Data Loss, what would it cost your business?

What would happen if your businesses data was lost? 1/4* of small and midsize businesses have no offsite backup in place. Would you be left out in the cold desperately trying to recover your lost data, or would you have peace of mind in the knowledge that your information was securely backed up?

What's your businesses current data backup plan?

It’s no secret, your businesses data is its most valuable asset. Smaller businesses are more reliant on utilising their data as a means of gaining an edge over competitors. Machines such as desktops and tablets can be replaced if necessary, but if your precious data isn't properly secured, then it may be lost for good.

The importance of a strong, coherent backup plan is paramount to protecting your data, and in turn, protecting your small business' bottom line. 30%* of people have never backed up their data, from laptops, to desktops to servers, any device where you store your personal data should be fully secured.

What causes data loss?

Data loss can present itself in many forms and consequently, data loss is different on different devices. For example, human error, such as water damage to a mobile phone or tablet is a complete contrast to a laptop that has become infected and corrupt as a result of a cyber attack. Although the manner of how the data is lost is different, the circumstances result in the same outcome, a loss of data.

How do I start backing up my businesses data?

It's recommended to backup your files at least once a day. With downtimes from data loss costing UK businesses approximately £10.5bn* per year, to further protect your data it's worth utilising different methods of backup to mitigate the risk of a breach.

One of the most common methods of data backup, is using an external USB hard-drive. We’re all guilty of using an external hard drive unsafely, but is it the most secure way to be backing up your data?

Yes, an external hard drive provides a fast and convenient way of transferring data from one machine to another and does an adequate job at storing data. However, there are several dangers to using physical hard drives, namely human error. Hard drives can only begin backing up data when the user has the machine connected to their device. If removed incorrectly or the hard drive sustains any damage, the data may become corrupt, thus resulting in a loss of data.

One method of data backup that has become increasingly popular is a cloud based backup. With a cloud based offering, a "set it and forget it" methodology can be adopted to ensure data is automatically backed up and that the user has peace of mind in the knowledge that their data is secure.

Gain peace of mind, knowing your data is secure

We are all responsible for actively backing up our data and should have a backup plan to in place. The "3-2-1 rule" is particularly popular amongst SMBs, where at least 3 copies of your data should exist, 2 of which are stored remotely on different means and at least 1 copy is stored offsite.

Although this tactic is basic, it’s a good, proactive way to start to backing up your data, as it ensures that there are several versions of your data and allows the user to quickly retrieve the data if it is lost. Back up your small businesses data today and have a recovery plan in place, don’t allow your business to fall victim to data loss.

References:

* http://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/vmware-ply-dr-anyWayyouwantit-infographic-en.pdf

* http://www.worldbackupday.com/en/

* http://www.silicon.co.uk/e-innovation/data-loss-downtime-costs-uk-10-5-billion-per-year-156762