Business Basics: Data Backup And Security; How Confident Are You In 2018
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Data corruption, physical security, even natural disasters can cost businesses more then just a pretty penny. Company critical information, and customer details need to be a priority plan when it comes to protecting company-driven information.
Through this article, I plan to share some insight into good practises you can implement to ensure that you have a plan in place, regardless of the disasters that may attempt their way through your security protocol.
So, let’s get into it.
So What’s Important To Remember When It Comes To Data Backup?
When setting up your data backup, and security for the first time, you really want to think about what you need if things were to go south.
Generally, these four categories encompass every data need a business has for recovery:
- The ability to restore data in a flash.
- The software to restore damaged, corrupted, or stolen information.
- Keeping services online for clients.
- Backup files at an off-site location to prevent the risk of natural disasters.
When setting up your data recovery and backup plan - it is crucial that you have a quick-response solution to each of the bullets above. This will help you ensure you can get your business up and running as quickly as possible if disaster were to strike.
Choose The Right Medium For Data Backup
Back in the day, those flimsy CD’s and 100 mb flash drives may have been enough to backup company critical data. But, living in the information age, we have smarter, more efficient, and much safer ways to store data.
There are tons of options to choose from. But, my top two choices would either be storing your data up in the distant cloud, or investing in a data recovery series appliance.
It really all depends on your needs. Cloud computing has the unique advantage of being off-site. Meaning even when disaster strikes, your data is safe. If you are really serious about ensuring your business is not crippled, I would personally recommend going with both options. Safer is better than sorry, right?
What About The Actual Backup Process?
Great! We are getting somewhere. So, now you have come to grips with why and what you need to backup. You have the medium that you are going to use to ensure your data is secure, and resting.
But, when exactly should you worry about actually sending data through to your recovery mediums?
I can tell you right now, it can be a real nightmare! Especially if you have a high volume of information that needs to backed up daily.
If we are talking about transfers in the terabytes, you need to consider the bandwidth that it’s going to chow. Which will lead to grumpy employees, dropped VoiP, and annoying “Can you hear me, I can’t hear you” moments during important meetings.
Which is rather why you should schedule the transfers at night. It is also important to invest in some decent software to help ensure everything goes through smoothly, and no digits are left untouched.
Data Audits Are Important If You Have A Multi-Server Backup
When you are running one server backup procedures, it’s pretty easy to stay on top of things. But large businesses, with several servers - well, that gets a bit more … tricky to deal with.
Imagine your confident all your data is secured. Disaster strikes, information is corrupted. But you don’t mind, you have a backup for a reason.
Then, you notice. All the information for one of your clients is missing. Not just any client, your BIGGEST client!
This may sound like something right out of a horror movie that they tell new start-ups to scare them straight, but it happens. Which is why it is important to audit your data on a regular schedule to ensure that you have all the information you need to ensure business continuity.
Data Security Needs To Be A Priority
Unfortunately, as great as the digital era has been for business innovations, it has also been a goldmine for thieves looking to make a quick buck.
2016 alone, cybercrime was the second most reported crime. More than theft, and all the other horrors we hear about on the news, if that does not frighten you, I don’t know what will.
Which is why it is important to implement white-hat techniques to ensure your business is as protected as it can get from cybercriminals. You should also educate your employees on common cyber criminal activities, and how to pick up on them.
After all, your employees are at the forefront of every single interaction your business makes… every day. If anyone is going to be targeted to get into your network, it will be them.
You can check this article out to see more about how to be conscious when it comes to cyber security and protecting your business from the dark arts.
