Protecting your data has become more important than ever. Even small businesses have gold mines of customer and employee data that can be used by hackers and thieves for a variety of nefarious purposes. With the best security practices and products in place, you can feel confident that your data is protected. Still, you need to have a solid backup strategy. These tips can help you build that strategy.

1. Start thinking about security now

If you don’t have a backup plan for your data, you need to get started on one now! If you wait, you put your business’ data and that of your clients or employees at risk. Both natural and man-made disasters (like ransomware) can cause you to lose everything. Starting with something basic is better than having nothing.

2. Plan for protecting more data than you have now

You may not have a lot of data now or you may have more than you think. No matter what situation your business is in currently, it’s a safe bet that you will accumulate more over time. This means you’ll need more storage at some point. Getting more clients, hiring extra employees, or expanding your locations will all create situations where more data storage is needed.

3. Find out what technology your business needs

Data backup plans, as well as preventative security measures, are unique to each business. You should speak with an IT company to find out what will work best for your needs. For example, you may need a simple system that uses only storage devices that you keep onsite or a more complex system with cloud storage. Tip: Don’t forget about having data redundancy, where your information is stored in multiple places at one time.

Figuring out which options are the best for you starts with answering some basic questions. The following can help you decide what is best for your business.

1. How much information am I storing now and how much do I plan on growing?
2. Do I need to protect data from outside sources or restrict access within my business?
3. Are there a lot of natural disasters in my area?
4. Can I handle having data stored on the cloud and at my location, or do I need to hire a company to help?
5. How often should backups be done?
6. What regulations and laws do I need to follow regarding storage methods and time frames?

The basics you might need

There are some things that every company should look into when it comes to data backup strategies. These include onsite and offsite backups, schedules, and testing. We will go over the basics here, but be sure to do some more research and speak with a professional IT company.

Onsite backups: These include storage devices like hard drives you keep at your business. It can often be faster to restore lost data if it is kept onsite. However, you could lose these devices in natural disasters like floods or tornadoes.

Offsite backups: These include storage devices that are located somewhere else. Also known as cloud storage, offsite data backups will be extremely helpful if you lose your business’s onsite devices.

Backup schedules: It is vital that your business has and sticks to a schedule when it comes to data backups. You could do them manually, but it is better to have systems that allow for automatic backups.

Testing: All of your backup systems and procedures need to be tested regularly. This will help you catch anything that may prevent the backups from happening. Part of your testing should include employees so that they are prepared and up-to-date on all procedures.

Training: Whether you have an IT team or not, everyone involved in your data backup strategy should be trained. Make sure they know how to use any systems you are putting in place, as well as any laws your industry may have. Regular training should be included in your backup schedule.

Involve the right people

Hiring the right IT company to help with your backups is vital, but you need to include the right team members too! Your employees work with the data your business gathers every day. They will be at the front of data collection and storage, so be sure to include them in the process of creating a backup strategy.

Want to learn more about backing up your data?

The professionals at Andrews & Associates are here to help! Our Team has over 250 years of combined experience in the IT industry. We can help you stay secure and efficient, no matter how much data you need to save. Call us at (806) 242-1088 or Send us an Email for more information about our Services.