March 31st marks World Backup Day. This day was created back in 2011 when a Reddit user made a comment about losing their hard drive and wishing someone had reminded them of how important it is to backup data. With the threat of cyber attacks looming over all organizations, backup is more important than ever.
What is Data Backup and Recovery?
Data backup and recovery is creating and storing backup copies of data to safeguard businesses from data loss due to breaches, external attacks, software crashes, and hardware failures.
Most experts will tell you that any backup is better than none at all. For optimal protection, it is best to safeguard your data using with what is called the 3-2-1 Rule. Put simply, the 3-2-1 rule states that you should:
- Keep at least three (3) copies of your data (so no single event will destroy all copies);
- Store the data in at least two (2) different formats (i.e. disk, tape, cloud, etc.);
- Keep one (1) copy offsite to protect against fire, flood, theft, and other physical disasters.
Few of the Reasons Why an Organization Should Use Data Backup and Recovery Solutions
Prevent data loss
The single most important reason for backing-up data is to prevent it from getting lost. Errors and system failures are not uncommon. Having a backup ensures you always have a plan B.
Data recovery is often time-consuming. As a result, organizations often face various complications in data management during restoration. However, using the correct data backup program makes managing the recovery process effortless. Most data recovery solutions automatically create a thorough backup strategy for your project management platforms.
Competitive advantage
Many businesses may fail to back-up their data which allows better-prepared competitors to take advantage of their misfortune and essentially win new business. Data efficiency provides a competitive advantage since a backup system’s advanced security features can safeguard customer data.
Reduce downtime
Any IT downtime can have a negative impact on a business. If something goes wrong you will need to remediate it as quickly as possible, that’s why data backup is so important. By having a data backup you reduce the amount of time wasted trying to find missing data, keeping downtime to a minimum. According to Uptime’s 2022 Data Center Resiliency Survey, over 60% of failures result in at least $100,000 in total losses.
Brand Reputation Impact
Businesses need to realize that data loss can lead to a loss of customer trust. A poor reputation cannot only impact customer trust but can also impact an organization’s productivity since new employees might hesitate to join your company.
Auditing, Archives and Compliance
Data backup is important to many organizations that are regulated including finance, legal, government and healthcare sectors. These organizations often archive large amounts of data as well as carry out audits on a regular basis.
Currently, various data privacy legislations make it a legal need to store an organization’s data appropriately. Failure to adhere to such compliance rules might result in fines and legal ramifications.
Defense against ransomware
All data is a potential target and your data will always be exposed to attacks. Viruses, hackers, and malicious entities online don’t discriminate. They will target any firm, regardless of its size or industry with malicious intent. A backup is possibly the best defense against ransomware. When you have a safe and reliable copy of all your data, you control your own destiny – you just don’t need to negotiate with the attacker.
Unhindered Performance
Manual backups consume more storage space and bandwidth, but a data backup system can improve network speed and lower storage expenses. The organization can carry on daily tasks without slowing down any process with the right data recovery solution.
Peace of Mind
The final reason why data backup is important is simple – peace of mind. Knowing that you have a secure backup in place can alleviate the stress of worrying about losing your most importan asset – your data.
How API Can Help?
Absolute Performance Inc have a suite of business continuity and disaster recovery solutions. We can help support and manage your backup solutions. We help to ensure that your organization can handle any situation that comes along in today’s constantly evolving market.
