Protect your business from cyberattacks, hardware failures and unexpected disruptions.

Data is vital to the operation of most small businesses. Without access to digital information such as customer and employee records, contracts and communications, most would come to a sudden stop. Data loss can happen for many reasons, not just cybercrime. If you don’t have a data backup plan, consider the following.

What can put your data at risk

When you think of data loss, what causes come to mind first? Cyberattacks and lost devices are two obvious causes. Other reasons include hardware failures, software issues, accidental deletion, employee errors, power outages and natural disasters.

The costs of not having a backup

The events that lead to data loss are things that could happen to any business. Without a backup plan, you risk lost productivity and revenue, damage to customer trust and possibly compliance violations. In extreme cases, data loss can lead to a business closing its doors for good.

A backup plan is a critical safeguard

One of the most widely used strategies among IT and cybersecurity experts is the 3-2-1 backup rule. To follow the rule, you have:

• 3 copies of your data—the original plus two backup copies
• 2 different types of storage, for example an internal server and external hard drive, or cloud storage
• 1 copy stored off-site—this could be in the cloud or a physical location

Having places to store business data is only part of the safeguard. Data must be backed up regularly. Automatic daily backups are appropriate for many small businesses. However, if you cannot afford to lose even a few hours of work, hourly or continuous backups may be more appropriate.

The value of the backup

Even if your business experiences a security breach, hardware failure or error that leads to a loss of data, a backup allows you to restore your files and systems quickly, minimizing downtime and helping your business return to normal operations.

 

Federally insured by NCUA