Is It Important to Backup Your Business Data?

Importance of backup systems for small and medium size businesses (SMBs) is in no way less, as compared to big companies.
SMBs also depend heavily on the computers for the data management. There are several examples of SMBs that lost all their valuable data because of computer failure and never returned to the scene again.

Every business generates critical data while conducting day to day activities.

This data can be in the form of: Business Application Data e.
g. Accounting Software, Inventory, Tally, ERP, CRM etc.

Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations e.g.

Quotation, Communication with Clients, etc.
Emails, Communications, Contacts, Notes, To-Do List, Appointments etc.
Pictures of products, Digital Catalogues How data loss occurs: a physical failure of Hard Disk power failure which can corrupt your data virus attacks accidental deletion overwriting a new file with an old one someone deleting necessary files deliberately to harm the organization Lack of Systematic Backup Policy: SMBs do not have any backup policies in place because of which the following issues exists even if they are taking backups: Backups are done at random and irregular intervals Backups are done manually so there are chances of missing important files Usually taken by a Copy Paste command so there is no verification of backup None or rarely backups are taken from the Laptops of the Executives Backups are not tested for integration by restoring it at regular intervals Usually backups are non-encrypted and anyone who has the access to it can read or take away all of it Backups are kept on-site and no off-site copies are kept No multiple copies Daily, Weekly and Monthly are available Best policies to follow: must be taken at regular intervals must be verified after the backup completes Laptops also must be backed up at regular intervals must be restored at regular intervals to check its integrity must be encrypted so that no unauthorized person can get access to the data There should be daily, weekly and monthly copies of the backup must have at least one off-site copy of the backup must be taken on an external Hard Disk or a Tape Drive media and not on one of the computers in the office Solution: The best way to come out of all these hazels is to implement automatic backup software which can take care of all the above policies. Backup software can be configured to take backup at regular intervals and the data can be secured by adding encryption.