When did you last backup your data?
We hear all sorts of horror stories of data backups going wrong or not happening at all.
This can cause reputational damage and customer service issues as well as incurring regulatory penalties or having a major operational impact which could cost millions.
Save yourself the headache with this 8-point checklist that will either put your mind at ease or encourage you to shore up your defences…
Your 8-point checklist
Know who is responsible for the backup
Depending on the size and nature of your business, and the types of backup you employ to safeguard your data, this could be just one or several people.
Have a business data backup plan and process
Anyone whose information you hold can ask to see your data backup policy, and they might not be too impressed if you don’t have one (it’s common for insurance providers to ask for proof now too).
Test the data in your backup
A shocking common faux pas is to simply assume that backed-up data is ‘good’, but did you know that in 75% of incidents where backup solutions were in place, some data was still lost completely?
Check backup software for updates… regularly
Updates are crucial as they often include the latest protection from viruses, malware, and other threats that could compromise your data.
Have a Disaster Recovery Plan
Every business should have a Disaster Recovery Plan – a documented set of procedures for restoring all business-critical systems as well as the data they create, process and store.
Plus, two other things you need to consider when devising your Disaster Recovery Plan are: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO).
Ensure that your plan is documented, printed out and kept out of the office!
Educate your team
Pretty much anyone who uses online IT and creates or manages data in some shape or form needs to understand the importance of backups and data security – especially as 52% of all data breaches are caused by human error.
Introduce Security Awareness Training, where an external company will send phishing-style emails to ‘trick’ staff, then provide the training on how to spot and deal with those emails.
Know what data is part of the backup
Ensure your business data backup plan is UK GDPR compliant. Check which data regulations apply to the data you create, how you back it up and how to remove data if required.
Have a data retention policy
This is your ‘protocol’ for retaining customer data that’s crucial to how you provide a product or service to them – it must comply with strict regulations. The kind of data you hold, and how long for, depends on the kind of business you run, and the data it relies on to function normally.
Many companies legally need to keep hold of data for a number of years (the default standard retention period for HMRC records is 6 years plus the current year).
Speak to our Team today
If you need any further help and assistance in planning and implementing your backup strategy, PDQ provides fully automated, hassle-free, UK-based backup services to organisations all over the world – from small businesses to global brands, to public-sector clients and large corporate enterprises.
We can help you ensure your data, your business and your reputation remains intact.
Email us today at hello@pdq.co.uk.