Data backup is crucial for businesses of all sizes. It protects against data loss, cyber attacks, human error and even natural disasters.
SoGlos speaks to the experts at Cheltenham's ReformIT, to find out everything businesses need to know when it comes to scheduling a backup.
Why are backups important?
Losing critical data can lead to significant downtime, financial losses and even legal penalties. Regular backups ensure that you can quickly recover and continue operations with minimal disruption
What are the most common types of data backup methods and how do they differ?
The most common types of data backup methods are:
Full backup — this method involves copying all data every time a backup is performed. It's comprehensive but time consuming and requires a lot of storage space.
Incremental backup — this method only backs up data that has changed since the last backup. It's faster and uses less storage but can be slower to restore because multiple backups may need to be combined.
Differential backup — this method backs up all data that has changed since the last full backup. It strikes a balance between full and incremental backups, offering quicker restores than incremental backups but using more storage.
What are some common misconceptions businesses have about data backup?
You may think that your Microsoft Office or similar software handles your backups. While software as a service (SaaS) providers offer some level of data protection, they are not responsible for all aspects of data security. Businesses need their own backup strategies, too.
Relying on a single backup location can also be risky. It's essential to have multiple backups in different locations to ensure data safety.
In addition, regularly testing backups is crucial to ensure they work when needed, and not thinking that doing it once is enough.
Can you describe the potential consequences a business could face if they fail to backup their data regularly?
Failing to backup data regularly could lead to data loss, including the permanent loss of critical business information; downtime while trying to recover lost data, leading to lost productivity and revenue; and reputational damage, with loss of customer trust and potential legal issues if sensitive data is lost or compromised.
What factors should businesses consider when deciding how often to backup their data?
You should think about data change rates — this is how frequently your data changes. The more frequent the changes, the more frequent the backups, is the golden rule.
There's also your recovery point objective (RPO) — this is the maximum acceptable amount of data loss. A shorter RPO requires more frequent backups.
Your backup window is the time available to perform backups without disrupting operations.
And finally the sensitivity of the data — consider how often this is updated and adjust your backup times to ensure it's covered.
What are some of the most significant threats to business data today and how does a solid backup strategy mitigate these risks?
Significant threats include cyber attacks such as ransomware, which can encrypt data and demand payment for its release.
There's of course human error which can result in the accidental deletion or modification of data.
Then there's hardware failures such as physical damage to storage devices; and natural disasters like floods or fires that can destroy physical data storage. All of these need to be planned for.
Having a solid backup strategy mitigates these risks by ensuring that data is regularly copied and stored in multiple locations, making it possible to recover quickly and minimise downtime.
Any last thoughts?
Always remember that a proactive approach to data backup is essential. Regularly review and update your backup strategy to adapt to new threats and changes in your business environment.
This ensures that your data remains protected and your business can continue to operate smoothly, no matter what challenges arise.
