Whether its weather related, a power outage, a server crash, or any other data disaster it’s incredibly important to have a Backup Strategy Plan in place. Without one, it can be crushing to an organization. Losing data and having to rebuild can result in a long period of downtime for businesses which can be very costly. Below are 5 best practices for a Backup Strategy Plan to follow.
Investment/Budget/Cost
No matter what type of organization you run, the IT budget is always going to be tight. And while it's becoming more and more obvious that it is well worth investing in security and data protection, CIOs still have to fight for every cent that their team wants to spend. You need to have an understanding of what a true backup and disaster recovery strategy plan is. It’s not just about being able to recover your data and get back to a normal state within some identified time frame. A truly effective backup plan enables your organization (and your end-clients) to continue performing mission critical operations before, during, and after an issue - foreseen or not - occurs. Yes, you will need a data backup plan that you can afford but it’s a good idea to think beyond dollars. Keep the potential expense of a breach or loss in mind. Then, weigh that against the projected cost of your backup system. That will help guide you.
Where data is stored
Decisions, decisions, decisions. You’ve got emails, documents, presentations, databases, graphics, audio files, application files, customer data, etc. that needs to be safely stored. Storing information and managing its storage is critical to a company's behind-the-scenes success. Fortunately, there are many options available to businesses for both the actual storage and the location of that storage. Often, the best solution is a combination of different storage options. Some companies prefer cloud-based backup while others like to have a physical backup. The most cautious companies use multiple backup sources. That way, if one backup fails they have another in place. How do you decide what's best for you? First, you'll want to consider your storage needs in terms of both capacity and physical location. Then you should look at the storage options that best fits those needs. Lastly, you need to develop a plan for implementing your chosen storage solutions.
Data risks
Every company must think about malware and phishing attacks. However, those might not be the only risks you face. Consider where your business would be if all company data was wiped out by a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, a fire, or a flood. Also, accidental deletion of data is a common risk when it comes to data storage. Having an off-site backup and data storage solution would be wise.
How often data is backed up
Some companies generate data quickly. In such cases, a daily backup may not be sufficient. Hourly backups may be needed. For other companies whose data is rarely updated, a once-weekly backup may be enough. Some important questions business owners need to ask when determining a cadence for backup are:
How important is the data on your systems?
What type of information does the data contain?
How often does the data change?
How quickly do you need to recover the data?
Do you have the equipment to perform backups?
Who will be responsible for the backup and recovery plan?
What is the best time to schedule backups?
Do you need to store backups off-site?
Person responsible for your backup planning
Employee training is essential to an effective file backup strategy. Business owners need knowledgeable people they can rely on to keep things running. No matter how "bullet-proof" the solution, data protection is not autonomous practice. Someone needs to own the backup responsibility for the business environment the way that the company owns the license. Pursuing the responsibility of properly managed backup environment will minimize the opportunity for failures, will improve business continuity and, will ensure data recovery. By spending a moment every day to ensure that backup operations are successful, will help avoid the unnecessary pain that can occur by neglecting the little things that make the biggest difference.
Back It Up or Risk Losing It
Don't run the risk of losing important business data. The best defense against data disaster is proper protection. At navitend, we help our clients develop a backup strategy plan that includes archiving and backing up business data regularly and properly which eliminates the technology fears and makes sure the IT infrastructure runs smoothly so business owners can sleep like a baby at night. If you have any questions feel free to call our office at 973-448-0070 ext 312 and ask for Patrice.
Contact us at 973.448.0070