Data loss can cause significant issues for a business if a file containing a large amount of important data goes missing and you cannot retrieve it. And the worst part? Data loss can happen to anyone. You might accidentally delete a file or your computer might crash causing files to be deleted. That’s where data backup comes into play. In this article, we look at why data backup is important for your business.
What is Data Backup?
In the IT world, a backup (commonly referred to as data backup) is a digital copy of computer data that is taken and stored safely on another computer system so it can be used to restore the original in the event of data loss.
Today, backing up your data is one of the safest ways to ensure that you’re being proactive about your data’s security. This way, if disaster strikes, you can rest easy and know your information still exists elsewhere. With the help of cybersecurity techniques and backup software, you can take the initiative to protect yourself before anything drastic happens.
Because cyberattacks occur more and more often, it seems almost impossible to assure yourself that your data won’t be corrupted or stolen.
Backup software offers protection for business data by copying data from servers, databases, desktops, laptops, and other devices in case of user error, corrupt files, or a physical disaster that renders critical data inaccessible. It can also protect sensitive business data in the event of a hardware malfunction, hacker penetration, and many other threats posed to digitally stored information.
There is a wide range of backup programs that support data protection sources, from corporate servers to personal computers. You can store your data on an external hard drive, but more and more people are choosing cloud backups.
Backing up your data on a regular basis
Your computer hardware won’t last forever. There will eventually come a day when your laptop wears out and puts you at risk of losing all of the data kept on it. This is why backing up your data regularly is so important.
It’s also important to be aware that data can become corrupted at any given moment, not just when your hardware wears out.
Any files that you deem important should be backed up on a fairly regular basis. Additionally, backing up your data on the same disk as your original data will not reduce risk. A truly secure backup solution will include a remote backup, storing your data off-site or off-server so you can recover it if corruption occurs.
No matter if your data is personal or business-related, you should think about backing it up. Anyone hoping for an additional level of data loss prevention should consider using backup software to prevent the loss rather than having to react to it without any backup available.
Although backing up your information onto a cloud storage area is the most common way to do so, on-premise servers and hard drives are just as capable. It’s also important to note that multiple copies of backups can be saved. This can be done by retaining multiple points at once, or by saving the same backup on multiple drives or clouds.
Additionally, backup software provides the ability to restore data if the original storage location is deleted. Some software tools may alert you when files have been lost or corrupted while others may simply update the data itself once information is lost. Even if the information isn’t lost, but data needs to be transferred to a new network or device, users can trigger a backup recovery and provide all of the information to brand-new devices.
A few things organizations can do to protect themselves from cyber threats
Whether you’re working alone or seeking the services of IT support in London, you need to increase cyber security at your workplace. You can do this in the following ways:
• Educate employees
With cyber security, it’s important for your employees to actively apply the action plans. However, if they do this, they need to be educated about cyber crime, the attacks they may experience and what they can do to stop this from happening.
• Structure and safe-guard your data
The most-important thing to do is for you to identify what data is important for your organisation. That way you can re-structure data and add additional levels of protection. Backups and recovery plans must be in place to also ensure safety in case of a cyber attack. Therefore, this exercise will help you identify if there is any data theft.
• Draft a response plan
Set up a cyber security team in your organization. Ask them to come up with a flexible plan and apply this to keep your data safe. You can also seek input from your IT support.
• Equip yourself with new-age skills
Finally, upgrade your cyber security skill sets by having someone personally trained. Remember that just as hacking technology becomes more tricky, so does anti-hacking security technology. We would advise you to consult an IT company for the latest technology.
About IT-MSP
IT-MSP was founded in 2017 to provide London’s small & medium businesses with end-to-end IT services, right from purchasing and installing hardware to providing Mac, Windows & Linux support, cloud solutions, and data backup. We support our clients using proven, high-quality systems and security practices that blue-chip companies take for granted.
We consistently achieve excellent client satisfaction thanks to a process-driven approach, concise documentation and our team of friendly and highly trained London based engineers.
Youssef Baiza
Director
