Disasters can happen at any time and for any reason. That means your business can be caught unprepared and you could lose critical data, putting your company in great jeopardy.
That is why it is vital that you have a way to retrieve your data quickly and efficiently after an unforeseen event – whether it’s cybercrime or fire or if it’s lost, etc. A reliable backup system is one of the most essential protections your business can have to ensure continuity of operations even during a disaster.
Watch this video so your business can respond effectively in a disaster if your critical data is lost:
In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of your business. Data security and recovery is a pivotal foundation stone for your business. Companies succeed or fail based on the strength of their data management.
With the ever-increasing amount of valuable data being produced and stored on a daily basis, it has never been more important to have a reliable data backup solution.
Data that Your Company Needs to Back Up
Every business should be backing up files and documents containing financial data like bills and invoices, statements, payable files, and payroll. You should also back up customer data, supplier information, partner information, communications, and email accounts, in addition to all your applications and databases, your project management files, personnel records, operating systems, configuration files, and any other files you or your team create.
Also, keep in mind mobile devices. Phones and tablets used for work have the potential to hold even more sensitive data than a laptop.
All of this makes it vital to review your scope anytime you make changes to your infrastructure or whenever you add devices, solutions, or services.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Data Backup Solution
Choosing the correct data backup and recovery solution for your business will take time and effort with the wide variety of available options to select from. There are important factors to consider, like data volume, recovery time objectives, budget, and many others.
Let’s look at the primary factors to think about when choosing a data backup solution for your IT infrastructure.
Take into Consideration Your Company’s Unique Needs
The right data backup solution should be based on your business’s specific and unique needs and requirements. For example, to make an informed decision, compare different backup solutions based on storage capacity, security, data protection, and scalability. Also, consider whether you will require a local backup solution, a cloud-based backup solution, or a hybrid backup solution that combines both.
Evaluate the Functionalities and Features of the Backup Solution
Various backup solutions come with additional features and functionalities, which is why it is important to evaluate them based on your company’s needs. Certain features will include automatic backups, incremental backups, data encryption, deduplication, file versioning, and compression. You’ll want to keep an eye out for backup solutions that offer the parts and functionalities that are essential to your business.
Consider the Reputation and Reliability of the Backup Solution Provider
You must select a backup solution provider with a stellar reputation and one that is extremely reliable. Pursue providers that have a proven track record of protecting customer data and offering dependable backup solutions.
Check for reviews and ratings from other companies and customers to find out the provider’s reputation.
Consider Ease of Deployment, Management, and Maintenance
You want to select a backup solution that is easy to deploy, manage, and maintain. Pursue data backup solutions that offer intuitive interfaces, simple configuration options, and easy-to-use tools for managing and monitoring backups.
Consider whether the backup solution calls for specialized expertise or resources to set up and maintain and whether it can be integrated with your IT infrastructure.
Assess the Customer Support and Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
It makes sense for your business to choose a data backup solutions provider with good customer support and service level agreements (SLAs). Look for providers that give you 24/7 technical support, in addition to responsive customer service and clear SLAs that specify the provider’s data protection and recovery responsibilities. Also, consider whether the provider offers training and support to maximize your backup solution and ensure your data is constantly protected.
Consider Budget
The cost of a data backup solution is usually a major consideration, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). However, you don’t want to sacrifice quality to save a few dollars. It could cost your business its reputation or worse when a disaster happens in the future and you can’t retrieve your important data.
When determining your budget, don’t necessarily rely on estimates or an average cost for services with your cloud backup solution. Be sure you gain a clear understanding of all the details of the pricing structure. Understanding your ongoing cost and exactly what this fee provides will be helpful, so there aren’t any surprises.
Find out how the price figures into added apps or future developments, and be sure you thoroughly understand maintenance or data storage fees related to your backup solution.
Consider Automation
You always want to choose solutions that leverage automation over manual processes. You don’t need your business to waste its time with mundane tasks to keep your backup plan operating. The best solutions, especially cloud storage services, use automated processes to streamline your backup and workflow, so you hardly have to think about it.
With automation, you do away with the risk of human error during backup activities. Many companies lose data to basic human mistakes, unsaved changes, website updates that don’t save properly, or failed attempts at backup. When you automate these functions, it removes the worry and risk of human error, and it supports your company with regular, incremental backups.
Connect with Adept Networks So We Can Provide Your Business with the Best Data Backup Solution
Adept Networks is your data backup and recovery expert in Spokane and Medford, who will help your business design a plan to quickly restore your hardware, software applications, and data for business continuity. We give you peace of mind so that when the time comes, we can easily recover your data.
We design backup systems for businesses of all sizes and complexity. Our IT professionals can advise on the right approach for your company.