Despite the fact that backing up data might appear to be a simple task, even minor errors can result in catastrophic consequences. After a system failure, a successful cyberattack, or an accidental deletion, many businesses come to the realization that their backups are not as reliable as they represent themselves to be.
Having said that, the damage has already been done. With the following best practices in mind, you can ensure the safety of your team, your customers, and your business.
1. Relying on a Single Backup
The failure to duplicate your company’s data, which includes relying on only one copy, will always leave your company open to risk. Failure of the hardware, deletion of important files by the administrator by accident, or the deletion of the only copy as a result of a hacker attack are all possibilities.
As the Data Protection Report from Veeam puts it, about 76% of enterprises faced data unavailability after a duplicate failure. The reliability of either of these sources cannot be doubted. Without a doubt, it is not possible to determine which duplicate will fail at the most inopportune time with any degree of accuracy.
2. Not Updating Backup Schedules
The schedule you have should reflect the pace of your business. Take, for instance, the scenario in which your team works every day, but your duplicates only run once a week: this results in gaps.
According to Datto, businesses that do not properly monitor and update their schedules lose an average of six hours of data each day. Backups that are performed on a daily or hourly basis are also included in the best practices for backups for businesses, and they assist in preventing the loss of data due to failures.
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3. Skipping Backup Testing
Numerous companies believe their duplicates are functioning correctly if the system indicates that the process has finished. On the other hand, this does not guarantee that your files will be restored.
According to IDC research, approximately 58% of all duplicates become unsuitable for recovery due to errors. By performing regular testing, you can verify that the restore points are valid and help prevent the loss of data due to duplicate failures before the actual incident takes place.
4. Keeping Backups in Unsafe Locations
When it comes to protection, having a duplicate in the same physical location is very similar to having no protection at all. Floods, fires, break-ins, or hardware faults are all potential causes of simultaneous destruction of multiple devices.
According to FEMA, there’s a 40% probability that a small organization will not recover from a physical disaster. The utilization of secure off-site or cloud storage is an essential component in the process of learning how to protect backups of business data.
5. Ignoring Cyber Threats During Backups
Files are becoming an increasingly direct target for cybercriminals as the degree of sophistication of cybercrime increases. Ransomware incidents rose by 13% in a single year, with backup systems often being a primary target.
Encrypting files, restricting access, and disconnecting systems from the primary network are all necessary steps in the process of protecting backups. When it comes to protecting backups of business data, these steps are absolutely necessary.
Related Article: 5 Serious Cybersecurity Issues You Need to Fix Right Away
Stronger Backups Build a Safer Business
It is possible to strengthen the resilience of your company by avoiding making these mistakes. Multiple backup locations, updated schedules, regular testing, secure storage, and protection against cyber threats all combine to keep your data safe. You are able to recover more quickly, avoid significant work pauses, and save face when your backups do, in fact, function properly.
