Backing up your data: 4 fail-safe tips

Backing up your data: 4 fail-safe tips

Backups are used to restore lost, damaged or compromised data after accidental deletion, system errors or a cyber-attack. The more up to date your backups, the more quickly you can bounce back.

All businesses need a backup plan. This section outlines 4 fail-safe tips for backing up your data.

#1: Identify which data you need to back up

You should back up all the information that your business cannot live without, including:

  • Website files
  • Customer database
  • Contacts
  • Financial records
  • Emails

If you’re not sure what constitutes business-critical data, err on the side of caution and back up everything. You can always delete unnecessary files later.

#2: Decide how you will back up your data

There are two main types of backups: local backups and cloud-based backups. Local backups are stored on an external hard drive, USB stick or server, while cloud-based storage solutions are stored off-site. Either way, it’s important that your backups are:

  • ➢ Not accessible by staff, and
  • ➢ Not connected to the network holding your original data. Attackers will target connected backup devices to make recovery more difficult.

When choosing a solution, you’ll need to consider how much data you wish to back up and how quickly you need to be able to restore the data following any incident. A premium service that offers near real-time retrieval times may be worth the investment if your business is heavily reliant on its data.

Tip: For optimum security, follow the 3-2-1 rule:

  • Keep at least 3 copies
  • Keep 2 copies on different media
  • Keep 1 copy offsite and offline

#3: Use cloud backup

Cloud storage is typically more resilient for small businesses since:

  • Your data is protected in the event of fire, flood or another catastrophic event at your business premises
  • Malware can often move laterally across networks and infect all devices connected to it. If your backups are stored off-site, they are less likely to be infected.

There are lots of cloud storage services to choose from, including pocket-friendly options for smaller businesses with lower storage needs. For example, Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive all offer cloud storage solutions with basic plans that are free to use, and cloud storage is the default for most mobile devices.

The main disadvantage of free resources is they purge your files forever after a certain period, such as 30 or 60 days. Remember, too, that you are entrusting your data to another business outside of your control. Assess your risks as part of your overall cyber security strategy.

#4: Automate your backups

Automating your backups means you can schedule your operating system to back up everything at intervals and forget about it until you need to restore your data. You’ll also have peace of mind that a recent copy of your data is available that you can fall back on if needed.

Most off-the-shelf network and cloud-based backup services will offer some form of automation, and they’re easy to set up. This is a good option if you don’t want to have to remember to run your backups manually.

Tip: Aim to automate backups of valuable files and folders daily. This is considered a good benchmark for your most critical data.

Summary

Backing up your data is one of the most important things you can do to protect your business from cyberattacks. There are many different types of backups, but cloud-based backups are usually a cost-effective option for small businesses. You can usually automate the backup process, but make sure you test your backups regularly to ensure they’re working as they should.