It’s not a matter of “if,” it’s a matter of “when” your company will face a data disaster.
These data disasters can come in many forms, including hardware and software failures, cybersecurity breaches and forces of nature. These disasters create downtime, which causes your company to lose money. According to Gartner, IT downtime costs a business an average of $5,600 per minute.
When the time comes and your business is experiencing a data disaster, will you be ready?
To be prepared for the worst, businesses need to have a backup and disaster recovery plan in place. Here’s what you need to know regarding backup and disaster recovery, what catastrophes are out there and how to be prepared when the time comes.
What is Backup & Disaster Recovery and Why Do You Need It?
Backup and disaster recovery are two separate things. Each serves different functions to help keep your company running following a crisis. Backup is the act of copying your data. With multiple copies of your data available, you’ll be able to access vital information in case of accidental deletion, server problems or data corruption.
A disaster recovery plan is a process that gets your IT, network and data up and running after an incident as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Forbes reports that one in three businesses is unprepared for a disaster because they don’t have an adequate or updated plan. Of those companies that don’t have a plan, 90 percent fail following a disaster, according to FEMA.
4 Types of Disaster That Can Affect Your Business
Your backup and disaster recovery plans need to cover a variety of scenarios because a data crisis can appear in many forms. Here are some of the most common causes:
Human Error — Accidents happen. According to Chief Executive, humans cause roughly 90 percent of cybersecurity issues. An employee deletes critical data files or code on the back end of the website. An intern opens a suspicious email attachment containing a virus from an unknown address. These mishaps are avoidable, but when they happen, they can be costly.
Data Breaches & Cyberattacks — As companies continue to do more work online, it creates more opportunities for data breaches and other cyberattacks. According to Verizon’s “2019 Data Breach Investigations Report,” 43 percent of breaches involved small businesses. Hackers can use ransomware to block access to computers or data in exchange for money, use spyware to copy data off your hard drive, and steal passwords and credit card numbers using phishing techniques.
Hardware & Software Failures — How reliable are your servers? Hardware failure is the No. 1 cause of data loss, according to Dynamic Technologies. If there are no data backups or redundancies in place, a down server can bring your business to a halt.
Natural Disasters — Sometimes, disasters can be the result of a higher power. Fires in California, flooding in the Midwest and hurricanes along the Southeast have devastated local businesses in recent years. On a smaller scale, lightning can strike your office and set the building on fire. Will your data be safe if the servers get destroyed?
How We Can Help
If you run a small to medium-sized business (SMB) and realize your company is not ready for a data crisis, let us help. We create customized plans that fit your business needs. With services such as on-site and off-site backups, cloud storage and enhanced security, your company will be back up and running in minutes instead of days after an incident.
Contact us today to get your business prepared.
