test Gone Wrong

In this eye-opening episode, we examine a real-world disaster recovery test gone wrong from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our guest Paul Van Dyke shares his story of intentionally taking down an entire server environment over a wee...

Listen to the Episode
Disaster Recovery Testing: Start Small Before Going Big
Nov. 18, 2024

Disaster Recovery Testing: Start Small Before Going Big

Ready to level up your disaster recovery testing game? This episode covers everything from basic restore testing to full-scale DR scenarios. Curtis and Prasanna share real-world experiences and practical advice for implementi...

Listen to the Episode
Detecting Ransomware Before It's Too Late
Nov. 11, 2024

Detecting Ransomware Before It's Too Late

WC continue =====================DESCRIPTION=============== Detecting ransomware requires more than just good antivirus software - it demands a comprehensive approach using multiple tools and techniques. In this episode of Th...

Listen to the Episode
RTO vs RPO: The Foundations of Backup Design
Nov. 4, 2024

RTO vs RPO: The Foundations of Backup Design

In this essential episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we dive deep into RTO vs RPO – the foundational concepts that drive backup and recovery system design. Curtis and Prasanna break down why these aren't just technical metrics, b...

Listen to the Episode
Backup from Hell: SMB vs 400TB
Oct. 28, 2024

Backup from Hell: SMB vs 400TB

Experience the backup from hell in this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up. What started as a straightforward 40TB backup spiraled into a months-long battle with 400TB of data, failing tape drives, and directories cont...

Listen to the Episode
Election Integrity 101: What Every Voter Should Know
Oct. 21, 2024

Election Integrity 101: What Every Voter Should Know

In this important episode, we tackle the crucial topic of election integrity. As a seasoned poll worker and site manager, I take you behind the scenes of our voting process, revealing the numerous safeguards and checks in pla...

Listen to the Episode
The Dark Side of Backup System Consolidation
Oct. 14, 2024

The Dark Side of Backup System Consolidation

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we look at the dangers of the consolidating backup market, a trend that's reshaping the industry. We talk about recent major acquisitions like Cohesity's purchase of Veritas ...

Listen to the Episode
Rogue Administrator Nightmare: Lessons from a Real-Life Attack
Oct. 7, 2024

Rogue Administrator Nightmare: Lessons from a Real-Life Attack

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up that proves Curtis right :) we look into the shocking case of a rogue administrator who held an entire company's IT infrastructure hostage. We explore how Daniel Rhyne, a core infrastruct...

Listen to the Episode
Business Impact Analysis: Your Key to Resilient Operations
Sept. 30, 2024

Business Impact Analysis: Your Key to Resilient Operations

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we explore the critical process of a business impact analysis (BIA) and its importance for organizations of all sizes. Our expert guest, Dr. Mike Saylor, shares valuable insights on cond...

Listen to the Episode
Building a Resilient Ransomware Backup Strategy
Sept. 23, 2024

Building a Resilient Ransomware Backup Strategy

In this essential episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we delve into the critical components of a robust ransomware backup strategy. We explore the concept of dwell time and its implications on backup retention periods, emphasizing...

Listen to the Episode
Detecting Ransomware Before It's Too Late
Sept. 16, 2024

Detecting Ransomware Before It's Too Late

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we delve into the critical topic of detecting ransomware. Joined by cybersecurity expert Dr. Mike Sailor, we explore the subtle signs that could indicate a ransomware attack ...

Listen to the Episode
Tabletop Exercises: Your Secret Weapon Against Cyberattacks
Sept. 9, 2024

Tabletop Exercises: Your Secret Weapon Against Cyberattacks

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we delve into the world of tabletop exercises and their crucial role in cybersecurity preparedness. Our guest expert, Mike Saylor from Black Swan Security, guides us through ...

Listen to the Episode