From customer information to financial records, your company’s data is invaluable so it’s crucial to have a reliable backup strategy in place. Whether to protect data from being compromised or lost due to cyberattacks or to be able to quickly recover from a disaster, you need to know if your backups have your back!
Which Type of Backup is Most Likely to Successfully Restore?
The type of backup you have does matter. The three most common are onsite, offsite, or hybrid. Onsite backups involve storing your data on physical devices within your business premises, such as external hard drives or network-attached storage (NAS) devices. These backups are easily accessible and offer fast data recovery. However, they are susceptible to theft, physical damage, or natural disasters. Offsite backups store your data in a location separate from your business premises, often in a remote data center or cloud-based service. They provide a higher level of security and protection against physical threats so they are essential in areas prone to local disasters. Cloud-based backups are particularly effective as they offer scalability, automatic backups, and accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection. Hybrid backups combine the advantages of both onsite and offsite backups. This strategy involves storing data locally and replicating it to an offsite location. It provides quick access to your data and the added security of offsite storage. Offsite or Hybrid backups are your best bets.
What Makes a Backup Effective?
Having the right type of backup is just the first step. If you aren’t following some regular maintenance and testing of your backups, you won’t be able to smoothly or quickly recover from an attack or disaster. To ensure your backup strategy is effective, follow these actionable tips:
- Regular Backup Schedule: Set up a regular backup schedule to ensure that your data is consistently backed up. Automated backups are a great option, as they reduce the risk of human error.
- Data Encryption: Encrypt your backup data to protect it from unauthorized access. Many backup solutions offer built-in encryption features to safeguard your data.
- Testing and Verification: Periodically test your backups to ensure they are working correctly. Regular testing will help you identify and address any issues in advance.
- Version Control: Maintain multiple versions of your data, so you can restore from different points in time. This can be crucial if you need to recover from a ransomware attack that affects your most recent backup.
- Redundancy: Store backups in multiple locations to enhance redundancy. This way, if one location is compromised, you still have a backup in another.
- Access Control: Restrict access to your backups. Only authorized personnel should have the ability to manage or restore backup data.
- Employee Training: Identify a backup team and make sure those employees are trained on data backup best practices and the importance of safeguarding backup systems. Human error can be a significant factor in data loss.
Choosing the right backup strategy is crucial for small businesses, especially in the face of increasing cyber threats. Opt for offsite or hybrid backups to ensure your data’s safety and follow the actionable advice provided to make your backup strategy as effective as possible. By prioritizing data protection, you can safeguard your business against potential data loss and cyberattacks. Not sure if your backup has your back? Reach out to us for a free assessment.
