By Tom DelFranco – Southridge Technology
Along with crisp mornings and shorter days, Autumn also brings the season of business planning. And this year the only thing more breathtaking than the foliage is the number and intensity of data threats that are sure to challenge your organization in 2023.
Does your new year planning include a fortified backup and recovery solution? Data is probably one of your business’s most valuable and most vulnerable assets. Powerful defenses against attacks are paramount, but not ironclad. Bad actors are tenacious in their attempts to kidnap your data and hold it hostage. Hackers aside, loss of data also occurs as a result of natural events such as fire, flood, or other physical damage to equipment… or frankly, human error.
It is essential that organizations review their backup and recovery solutions annually. And what better time to do it than fall? So, grab your pumpkin spice latte, and let’s get cracking!
Start with 2 key questions to help determine what backup and recovery solutions are best for your environment:
• How often do I need my data to be backed up? Understanding the frequency of backups that your business needs is important in choosing the best solution. For example, some businesses run backups daily while others require backups to be run hourly.
• How long can your company operate if you can’t access your data? Would your business be able to operate during recovery, or would a loss of data bring you and your team to a screeching halt? Business continuity despite data loss relies on a well-written, well-equipped Disaster Recovery plan.
We recommended that companies have both onsite and offsite backups. While both onsite and offsite backup solutions have their own pros and cons and it’s important to understand the risks of having only an onsite or “local” backup. Local backups allow for quicker restores, but are subject to theft, general wear and tear, and are more vulnerable to hacking attempts. Online/off-site backups offer greater data protection thanks to datacenter level defense systems, but it can take longer to retrieve the data in the event of a catastrophe.
The benefits of having a reliable backup solution and a well-crafted recovery plan dramatically outweigh the cost. And in the event of a disaster or ransomware attack, they will likely pay for themselves multifold. Let us help you formulate and equip a plan that will help you bring in the new year with confidence.
