How to Celebrate World Backup Day Right
Two weeks ago, we discussed four easy ways to enhance data security in your company, one of which was backing up your computer. As it turns out, we were two weeks early, because today is World Backup Day! World Backup Day was originally founded by Ismail Jadun, founder of 614a to increase awareness about the importance of backing up your data and protecting your systems from irreparable damage.
The worldbackupday.com homepage makes a humorous point, but losing all of your company’s important data is no laughing matter.
Data Recovery Comes at a Price
As we mentioned before, backups are an essential step in keeping a data loss problem from becoming a catastrophe. While the chance that lost data may be recoverable is relatively high in most cases (data can be recovered roughly 83% of the time according to a report by Denise Deveau), it can still be a costly matter. If you are fortunate enough to have an in-house IT specialist who can recover the data, this can help keep the costs down. But even with someone already on the payroll, the time it takes to recover data can range from anywhere between a few hours and a few days. So while you may not be paying a lot out of pocket, there is still the cost of time to consider. Data loss never comes at a convenient time, so switching tasks to work on data recovery can eat up time that a computer specialist could be otherwise dedicate to other projects.
For companies that don’t have an in-house expert, there are a number of data recovery specialists out there, but they usually come with a pretty hefty price tag. Typically speaking, the average cost of data recovery by a specialist can range from $300 to $1000 based on the extent of the damage and how complicated the recovery process turns out to be.
This, of course, is not as expensive as completely losing your data. According to CentreTechnologies.com, 60% of companies that lose their data fail within the following six months. A business simply cannot survive without the lost data, which frequently includes customer information, onsite financial documents, application files, and invoices. On top of that, a loss of data can also strike a harsh blow to customers’ trust. The data loss represents a lack of security and forethought, and customers may go elsewhere for their own peace of mind, even if data is recovered.
Data Loss: How it Happens, and to Whom
So if 83% of lost data is recoverable, how does it get lost in the first place? The worst offender is just plain carelessness, as it turns out. According to DatabackupOnlineStorage.com, accidentally deleting files or part of a text document is the greatest culprit. When much of the day is spent updating files, something as small as a misclick can undo hours of work. Other hazards include things like viruses and malware, theft, and physical damage to the hardware. Unexpected disasters, such as power loss, fires, and severe storms are also threats to watch out for, although they can be much harder to prevent against. That’s why having a backup plan is so darn important. That way, even if your company office is gone, your company’s operations might still be intact.
3 out of 4 companies either have insufficient data recovery plans, or no plan at all, putting them at high risk for a data loss disaster. Image courtesy of drbenchmark.org
“All of this sounds pretty bad,” you might be thinking, “but what are the chances that it’ll happen to me?” According to NAC-Technology.com, about 31% of PC users have lost their files due to events beyond their control. Now, this doesn’t sound like a lot, but it translates to about 1 in 3 people who have or use a computer experiencing data loss at some point in their life. Now compare that to how many people work in your office, and don’t forget to account for all the servers your company uses, either. Sure, it might not happen to you, but are you really willing to bet your company’s success against it?
How to Save Your Data, and Your Company
To many people, talking about the importance of backups is preaching to the choir, yet there are so many companies who still don’t bother to protect themselves because of the cost, time, or effort it may take. So what can you do today, on World Backup Day, to get started on the right track? Obviously, the first step is to research the data needs and storage protocols for your company, and make sure that you’re adhering to proper practices. Backup servers, cloud storage, alternate power sources, and enhanced security and backup software are all effective methods of creating the safety net you need in case something goes wrong. During this process, you may need to bring in a backup specialist to make sure you have the correct hardware and migration system set up.
But in the meantime, you can create redundancy in your personal data by taking actions such as:
- Downloading your important emails to a secure folder on your hard drive
- Investing in an external hard drive or flash drive for necessary files
- Uploading local files to a secure cloud-based location (such as Google Drive or Dropbox)
- Print out vital records and invoices (that’s right, good old paper copies)
Of course, make sure that your backups are kept in a safe place and that you get any necessary permissions to create these duplicates before doing so.
Data loss never comes at a convenient time.
Data loss can be a terrifying event for companies, but it doesn’t have to happen to you. Join Deep Core Data in celebrating World Backup Day, and make sure your company is protected against data loss. To learn more about backups for your particular system, email info@deepcoredata.com
Leave A Comment