This data disaster recovery plan will enable you to keep your business from collapsing after a data disaster.
Running a business is more than setting your own schedule and crushing it daily. It’s hard! Over 50% of small businesses fail within a few years, with one of the main reasons being data disasters.
In the world of business, it seems you’ve either lost your data or will lose your data. Considering 90% of small businesses without a data backup and recovery plan fail after a data disaster, it’s a good idea to have one!
A successful business is a compilation of hard work and lessons learned, but sometimes it can feel like the world is out to get your business. Avoidable bumps on the road like data disasters can end-up being treacherous potholes, wrecking your business’ success. A longstanding business in the digital age accumulates a ton of data over time.
Technology is helpful and makes running your business a lot easier. Whether it’s Microsoft Office files or your email inbox, you expect your critical data to be where it was when you closed shop yesterday. But what happens when your business experiences data loss? What do you do when an uncontrollable data disaster threatens your business continuity?
With a proper small business backup plan, you can confidently answer those questions.
Common data threats include:
There are many ways for your data to disappear, so making sure you have a backup strategy is essential. You’re a busy business owner, and it would be understandable if you haven’t had time to implement a backup plan. Time is money, and you’ve likely spent your time making money!
A data disaster doesn’t care if it’s halting a blossoming business.
One day it’s business as usual, the next you’re cornered facing ransomware payments. Worse yet, you’re concentrated on running a business and likely are not a data disaster recovery expert! When the dust has settled and (hopefully) you’ve found a way to get a copy of your data and business is back to normal, you’ll likely find you’ve spent a lot more time and money recovering from the disaster than if you had properly prepared in the first place.
That’s why a data backup plan is crucial for ensuring the security of your data and the longevity of your business.
Here’s the good news: 96% of companies survive ransomware attacks if they have a proper backup disaster plan. If your business doesn’t have a data recovery plan in place, or you don’t trust your current data backup solution (1 in 3 businesses that have a plan are still unprepared for a disaster), read on to learn more about how to properly prepare your business’ data backup plan!
They say variety is the spice of life, but did you know that varying where your business backs-up its data is the spice of an effective backup plan?
Because 99% of organizations use both laptops and desktops, backing up servers has become even more important. You probably already save important data to a device as part of your everyday work routine. Whether it’s a PowerPoint presentation, x-ray images, or an Excel document; your business likely creates new data to be stored daily.
Just keep in mind, devices like computers have limited storage space and are vulnerable to uncontrollable threats. If you only back up data to a device, something as ordinary as a cup of coffee in careless hands can be a data disaster for your business.
Having data stored in a single source is like playing with fire.
Since your business likely fills-up computer memory quickly, you may consider incorporating a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system. NAS systems are a form of local storage for everyone on your network to use. Here’s a review of the best NAS systems in 2019.
You’ll likely find NAS systems as local backups in businesses. They provide ample space for data storage from multiple users while also reading and writing efficiently, thus making backups and restores quicker.
NAS systems have their own hardware and operating system and remain onsite. They also utilize RAID arrays, which replicate data across a set of disks so if one fails your data remains intact elsewhere. You can add or remove hard drives as you please, for more or less storage.
But be careful! Just because your NAS system uses RAID arrays doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. It’s possible for RAID arrays to fail if multiple disks crash simultaneously. Backing up your business’ devices to an external source like a NAS system takes a little extra work and oversight, but is worth it!
If your computer suddenly lost its data, at least you have a local backup solution in place. Keep in mind, hardware like hard drives have a lifespan, and will eventually wear out. It’s important to use an enterprise-grade hard drive, just make sure it’s compatible with your NAS system. You can read up on the best NAS hard drives here.
Your eggs are still in one basket if you only backup locally.
Roughly 45% of unplanned downtime is due to hardware failure.
Backing up to a hard drive is still storing your valuable files onsite. If something were to happen to your business environment (like a flood or fire), your devices, NAS system, and hard drives could all be destroyed; leaving your business up a creek without a paddle.
Spreading out and duplicating your data locally, rather than solely on a device, is a good first step in your business’ data recovery plan. But don’t stop there. Your plan isn’t complete if it remains onsite.
Backing-up to an offsite cloud service or online backup is the final step in ensuring your business can survive a data disaster. It’s crucial that your business’ data is backed-up offsite at a data center, in the event that your local backups cannot be accessed. Most cloud backups offer unlimited storage and start by backing up all your data then update new files and changes incrementally.
Other forms of offsite backup include tape and disk-based backups, but cloud-based storage services prove to be more cost-effective and less work.
If you run a business and don’t want to hassle with a bunch of disks and tapes, cloud backup is for you!
Central Data Storage is a software company that offers UnisonBDR, a managed backup and recovery solution, that allows businesses to securely backup an unlimited number of files on an unlimited number of servers offsite. Any file, any version, on any device or server is always protected and available.
As a managed backup service, CDS handles your offsite backup, so you focus on running your business.
Central Data Storage’s 24/7 managed support includes:
In the event that your local data storage is compromised, it’s easy to connect with Central Data Storage to efficiently recover your files. You’ll be back up and runnning within 2 hours with full data restoration within a day! Additionally, CDS uses military grade 448-bit end-to-end encryption, so cyber-attackers can’t steal your business data in transport.
Want to try it out? Central Data Storage would love to work with you! Sign up here.
Conclusion:
Ensuring the longevity of the business you’ve worked so hard to grow starts with protecting the data you’ve created along the journey. By combining multiple onsite backups with a secure offsite cloud backup, you’re setting your business up to survive any data disaster!
So how does your business’ data disaster recovery plan stack up? What are some roadblocks you face with implementing a strategy?
Central Data Storage
