Top 5 backup mistakes in business
In our increasingly digital world, data has become one of the most valuable business assets across all industries. Yet, it is often taken for granted until it is lost through hardware failure, human error, or a cyber-attack. And when that happens, it can be catastrophic.
Worryingly, many businesses assume their backup system is solid when in fact, it falls well short of offering the protection needed.
With that in mind, Think Concepts Senior IT Consultant Timur Frolenkov shares some of the most common mistakes businesses make when securing their data.
1. Believing data loss won’t happen to them
Many businesses tend to believe that losing data is a rare occurrence and that, for one reason or another, they’re not at risk. But with our increased connectivity and data dependency, the threat of hacking is now a genuine concern when it comes to data.
More than 8800 cyberattacks on New Zealand businesses were reported in 2021 alone – that’s around one attack every hour, every day. Over recent years, we’ve seen major breaches at the Waikato DHB, Latitude Financial, and Uber, to name a few.
"No one really expects data loss. But unfortunately, it’s not a hypothetical threat; it’s a very real possibility for all businesses,” says Timur. “Aside from hacking, there’s also the potential risk of natural disaster, human error, or hardware failure. A solid backup strategy is not a luxury, but a necessity.”
Organisations need to safeguard themselves against these threats and be ready to recover quickly after a significant disruption. “We’ve seen clients that haven’t had a solid backup system in place, and we’ve seen the struggles they’ve gone through trying to get their business back up and running,” he says. “It’s not a nice place to be.”
2. Treating all data equally
A common misconception is that all data is equal, so an off-the-shelf backup system is suitable.
It’s essential, however, to understand that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ backup strategy. “Every system, every business, and every dataset is unique and requires a specific approach,” says Timur. “Some data is more critical and therefore needs to be backed up more frequently. Other data might be more static and doesn’t need the same approach.”
Knowing the nature of your data is the first step toward creating an effective backup strategy. You need to understand the type of data you have, where it's located, how it's accessed, and its importance to your operations.
3. Setting and forgetting
Setting up a robust backup system is vital, and it’s just the beginning of an ongoing process. A common mistake for many businesses is to set up their data backup system but then fail to test it.
Regular monitoring, updating, and testing of your backup system is crucial to ensure data integrity and the effectiveness of your restoration process. This way, potential issues can be detected and fixed before they lead to data loss. Imagine the disaster if you found out your backup was corrupted or incomplete just when you needed it most.
In addition, potential new vulnerabilities and security risks continually emerge. "The technology world is not a static place, and it's a mistake to assume that what worked a year ago or even six months ago will still be the best solution now,” says Timur.
One such risk is malware that may have been in your systems for a while, lying dormant and backing up within your data. If malware has infected your backups, when you restore your systems after a breach, you may also restore the very issue that caused it.
4. Relying solely on one backup method
Many businesses make the mistake of placing all their trust in a single backup system. But relying exclusively on one approach puts your business in a precarious position. If that single backup method fails or becomes compromised, you're left without a safety net, potentially losing valuable data.
"Every form of backup has its strengths and weaknesses,” says Timur. “For example, cloud backup is an excellent choice for many businesses, but it's not without its risks and limitations. Similarly, onsite backups are great, but the physical locations can be compromised.”
5. Confusing a backup plan with a disaster recovery plan
It’s easy to assume that having a backup system is the same as having a disaster recovery plan. But in fact, these are two quite separate elements of a robust data protection strategy.
“A backup is just a copy of your data,” says Timur. “That's only one piece of the puzzle. If a disaster strikes, you'll need to be able to restore that data and get your systems back online and running quickly and effectively.
Disaster recovery is all about having a robust strategy to minimise downtime and restore essential systems quickly to keep your business operational.
Sort your backup strategy today with Think Concepts
Getting a handle on data security can be time-consuming and overwhelming. There’s a lot to think about. And there’s a lot to lose if you don’t get it right.
Think Concepts help businesses like yours to create robust backup systems and plan rapid disaster recovery strategies.
Our trusted offsite backup system, ThinkSafe, works discretely in the background, safeguarding your files from threats like ransomware, hardware failures, or even simple human error.
With ThinkSafe, each saved or modified file is backed up within seconds. That means the loss of crucial data is something you no longer need to worry about.
If your data isn’t secure, your business is at risk. Contact us today to sort out a robust, effective, and trustworthy backup strategy.