Data backup and recovery made simple

Did you know that most businesses that suffer catastrophic data loss do not survive? That’s right. Statistics show that 43 percent of companies that shut down following a data loss incident never reopen, while another 51 percent close within two years. Additionally, 93 percent of businesses that go without data for more than ten days file for bankruptcy within a year.

Since data is undeniably vital to business, protecting it with a data backup and disaster recovery system ensures business continuity and survival. A data backup’s only purpose is to guarantee data availability and integrity at all times, and that alone is important for the following reasons:

Mitigates internal and external data loss risks
Enables a quick recovery from cyberattacks, particularly ransomware and DDoS attacks
Helps achieve compliance with data safety and privacy regulations such as HIPAA, CCPA, and GLBA
Preserves business operations and reputation even after a data loss incident

Common data loss scenarios

Organizations can lose data in many different ways. Let’s look at the most common data loss scenarios in which a data backup would come in handy:

Database migration: Misconfigurations and compatibility issues can cause data loss or corruption when moving databases from one system to another, whether locally or between on-prem and cloud facilities.
Software corruption: Glitches in software applications, operating systems, firmware, or database management systems can trigger malfunctions in data processes, corrupting the data or its access channels.
Local disaster: Natural and local disasters such as extreme weather and fires can damage on-prem data storage equipment and any data stored on them.
Cyberattacks: Some cyber threats, such as ransomware, target corporate information systems with the ill intentions to steal or use the data to extort money from their victims. According to a 2021 report, only 8 percent of ransomware victims got all their data back even after paying the ransom.
Hardware failure: IT systems do sometimes crash unexpectedly, just like other electronics. Hard drives, computers, and servers can fail for any number of unavoidable reasons, taking their data with them.
Theft: If someone steals or vandalizes your IT hardware, they’ve essentially stolen or destroyed your data as well.
Human error: The human element is one of the main culprits for cyber incidents, including data loss, cyberattacks, and data breaches. In this case, the human error comes in the form of negligence, poor data management practices, accidental deletion, etc.

How to back up data using the 3-2-1 rule

What does a data backup strategy look like in a business setting? We have a tried-and-true rule of thumb for backing up data: the 3-2-1 rule. It’s a simple rule, too—store at least three copies of data using two different media types or formats, and keep one copy offsite. A newer version of this rule, the 3-2-1-1, has an additional clause—store at least one data copy offline. Also, you have to update all your backups as frequently as possible to ensure they always mirror the original data.

Backing up data is all about creating redundancies in data availability. The 3-2-1-1 backup strategy has four points of redundancy safeguarding your data against on-prem, corruption, and online data threats. If one data copy becomes unavailable, inaccessible, or damaged, at least two other copies should remain intact.

Get started on your backup strategy

A survey shows that only about 13 percent of IT users adhere to this golden data backup rule. This unfortunate lapse in data backup best practices could be why most organizations still experience costly data loss-related downtime despite keeping backups. But all in all, any backup strategy is better than none at all.

Do you have a dependable backup system for your business data? If you don’t, you’re exposing your enterprise to unnecessary risks. Admittedly, setting up a robust data backup system and enforcing strict backup policies can be challenging. But GB Tech, your trusted managed IT partner, is here to help you draw a practical data backup and disaster recovery plan. Safeguard your business continuity and survival with our expert guidance. Contact us or give us a call to learn more.