There is no denying that back up or securing your company’s data is of paramount importance. Whether it is a client’s files, project details or any important communication, everything needs to be securely saved in a digital format. Losing important data can have ethical ramifications and it can be professionally catastrophic.
That is to say, cyber security must not be taken lightly. No matter whether it is your family picture or any other important document, data protection is important. Many of us consider downloading anti-virus software enough when it comes to protecting valuable files.
However, this software can easily be hacked as soon as hacker gets access to it. That means finding other solutions that help you recover your valuable data is crucial.
That is where you need to implement a backup strategy in order to prevent data loss permanently. Whether you are analyzing your existing backup plan or implementing it for the first time, here we have included five important steps to help you create an effective backup plan.
Before we get into the details of creating back up data, it is essential to understand why it is vital.
Why You Should Have a Backup Strategy?
If you are a startup, you need to understand that your business reputation is one of the most important aspects to strengthen your relationship with your customers. Losing a customer’s personal data may raise questions on your credibility.
According to a recent survey conducted in 2017, an average data breach costs around seven million dollars. This is a significant impact that very few companies can afford. Another survey estimated that approximately 60% of firms that lose data due to any reason close within five months.
Not to ignore, companies are at risk of losing valuable data permanently. Malware and viruses can destroy it and are some of the most dominant threats to data security. However, 60% IT professionals consider that careless employees are a significant risk to personal or professional data.
There is no doubt that these risks can bring financial instability to your company. Without a proper backup system, both your company’s reputation as well other assets are at stake.
Steps to Create Backup
1. Assess the Backup Needs of Your Company
Assessing the backup needs of your company is the first step. You need to consider several things. Here we have broken it into three important points.
> What Company Data needs Protection?
To answer this question precisely, everything needs to be protected. Losing even minor data files permanently can be of high risk. To put it simply, all of your data is crucial to keep everything operational.
Consider these questions for both long and short-term benefits.
- Do you need to restore data?
- Do you need an ability to recover data?
- Do you need uninterrupted services to be available to your clients?
- Do you need to implement back up strategy for your operating system, databases, configuration, and applications?
All these questions will help you make a comprehensive data backup strategy. Plus, considering these points before devising a backup strategy will set a clear direction for the right backup solution.
> What Data Risks you have?
Considering your data risks is vital to prevent the risks of cyber crime. You need some of the best back up strategies to protect data from professional hackers.
Here are some important considerations:
- Have your systems been hacked in the past?
- Are your careless employees the reason for poor security?
- Is your location safe in terms of weather-related damage?
- Can your clients also access the company’s data from anywhere?
These questions can be really helpful to identify risks that your data faces.
2. Evaluate Best Backup Strategy Options
Once you have determined the backup needs for your business, you need to evaluate various backup strategy options you have. Here are some backup options you can choose according to your setup and needs.
> Software Solution
You may buy software backup that can be less pricey than investing in hardware backup. You can easily install them on your systems using a separate server for them. Installing software backup may be an ideal option if your business infrastructure is dynamic.
> Cloud Services
It is an offsite backup facility that allows users to run their backups and stores them in the vendors’ cloud infrastructure. It is secure and affordable, but often not suitable for companies that have sensitive data and/or are subject to various regulatory requirements.
> Hybrid Solutions
One of the popular and advanced options is implementing a hybrid backup solution. It is a combination of cloud backups that comes with multiple data restoring options. Not only does it provide you with on-site backup, but you can also recover data from the cloud network.
3. Budgeting
Creating a budget for your backup solution is the third step in your plan. You need to review all your options with their cost in order to choose what suits your infrastructure best. Cloud-based back-ups are more affordable in terms of capital expenditure for most startups. Make sure you estimate the cost of:
- Data lost due to a disaster or data breach
- To train staff to manage backup
4. Implement
You have reviewed both your backup solution options and their cost, and now it is time to implement your chosen option. Make sure that your infrastructure has technology expertise both in hardware and software installation.
No matter what backup option you choose, they need to be properly configured. Plus, proper backup is pivotal to maintaining a stable, healthy and ethical practice. That is why they need to be implemented appropriately.
5. Test and Review
To avoid catastrophic data loss and minimize the risk of inadequate data recovery, testing your backup solution is essential. There may be serious flaws in your implemented backup strategy. It is always better to test your backup solution routinely before completely relying on it.
Simulate some real scenarios to protect major data loss just by deleting a single file.
At the same time, keep reviewing your backup strategy as technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Timely reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of your plan will allow you to adjust your backup strategy for the better.
Final Thoughts
Overall, implementing the most effective backup strategies is undeniably the safest option to protect your crucial data.
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