Cyber threats are always on the horizon and it is vitally important that your data is backed up on a regular basis to protect it in case of disaster and recoverable. Here are four of the common data backup mistakes to watch out for and take steps against.
Many individuals do not properly backup their data. We will discuss 4 Common Backup Mistakes You Must Avoid here.
- Skimp on Backups
No matter the size or scope of your business, its data can be too important to lose – making backups an absolute must! Unfortunately though, too often people make mistakes in setting them up which leads to data being lost irreparably. To avoid these mishaps it’s advisable that proper procedures are put in place as early as possible and mistakes made with creating them corrected ASAP!
One of the greatest mistakes people can make is failing to create backups at all, which could prove disastrous should something such as a natural disaster or ransomware attack occur.
Failing to create and adhere to an established backup schedule may lead to data being permanently lost over time.
Physical security for your backups should also be prioritized to reduce their chances of theft by disgruntled employees or being lost during a disaster scenario.
Finally, testing backups is important to ensure they’re operating as intended and working reliably – especially automated ones not checked regularly – otherwise, corruption or missing vital files might go undetected until it’s too late!
- Lacking a Backup Strategy In developing your backup strategy, it is necessary to identify which data are essential and determine how soon after loss it needs to be restored; furthermore, you must also determine the level of redundancy necessary in order to meet recovery objectives.
Finally, create a schedule to enable regular deployment and testing of backups to ensure data will always be recoverable when required. Testing helps guarantee your files remain available when they’re needed most.
Another frequent error people make is failing to have an adequate backup plan in place for all their systems and devices, including business servers and devices. A business might back up only data stored on one server – not enough protection against natural disasters or ransomware attacks that target multiple computers simultaneously. Every system storing important information should have multiple redundant backup copies – think of this principle as not “putting all your eggs in one basket”.
- Failing to Implement Backup Device
There’s much to keep in mind when creating and managing file backups; from what information needs protecting to why and how restoration may occur. Invest time and care when designing backup plans; it will pay dividends later.
Many businesses choose physical storage devices as part of their data backup strategies, feeling safer knowing their backup is easily located should disaster strike. But physical backup can expose itself to physical threats like theft and natural disasters that might otherwise keep data at a safe distance from losing itself in an unexpected situation.
If you opt for hardware appliances as data backup solutions, testing them regularly is crucial to their proper function and not becoming susceptible to failure. Also, consider following the 3-2-1 Rule so as to protect against ransomware attacks or any other form of cyber threats and protect the backup data in multiple places simultaneously.
- Lack of Backup Plan
It is impossible to predict when a data disaster will strike. Therefore, businesses must always have an emergency backup plan ready. This involves setting out their policy and procedures regarding data backup as well as creating a schedule and offsite location where their backup can be stored safely.
Maintaining multiple backup devices is recommended in order to limit any chance of data being lost if one device crashes and offsite storage will protect from natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.
Testing backups regularly is also crucial in order to ensure they’re functioning as they should, with businesses employing multiple storage formats so if one becomes lost or corrupted there will still be another backup available if something were to go amis. Furthermore, making multiple copies of each file could provide another backup copy should something get accidentally deleted or destroyed and leave one of your originals without access.
