Disaster backup/disaster recovery

Database backup
In information technology, backup is the process of copying and archiving the computer data so that one can use it to restore the original after an event of data loss occurs (Mullins, 2012). There are two distinct purposes of backups. One is to recover the data after its loss maybe because of data deletion or corruption. The data loss may be a common experience of the computer users. The second purpose of the backup is to recover the data from the earlier time according to the user-defined data retention policy. There are two divisions of the backups that include the logical and the physical backups (Dafoulas & Ward 2011). The logical backups usually contain the logical data from the database with the Oracle export utility. It is stored in a binary file so as to help in later re-importing to a database using the corresponding Oracle import utility. On the other hand, the physical backup refers to the backup of the physical files that is used for storing and also recovering databases such as the control files and the data files. It is a copy of the files storing database information to another location whether it is on offline storage or a disk.

The database backup tends to form a duplicate of the data when the backup is complete. With a backup, it is easy for an individual to recreate the whole database from the backup in just one step that involves restoring the database. During restoring, it is a process that involves overwriting the existing database or it may create a database in case it does not exist (Dafoulas & Ward 2011). During backup, it is a process that tends to use a lot of storage space for every backup, and it also requires more time so as to completely backup all the operations.

With the Oracle backup, the types of backups include the logical backup, cold backup, and the hot backups. The hot backup is a backup of the data while it is running. Oracle tends to have RMAN which usually ensures the success in the hot backup. A cold backup is a backup that involves the offline physical backup, which is a process that happens when the database is not operating. It is a type of backup that accommodates all of the essential data files and other database components (Snedaker, 2014). On the other side, the logical backup is that backup of the tablespace, schemas, and whole database. Since an organization has a large amount of data, it is essential for the database administrators to use the automatic backup utilities that are available in a database such as ORACLE.

Any of the backup strategies used tends to start with the data repository. The backup data should be stored and organized to a degree. Other types of data backups include the full backup, differential backup, incremental backup, and mirror backup. The differential backup is the backup that includes all the files that changed since the last full backup. The incremental backup is the backup including files that changed in the last backup process (Snedaker, 2014). The full backup refers to the initial process of the backup that includes all the files and folders. Mirror backup is the backup of all files of the data that changed since the last full backup.

Disaster planning
Disaster planning is important as it helps in ensuring the continuation of the business processes if a disaster happens. Disaster is a term that is relative since disasters tend to occur in varying degrees. Disaster planning is essential as it offers an effective solution to use in recovering all the vital business processes (Whitman et al. 2013). The disaster recovery plan tends to offer the procedures for handling emergency situations. In disaster planning, the plan must offer information for the proactive handling of the crisis and must include detailed procedures for communication, executives, investor relations, human resources, and technology management. The plan must also document the procedures, responsibilities, and the checklist to use in managing and controlling the situation following the crisis.

Disaster planning tends to offer a state of readiness that allows prompt personnel response after a disaster occurs. It tends to provide a more efficient and effective recovery process. A disaster recovery plan must be able to accomplish several objectives. These objectives include managing the recovery operation in an effective and organized manner, recovering information and data imperative to the operation of critical applications (Mullins, 2012). It should also assess the damage, repair damage, and activate the impaired computer center. Every business tends to have the responsibility of responding to short or long term disruption of the services. Developing, documenting, implementing and testing the disaster recovery plan enable the business to restore the availability of the critical applications in an organized and timely manner after the occurrence of a disaster.

The advantages of disaster planning are that it results in improved technology. An organization requires improving IT systems so as to support the recovery objectives that you develop in disaster planning. The attention that one pays to recoverability leads to making the IT systems more consistent with each other. Disaster planning also results to improved business process. Since the business processes tend to undergo analysis and scrutiny, the administrators may not help but find areas that need improvement (Whitman et al. 2013). Disaster planning also benefits the organization through fewer disruptions. Because of improved technology, the IT systems are more stable than in the past. When one make changes to the system architecture so as to meet the recovery objectives, the events that used to cause outage do not do so anymore. Disaster planning also offers a competitive advantage because having good disaster recovery plan provides the organization with bragging rights that cab outshines the competitors. Disaster recovery plan tends to allow the organization to claim higher reliability and availability of services.

