Business data is continuously collected, stored, and scrutinised to ensure companies are able to gain the depth of insight they require into their customers. Such data plays a pivotal role in the operation of a business and as a result, should be accessible 24/7.
Gone are the days when data was stored behind-the-scenes in the likes of a store cupboard. Now its stored remotely in the form of cloud-based servers and SaaS applications. This transition means data backup no longer calls for floppy disks, spare hard drives, or duplicate servers. Despite this shift to the cloud however, backups should by no means be forgotten. And yet in the case of many businesses, they are.
According to a recent study by business internet provider Beaming, where 514 UK business leaders took part, it was reported that companies are failing to follow best practices when it comes to protecting their data, with a staggering 17% of all respondents not backing up their business data at all.
Businesses Need that Data-Driven Culture
Good data management processes mean putting the right procedures, policies and checklists in place specific to cloud-based servers and SaaS applications, and with more critical data being stored in the cloud than ever before, the time has come for infrastructure and operations leaders to help mitigate security risks (which often result in data loss).
For start-ups, it’s far easier to create the data-driven culture required by businesses to implement the correct processes from the beginning, but for longer standing organisations, introducing new data-driven strategies can bring change management challenges, particularly where data security is concerned.
The use of cloud-based servers and SaaS applications continue to grow as companies invest more and more of their data into them, so protecting such investments should be a priority… And yet data loss continues to increase at a steady pace.
Most Common Reasons for Data Loss
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Malicious Actions
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Over-writing Data
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Accidental Deletion/User Mistakes
With such vast amounts of data requiring secure storage, it’s no wonder data loss is such a threat to businesses. Figures show that nearly half of UK businesses suffered cyber-attacks or security breaches last year, causing serious implications for those affected. Yet simple steps to remove basic weaknesses would go a long way to protecting key data.
Which Simple Steps Can Protect your Key Data?
At Rio IT, we suggest a layered approach to protecting your company’s data, which involves:
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Robust Password Policies,
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Good Data Management Processes,
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Automated Backups,
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Amazon Web Services Security (used by the CIA)
Each of these measures help to minimise the instances when data is lost, however, none replace your data once it’s gone. That is why having some type of backup should also be critical to your overall cloud strategy.
Worried about your Backup Solutions?
A regular, secure and reliable backup is critical for avoiding problems. There are a range of backup solutions available depending on your requirements. Common backup methods include:
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Real-time backup; allows for a small recovery point objective
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Daily backups; a full backup of all data
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Backup images of virtual servers and servers; a snapshot of the entire server
The result? Your data is readily available whenever you need it, even in the occurrence of user error and deletion, enabling you to easily restore data with minimal business interruption.
Let’s Discuss your IT Strategy
If you’d like to secure your data and stop it from being exposed, Rio IT can help to minimise risk to your business with secure IT solutions and proactive prevention. Find out more by contacting our team today.