Don’t Risk It, Back It Up!
Imagine a company humming with activity, employees collaborating, projects moving forward, and then… silence. A critical server crashes, taking with it essential data – customer records, financial information, operational systems – everything. Panic sets in. This scenario, while fictionalized, is a reality for many businesses. Data loss can happen at any time due to hardware failure, cyberattacks, natural disasters, or even simple human error. It’s a risk that’s highlighted every year on March 31st, World Backup Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of data backup and recovery.
To safeguard your business from unexpected data loss, it’s essential to have a strong backup strategy in place. eKeeper follows the industry-leading 3-2-1-1-0 methodology to ensure comprehensive data protection:
3-2-1-1-0 Methodology:
- 3 copies of your data: Your original data plus two backups.
- 2 different storage media: For example, your computer’s hard drive and an external hard drive or cloud storage.
- 1 offsite backup: Keep one backup in a separate location, such as a cloud service or a safe deposit box.
- 1 immutable copy: A copy of your data is kept offline or in a state where it cannot be altered or deleted, even by ransomware.
- 0 errors in backups: eKeeper technicians meticulously review and address any backup errors daily, ensuring data integrity and recoverability.
Regular Backups:
- Automate the process: Set up automatic backups to ensure consistency and avoid human error.
- Daily backups aren’t enough anymore: Don’t lose a full day’s worth of work because you only back up once a day.
- Define retention policies: Instead of focusing solely on backup types, determine how long backups should be retained based on compliance and operational needs. A clear retention strategy safeguards critical data without unnecessary storage costs.
Secure Storage:
- Cloud Storage: Utilize cloud services for offsite backups, offering scalability and accessibility.
- Backup Appliance: Instead of relying on external hard drives, eKeeper recommends installing a backup appliance within your environment. This allows for backup data to be stored on different hardware and provides the capability to run critical servers virtually from the appliance, minimizing downtime in case of server failure.
- Encryption at Rest: Ensuring backups are encrypted at rest is a critical security measure. eKeeper follows standard practices to encrypt all backup data, safeguarding it from unauthorized access.
Test Your Backups:
- Regularly restore data: Practice restoring your backups to ensure they are working correctly and that you can recover your data in case of an emergency.
- Verify data integrity: Check that your restored data is complete and accurate.
Partner with a Trusted Provider:
- Managed IT services: Consider partnering with a managed IT provider like eKeeper for expert guidance and support in implementing and managing your backup and recovery strategy.
- Data protection expertise: Leverage their knowledge and experience to ensure your data is always protected.
Don’t let your data disappear! World Backup Day, on March 31st, is your annual reminder to prioritize data protection. Take this opportunity to evaluate your backup strategy, implement these best practices, and ensure your critical information is safe, secure, and easily recoverable. Contact eKeeper today for a free consultation.