Before looking at the different ways of backing up data, ask yourself why your business requires data backup?
Cyberattacks
As technology evolves, cyberattacks continue to evolve as well. The growing threat of ransomware is a testament to that. While anti-malware and anti-virus programs can certainly offer protection, think about what might happen in case of an unavoidable security breach and eventual data loss when formulating a data security strategy!
Natural disasters
Natural disasters such as floods, fire, earthquakes and the like pose a big threat to the traditional form of data storage and security. Do you have what it takes to bounce back if these disasters catch you off guard and wipe out your company’s data?
Hardware issues
Mishaps originating from hardware issues play a major role in business data loss. With traditional data storage methods, data is stored in a physical location on hard drives and backup appliances. Any hardware issues arising in these devices can pose a serious threat to your valuable data.
Human errors
Human errors still play a major role in data loss. This could be attributed to anything from poor password practices to falling for phishing scams.
The ideal backup strategy is one that combines both these approaches, with multiple copies stored in different locations. When it comes to backing up your data, you need to consider the 3-2-1 rule, which simultaneously answers your questions on what the right approach to data backup is and the number of copies that need to be made.
As per this rule, it is prudent to have at least three copies of data:
1. One production copy and two backup copies on two different media (internal hard drive and removable storage media) along with one off-site copy (cloud) for disaster recovery.
2. Newer variations of this rule suggest having at least two copies (3-2-2 rule) on the cloud depending on the importance of your data.
3. Ultimately, the more copies you make, the higher your chances of recovery after a loss.
Best Practices for Data Backup
Increase frequency:
Digitally-run businesses are required to backup their data multiple times a day. Doing it once a day, at the end of business hours, is no longer sufficient, especially with the number of threats gunning for your data.
Use cloud backup: The Cloud has become an indispensable component of data backup in this digital age. Cloud backup comes with a multitude of benefits such as easy recovery, easy scalability, better cost efficiency and more.
Use the power of automation: Automation has become a game changer with regards to various IT tasks and backup is no exception. When you automate your disaster recovery process, you can bounce back from serious disasters and continue business operations without suffering too much downtime.
Determine your retention span: Retaining all data backup versions forever is not a feasible solution for most small businesses. Due to this, you need to determine the duration for which you will retain your data. This requirement will vary based on your industry, needs and compliance regulations. You need to come up with a solution that ticks all parameters.