This is the third in our ongoing series of blogs on cyber security, how you can protect your business and the support we can offer. You can find the first post, on multifactor authentication here, and the second post, on protecting against phishing attacks here. This blog looks at the importance of backing up your data and how we can support you to ensure your information is protected.
Imagine there’s no data, it’s easy if you try.
Before we get into copyright territory for trying to adapt John Lennon for the 21st century, there is a serious point here. These days, most businesses store the majority of their information on computers. So, imagine the impact of finding that information had been accidentally deleted, that the computer it was stored on decided not to work anymore, that hackers had stolen your data and were demanding a ransom payment, or even that the cloud service you use is down.
There are numerous mishaps that can happen with IT. This is why backing up data is one of the most important things for any SME to do.
How can you backup your data effectively?
How data is backed up has changed significantly over recent years, mainly due to the abundance of cloud-based solutions. However, one of the best routes for backing information up is one that first came to prominence in the dark ages of the late 00s, when we still used things like CDs and USB drives(!).
3-2-1 Backup Rule
The 3-2-1 backup rule is a pretty straightforward strategy for effectively backing up your data. The rule works as follows:
3 - There are 3 copies of your data,
2 - Saved on 2 different devices,
1 - 1 of those copies saved in a location that isn’t your regular workplace or computer.
The theory behind the rule is also pretty straightforward. Having 3 copies of your data is standard practice – one copy will be the original version with two backups. Having two backups adds an additional layer of protection compared to only having a single copy, helping to cover the various reasons that a backup may be required.
Having the data saved on 2 different devices protects you if one of the devices becomes inoperable or, calling back to our previous blog on phishing attacks, becomes compromised by hackers. Saving your across two different devices means that, even if an incident compromises one device, the other device will still be operational.
1 of these copies being saved off-site is probably the part that has been most affected by the rise of the cloud, as cloud-computing has made saving information in a location that isn’t your regular workplace or computer much easier than it was 10-15 years ago. Having a copy saved in another location protects you against any location-specific events. For example, even if you have copies saved on two different computers, both computers, and your information, would still be vulnerable to an event such as theft or fire.
Backup frequency
Another key consideration is how often you back up your data. This will largely be dependent on how much data you use, change and create each day. Larger companies who handle lots of information will usually opt for daily backups.
However, for smaller companies, daily backups may not be necessary and a more infrequent schedule will be sufficient. Whilst backups can be done manually, they can also be set up to be automatically done on a schedule – giving you the peace of mind that your data is protected without having to take any action.
How can we help
Whilst the 3-2-1 rule provides a good guide to work from, the needs of each business will be different. Even following the 3-2-1 rule means you will need to identify things like the right cloud storage solution and the most appropriate second device to use.
This is where our expertise can come in. We can help you identify the best, and most cost-effective, strategy for your business, and help you set up a backup solution that ensures your information is safe.
If you would like to have a conversation about the right solution for your business, please contact us at contact@mckeownscullin.com.
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