Things to consider when investigating an off site storage vendor:

Proper storage conditions All the information you need to be an expert on proper storage conditions for your media is right readily available if you know where to look.  Ideal storage, temperature, and humidity conditions are listed on the packaging of most types of  media.  Don't be afraid to ask if those parameters can be met by your prospective storage facility...in fact, make sure you do ask.  Many storage facilities, including mini-storage warehouse units, frequently fall short in this category.

Availability Make sure your data is available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Disasters don't wait until a holiday has passed.  You'd be hard pressed to find a bank that is willing to open its vault on a weekend, much less on a holiday, so that you can restore critical backups to serve your customers when they need you.

Security controls Check for account access security controls which determine the degree to which your sensitive information is protected and regulates the degree to which employees can access your secured media.

Reliable, available courier service Ensure that a reliable courier service is available on a schedule which meets ALL of  your needs.  Daily, weekly, monthly, and bi-monthly are some common backup rotation scenarios.  Many small businesses have a false sense of security with their in-house program.  Often, the employee responsible for the backups is just like the rest of us…missing a day now and then; consequently that day's backup is often missed also.

Central Station Alarm Controls Ensure that the facility which protects your data and records is protected by a 24 hour fire smoke, water, and intrusion security alarm system.

Fire Suppression System Ideally, the facility should be protected by a Halon (preferably version 1301) fire suppression system that extinguishes fires without damaging or leaving contaminating residue on computer media.

Customized Courier Service Courier service MUST be available to meet your recurring needs.  The service provider should be able to schedule daily, weekly, monthly, or on-call trips to pick up and/or deliver your most recent back up tapes.

Environmental Controls The temperature and humidity in storage vaults should be carefully maintained between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 to 55 percent humidity.  The service provider should use an environmental recorder to verify the status of the vault environment.

Emergency Service Disasters seldom happen at convenient times.  Your  service provider should ensure that your data is available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The service provider should guarantee that they will deliver your media within a specified period of time (typically, 2 hours of your call) in a rush or emergency situation.

With DATASAFE... A fail-safe recovery plan begins with convenience …provides a high level of security and accountability …and results in peace of mind.