Experts prescribe the following good habits to safeguard precious BI data:

1. Decide the frequency at which BI data will be backed up, and program accordingly.

2. Make top officials in key departments aware that BI backup is crucial, and decide whose head will roll if it isn't done.

3. Be consistent, and make sure naming conventions and other data descriptors are uniform.

4. Factor backup into major BI moves, such as the purchase of new storage-area networks.

5. Realize that BI backup strategies must change with data collection and retention policies.
Specialized BI applications aren't the only systems with standard backup tools. "These are standard utilities among hardware and software vendors," says Gartner's Feinberg. Major vendors, such as IBM, include backup functionality to safeguard BI data. Products from storage vendors such as Symantec's Veritas unit, EMC and Storage Technology also include BI backup capabilities, says Feinberg.

Although the tools for BI backup are prevalent, proper use of these routines isn't. "We are finding that backups are being done infrequently and by individual departments that don't have the understanding or discipline that IT staffs do," says Gile. "Most companies realize this is something they should be doing. But there seems to be a degree of casualness here." This attitude will likely change as BI data becomes more mission-critical. "Loss of this data will then cause pain more quickly," he predicts.

Awareness of the potential pain of losing BI data is already taking place at companies like Owens & Minor, a medical and surgical supplies distributor, that is working with San Jose-based Business Objects on its BI strategy.

"The BI environment has become more of a must-have -- more so than three to four years ago. People rely on that information to do their jobs every day, and the ability to recover from an issue is becoming increasingly important," says Don Stoller, director of information management at Owens & Minor.

Other companies will almost certainly follow Owens & Minor's lead. As more executives base strategic decisions on BI data, the danger of losing valuable BI assets becomes more real.