During disaster planning, it is significant that one should define the strategy to follow when employing the required softness to ensure the principles of detection, prevention, and response to the disaster. Such a strategy tends to define the activities that people will participate in when a disaster occurs, and it has a plan for explaining how to conduct the activities. It is essential for the organization to set the priorities of the processes and operations that they should perform. A disaster recovery plan is essential for the company as it contains the action that will help reduce the impact of the disaster and enable the organization to resumes its operation as fast as possible (Schin, 2014). It is an important aspect of the organization because it helps the organization save a lot of costs that it would incur if it never had a disaster recovery plan.

Importance of integrating backups and disaster planning
Database recovery is an essential aspect of disaster recovery. The purpose of the database backup is so as to safeguard the data in the case that a disruptive event occurs. The disaster planning aims at safeguarding the data and also the physical devices. It is important to integrate database backups and disaster planning as they work as complementary to each other when both of them are not properly implemented. Integrating database backup and disaster planning are important as backup database help in deciding the data to keep a backup for, and disaster planning helps in selecting the suitable backup plan for the physical storage of the data (Schin, 2014). Disaster planning is important as it helps to pinpoint the likely areas for problems. During planning, one need to assign tasks to different people so that everyone can know what is expected of them. Then again, backing up data and storing the copy off site may help to ensure that if a disaster strikes, one can move on without a lot of disruption.

It is important to execute database backup and disaster planning effectively. Failure of effectively executing them can result in a lot of loss to the organization. Without good backup and disaster planning, the organization can lose essential data and even customer data that can be of negative impact on the company (Mullins, 2012). When the two are not properly integrated, it can cause confusion to workers in the organization when an event of disaster happens as employees will not understand what to do in such a situation. Therefore, the damage can be much when the plan and backup are not properly executed.

Online Buying and Traditional Buying

Currently, technology has continued to develop dramatically. It has therefore made lives more convenient. One convenience is the online shopping which remains renowned as a business strategy on The Internet. While there are differences in several ways, the two methods have many similarities. This paper will compare as well as contrast aspects between online buying and traditional buying. With the increasing popularity of the Internet and the increasing options to online shoppers, more people continue to turn to cyberspace for shopping needs. As a response, retailers continue to enhance online stores, giving customers similar comprehensive experience available at a mall.

Like traditional shopping, online buying gives a great variety of stores. Nearly any store typically found in malls correspond online store with similar items. From departmental stores to specialty ones, many retailers find through Internet search. In both options shopping experience provides a large item selection to choose from. If one is looking for dresses, a simple search end up yielding hundreds of dresses with various styles, sizes, shapes as well as colors. Similar to visiting a specialized department in the store, the criteria for search can become narrowed to present the particular results like cocktail dresses or sundresses. Many retailers give similar deals in store as well as on their website. Like in the mall, online stores always have seasonal as well as end-of-season items, in many case having extra incentives like free shipping for online buyers. The retailer’s site end up reflecting seasonal promotions present in-store and enable buyers to redeem coupons as well as gift cards. Sales and promotions will typically start and end on the same dates both in-store and online.

The other similarity is that both the two shopping options have an interactive experience. Through the enhanced features on many retailer websites, buyers manage to see how an item look like in other color, in different sizes, or send links to friends for feedback. The Victoria’s online store Secret, for example, allows buyers to click on the color swatches to alter the color of items then click through alternate brands to know the exact fit as well as shape. Similar to purchases at the mall, items purchased from online shops also get returned to retailers for a refund as well as an exchange with conditions varying depending on retailer’s policy. Like in mall stores, most online stores allow buyers to return items for a total full refund while others only allow for exchanges. As one would expect, returns as well as exchanges of some personal items like undergarments as well as toiletries get not accepted at malls or online.

