Data Protection amid the Pandemic: Why Is Data Backup & Recovery Important for Your Small Business?

There’s no denying that we live in a data-driven world. In business, data and information are crucial in business processes and day-to-day operations. Whether the company’s confidential details, employees’ personal information, or customers’ sensitive information, they must be protected at all times. That is where data backup and recovery come into play.

Unfortunately, data loss cases due to cyberattacks on companies, government, and individuals have significantly surged since last year. As your small business has gone digital during the pandemic, it is all the more necessary to set secure your data and information. Robust data protection ensures your business won’t be vulnerable to online threats and will continue its operation amid disruptions.

Here’s why data backup and recovery is important for your small business:

Why is data backup and recovery important?

Data backup and recovery is exactly what it is. This process involves producing and storing copies of data to protect your business or organization from data loss. But while backup entails creating and storing copies of data locally and/or offsite, recovery involves retrieving these data from a backup. It’s important to consider both aspects for your small business in order to:

• Combat cyberattacks: Cybersecurity has become a growing issue during the pandemic. As you digitally run your business without protection, it’s easy for you to fell prey to hackers, viruses, and ransomware. Aside from setting robust cybersecurity measures in place, consider having data backup and recovery as well.

• Recover information from natural disasters: Physical threats are everywhere. Think of natural calamities like the storm, flood, fire, and even earthquake. They can damage your business resources, and you’ll lose a massive amount of data and information. That is when it becomes imperative.

What makes a good data backup and recovery?

If you’re looking to set a robust data backup and recovery in place, you must consider three key aspects. Take note of the following:

• Automated: It’s best if your devices automatically create data copies and store them. You don’t want this process to add up to your line of work. That way, you can focus on your main function and core competency.

• Secured: What’s good with your data backup and recovery if the storage resource you’re using isn’t secured? It defeats the purpose of having this in the first place. The reason you consider this feature for your small business is for the utmost data protection.

• Audited: It’s best as well if your data backup and recovery involves auditing so you can manage your data well and know what to expect.

What types of data backups must you install?

IT experts agree that it’s best to have three backups of data where at least one of them is stored outside of your business. If you’re looking to set up your data backup and recovery in place, consider the following:

• Hardware Backup: Having this is imperative for every business, whether big or small. It’s important that your personal device allows you to store your data and information. A perfect example is your hard drive that easily and quickly connects to your network for data storage and recovery.

• Software Backup: There are plenty of backup software solutions available in the market. All it takes is to install these apps on your virtual device. Once installed, data and information get stored in this virtual place, and you can recover them in case of a cyberattack or business disruption due to a calamity.

• Cloud-based Backup: This backup method has become increasingly popular among businesses and organizations. It’s easy to use, convenient, and reasonably priced. Data on your computer device can be stored on a cloud-based site. You can retrieve them anytime and anywhere, even using a different device as long as you have access to the internet. For instance, you can use a photo storage site, where all the photos of your products get stored in this backup place. You can access them later on for your product photography.

• Hybrid Backup: This backup method is simply a combination of all types mentioned above. For instance, this backup is in sync with your hard drive, which means that all your data and information will automatically be stored. And you can retrieve them anytime and anywhere.

In this time and age, data backup and recovery must be a part of your business operation. Data protection can fight off cyberattacks and restore your information in case of a natural calamity. When setting up your data backup and recovery, be sure it’s automated, secured, and audited. Whether it’s software, hardware, or cloud-based backup, you can protect your small business data and information at all times.