Small businesses are no less susceptible to data loss than larger organizations. In fact, it is more devastating for small businesses with limited resources to lose important data than it is for large corporations. To illustrate, a recent study reported that small businesses are a prime target for cyberattacks, accounting for 43%, or almost half, of all cyberattacks every year. Per the same report, more than half of all ransomware attacks hit businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
This is why a comprehensive data backup strategy is crucial, as it can help ensure that your business can recover quickly and minimize damages caused by data loss. Note, however, that there are key components you should consider to create an effective backup strategy.
Read also: Don't lose your business: A guide to choosing the right backup type for your company
Frequency of data backups
Constant backups may not be necessary for certain types of operations, so make sure the frequency of your backups is based on your business's specific usage patterns/needs. In general, backups should occur daily or weekly to ensure all important files are backed up.
The types of data that should be backed up more frequently
Needless to say, you should prioritize backing up sensitive data, such as customer records, financial documents, confidential emails, corporate secrets, and the like. This way, even if hackers manage to breach your system, they won’t be able to access these data sets. It also pays to have your data encrypted, both at rest and during transit, to protect your data with an additional layer of security.
Location of backups
Storing all your backups in a single location, whether on site or off site, can increase the risk of data loss in case of a disaster, theft, or cyberattack. On the other hand, having backups in multiple locations or using cloud-based solutions can increase the redundancy and availability of your backups, reducing the likelihood of data loss. It's also necessary to consider the level of protection each location offers, as different locations may have different security measures.
Recovery time objectives
It is vital to determine your business's recovery time objective (RTO) when creating a data backup strategy. RTO is the amount of time it takes to restore a backup and have all affected systems back up and running. Therefore, your RTO should be based on your company's specific needs and the type of data that needs to be backed up. For example, if you need to quickly access customer records in order to fulfill orders or send out invoices, then you may need a shorter RTO than if you are just backing up non-critical information that won't impact operations.
Person/s in charge of the backup and recovery process
Having someone in charge of the backup and recovery process creates accountability. It also makes it easier for the person in charge of backups to identify any potential issues before these become bigger problems. If your company doesn't have sufficient manpower for this task, it is highly recommended to consult and partner with IT experts who are adept at leading teams in every step of the backup process.
By taking the necessary steps to create a comprehensive backup strategy in place, your business can help tighten the security of your valuable data assets and mitigate the risk of downtime due to unforeseen loss or corruption. Healthy IT can help you identify the unique security risks to your business and create a solid data backup strategy. Consult our team today.