It’s vitally important that your organization keeps all critical data backed up. The smallest, most insignificant human error or unforeseen event could potentially lead to a catastrophic loss of data. Incidents such as:
- Virus infection due to poor protection;
- Loss of physical storage devices;
- Destruction of property;
- Data corruption;
- Deterioration of storage media,
Could all have serious financial ramifications for your company. These are the things you need to think about whilst working on your backup strategy:
Are your staff all on the same page?
Before implementing any type of strategy, hold a staff meeting. In big companies, it’s easy for even the most essential data to have slipped through the cracks, with only a handful of people knowing how to access it. Make sure everyone knows how sensitive data is handled within the company, and double-check that no staff members are using generic passwords.
Follow the 3-2-1 rule
The 3-2-1 rule is: always make three copies of your data, store them on two different types of media, and keep one copy offsite at all times. You should be storing on two types of media because if one device becomes prone to viruses, deterioration, or other common factors, it’s likely the other one will be too.
You should be storing one offsite in case a robbery or fire puts every other device out of action. This is where cloud services become essential parts of every business.
Look into cloud storage
Cloud storage can be a lot cheaper and easier than making physical backups. And you don’t have to fear hackers getting into your data, either – many cloud storage providers have extraordinarily high grade encryption installed to prevent any loss of privacy.
Don’t rely on physical, offline media
DVDs, USB backups, and other forms of physical media can seem convenient, but they have some of the highest levels of human error possibilities in any form of storage. Water damage, physical trauma and even simply misplacing them are all dangers that can leave you at risk of losing your valuable content. While you may want to keep non-confidential documents on USBs for ease, this shouldn’t be considered a backup tactic.
Test your strategy as often as possible
Don’t wait for a disaster to actually take place before you realise there are flaws in the system. A hard drive could have failed, or simple human error could have put paid to all your hard work. Get all your staff together and rehearse possible data-loss scenarios to ensure everything is running smoothly.
If you’re looking to integrate a strong strategy within your company, contact our team today to see how we can help.
