Do you change the oil in your car? Ever meet anyone who didn’t?
Oil keeps things moving in an engine. It’s always in the background doing its job while the engine and other parts are doing theirs. You can just let it do its job, but you can’t just completely forget about it because without giving it some attention – like scheduled maintenance – you could find yourself in huge trouble by the side of the road.
Data keeps things moving in your company. It’s always in the background doing its job while your team is doing theirs. You can just let data do its job, but like oil in your car, you can’t just completely forget about it because without giving it proper attention – like creating backups – you could find your company in huge trouble by the side of the road.
Maybe right now you’re thinking, “Sure backups are nice, but who has time to do them on a regular basis?”
I’ll answer that one for you if you answer this one for me: “What are you going to tell your employees, clients, and vendors when an incident happens, and the company comes to a screeching halt?”
Why are backups crucial?
- Human Errors: Ever accidentally deleted a file? Now scale that to the entire organization. A single mistake can result in the loss of months or even years of work.
- Cyber Attacks: Ransomware attacks, where hackers lock out companies from their own data and demand a ransom, are becoming more rampant. With a secure backup, the power shifts back into your hands.
- Natural Disasters: Fires, floods, earthquakes... Mother Nature is unpredictable. A physical calamity can wipe out local data storage, emphasizing the need for remote backups.
Clearly, considering how unpredictable and diverse these threats are, backups are non-negotiable.
Three Pillars of Backup Security
Recognizing the need for backups is a good start, but it's vital that these backups are secure and effective as well. Here are the three biggest considerations every business must focus on to ensure backup integrity:
- Encryption: Just having a backup isn't enough. In the wrong hands, your backup can turn into a goldmine for malicious actors. Encryption converts your data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. Ensure that data is encrypted both during the backup process (in transit) and while stored (at rest). The stronger the encryption, the harder it is for someone to break in.
- Regular Testing: Here's a scenario that might give you chills. Imagine facing a data crisis and turning to your backups, only to find they're corrupted or won't restore correctly. Regularly testing your backups ensures that they will work when needed most. Establish a schedule - whether it's monthly, quarterly, or another timeframe - to test and validate your backups.
- Off-site Storage with Multiple Copies: Keeping all backup data in one place is putting all your eggs in one basket - a risky move. Adopt the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your data, on two types of media, with one copy stored offsite (like in a cloud). This way, even if a disaster strikes your business premises or there's a failure in one backup, you still have other options.
Is Your Safety Net Secure?
If an unexpected data disaster struck tomorrow, how prepared is your business? Are your current backups encrypted, tested, and securely stored in multiple locations?
If there's even a sliver of doubt, it's time to reevaluate. Remember, while implementing a robust backup strategy requires an investment of time and resources, the cost of data loss or a significant breach can be infinitely higher. It's not just about loss of information; it's about the potential loss of trust, reputation, and financial stability.
Some Final Thoughts
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, data is not only pivotal for business growth but also a lucrative target for hackers. Secure backups stand as the bulwark against these threats, ensuring continuity and peace of mind. As the guardians of our businesses, it is up to us to ensure that our data protection strategies are resilient, thorough, and proactive.
If we don’t uphold this responsibility, we’re destined to end up by the side of the road stranded while our competitors speed by us.
If you want to keep moving, then you need to pay attention to backups. It’s not just an IT thing. It’s the maintenance that allows everyone to keep doing their jobs.