The two business methods pose some distinctive features. A basic difference is time operation. For instance, customers may buy and view things every time they feel like because online shops operate on a 24-hour basis as well as seven days a week. Contrary, stores, supermarkets, markets, as well as plazas, begin in limit time like 8 am to 9 pm. Hence, online buying remain more useful as compared to traditional shopping particularly those without time or those always working with a computer like office workers. The Second difference is the mode of the exhibition (Odyssey & the Standard’ 2000). Traditional shopping has direct alternative to a product through touch as well as handling to ascertain their quality as well as their material. On the contrary, online shops only display items on the Internet for customers to image the producers through their mind pictures, information in every produce. Hence, face many difficulties in making choices. As a consequence, traditional buyers remain more attracted as compared to the online customer.

The third difference is the communication. In specific, online buyers have no capacity to negotiate directly with the sellers since they face a screen while traditional buyers have a face to face interaction and can bargain with respective sellers. Therefore, communication in online buying remains more interesting as compared to traditional shopping. Fourthly, the investment also contrasts between the online and the traditional buyers. For example, online business have no huge budget of leasing space, rent employee as well as décor store while traditional shops need more money. Additionally, online business managers to save money in the investment and they manage to expand and produce over the globe in short time, making online buying easy. Lastly, one of the advantages of online buying is convenience. Particularly, online buyer access products not only from within the nation but also from other countries. Hence, buyers get items by their computer irrespective of their area of stay.

To conclude, while there are differences between the two shopping methods, there are many similarities. Many factors propel people to choose the type of shopping suits their demands. Hence, both methods have advantages and disadvantages, and while making chooses between them, it remains critical to consider the situation. Irrespective of the method both the two enables buyers to get what they want and satisfy their consumer needs. Hence, if opportunity dictates, they can shop online, and the same should apply in traditional shopping.

Legal and Ethical Issues on Assisted Suicide

Committing suicide do happen in different scenarios whereby one can voluntarily decide to take a way life without the knowledge of the relatives. On the other hand, some seek advice and support on how to take away their life. This controversial has got the attention of law such that some states have established rules and regulations to govern the action of assisted suicide. In basic legal regulations, it is necessary to understand the role played by involved party played in committing the suicide. It has been taken as illegal in a handful of states for physician-assisted suicide whereby over 30 states have taken the step of enacting the statutes of prohibiting assisted suicide. They have well arguably prohibited assisted suicide through the common law.

According to the U.S. Supreme Court, there is no an actual constitutional right to die. This saw the court leaving for individual state to enact its legislation of permitting or prohibiting physician assisted suicide. The fact is that a person will be guilty of taking part in a suicide attempt when the individual knowingly causes or helps the person to attempt the suicide. However, through the Death with Dignity Act, ill adults have the option of seeking for lethal doses from osteopathic physicians for them to have a peaceful ending of life.

Besides the assisted suicide having some support and eligibility from some states, there are some legal issues that arise over the practice. The fact is that the roles played by legislators, judges and administrative officials in influence the patient care do vary. The legal issue that will raise the eyebrows is that if assisted suicide is made legal, then the follow up experience will be the ending of lives without the consent of the people through the human negligence and abuse of the law. Legalization of the assisted suicide will have the high number in compromising of the family as well as the intergenerational commitments. The legal issue that will follow out is the controversial about the delivery of human equality and dignity before the state law (Cassel, 7). It, therefore, comes with some concerns with the consideration of assisted suicide as legal.

The assisted suicide comes with ethical concern such that the doctors are defined with eh role of doing no harm. How ideal is it for the doctor to facilitate the ending of life. However, the law sees differently such that old aged human have right to die with dignity and peaceful and this can get done with the assistance of doctors. It sounds moral, right and caring for a compassionate medical practitioner to provide patient with necessary prescription that will enable the patient to die with dignity. This is not such controversial to the principle that is paramount that states that doctors have the duty of relieving suffering. It actually depends with the state law since participation in suicide is taken as murder unless the ending of life is done professionally as defined by the common law. Otherwise, prosecution should take its direction.

Assisted suicide may come up on a genuine basis although at times remain to have some hidden meaning. The issue of assisted suicide should be taken within the given range and it should get considered only acceptable within a given scope of execution. It is ethical to observe the rights of the human and the respecting of other opinions that seems to reduce suffering to their lives. Thus, assisted suicide should only be legal under special circumstances.