Backup: Why it’s important to stay up to date with your data
Today, data is one of organizations' most valuable and vulnerable assets. Effective backups are essential for operational continuity and cybersecurity. With 80% of businesses exposed to ransomware attacks, this World Backup Day emphasizes the need to regularly back up critical systems to minimize downtime and ensure quick recovery from incidents.
However, many organizations still face challenges with backup and restoration processes. A recent Zerto study reveals that these failures are the primary cause of data loss, accounting for 32% of incidents globally.
Why Good Backup is More Than Just Copying Your Data
A solid backup system doesn’t just protect a company’s data; it also strengthens business security and ensures regulatory compliance. An effective backup strategy ensures the company can operate even after a serious incident like ransomware, allowing decisions to be made based on reliable information.
The effectiveness of this strategy depends not only on the technology used but also on applying the right practices in real-life situations. After choosing a robust backup solution that meets regulatory requirements, adapts to the operational environment, and minimizes recovery times, it's advisable to follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of data, two on different media types, and at least one stored off-site or in the Cloud. Additionally, regularly monitoring backup status and performing periodic restoration tests are essential practices to anticipate failures and ensure data can be recovered when needed. It is also crucial to have a deep understanding of the production environment, critical systems, and the restoration order.
However, backups alone aren’t enough. If they’re not protected, they can become a vulnerable target. Data encryption is necessary to add a critical layer of defense, ensuring that even if backup files fall into the wrong hands, the information remains inaccessible. Adding encryption to backups offers clear advantages, such as:
- Confidentiality: only authorized individuals can access the data, protecting against unauthorized access.
- Data integrity: thanks to encryption, backup files cannot be altered without detection, preserving their original, reliable state.
- Accountability: digital signatures ensure traceability of data origin and receipt, enhancing trust and control in processes.
- Availability: ensures secure and reliable access to data only for those with the appropriate permissions.
- Protection against data breaches: even if backup files are stolen, they cannot be read without the key, preventing exposure to sensitive information.
- Regulatory compliance: helps meet regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA, reducing legal risks and protecting corporate reputation.
Backing up data is essential, but assuming they’re working correctly can be a costly mistake. That’s why, beyond reminding us to continue doing backups—which should already be a standard practice in any organization—World Backup Day should serve as a call to action: verify that you can actually restore your backups when needed. A backup that fails at the crucial moment is like having no backup at all.
Moreover, relying on a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can make a difference. An MSP offering reliable backup solutions not only helps protect data and ensure business continuity for clients but also strengthens its own value as a strategic ally. For businesses, having that expert backup is an effective way to ensure everything is truly in order. For MSPs, offering this service not only boosts customer trust but also allows them to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
In short, if there’s one habit that deserves to be reinforced today, it’s this: verify your backups before you need them.
