Inverness Courier 15th August 2006 CROMARTY internet service provider Calico UK has launched a new facility enabling subscribers to back-up data contained on their PCs. CRITICali is aimed at both business and home users and sends information over the internet to two back-up servers in different locations. “Data sent to one server is automatically copied to the other so, in the unlikely event that there is a problem with one server, the second will still hold a copy,” explained Calico’s technical director Campbell McCracken. Files are compressed to save storage space and encrypted for security. Mr McCracken said most PCs did not have adequate back up, which could be disastrous for a company in the event of hardware failure, viruses, fire, theft, or human error. It is estimated that 90 per cent of firms that suffer major IT data losses go out of business within two years. “Hardly a week goes by without us receiving a plea for help from a customer because of their PC has crashed and they’ve lost important e-mails or documents,” Mr McCracken stated. “Of course they’re always too late. You need to take precautions now, not wait for a disaster to happen.” Customers can choose storage packages ranging from 0.5GB to 100GB and a free trial is offered with 50MB allowance. Calico UK, which was subject to a staff buy out in January 2005, has been awarded Investors in People status. “We are very pleased with this news” said managing director Kirsty Pryer. “Each of us now has a role at every level in the organisation from the top down, so it’s not a normal staff hierarchy.”