Imagine having no customer information, HR records or bank details and the damage this could do to your company. It is no exaggeration to say that access to this data could mean the difference between bankruptcy or survival.
According to a survey from Dell and the Federation of Small Business last year, over two-thirds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe they are well equipped to recover from disaster. But less than a third backed up their business-critical data on a daily or even weekly basis.
SMEs often feel that they lack the budgets and IT expertise necessary to implement data storage and back-up. Fortunately, hardware and IT service offerings for SMEs are more affordable today than ever before and there is a storage solution to suit all businesses.
To help you get started, here are my top tips for businesses that are looking to implement data back-up plans:
- Prioritise what to back up – to avoid wasting storage space as well as providing easier, faster access to the most relevant data, only back up what is business-critical
- Back up data regularly – daily, if possible
- Don’t forget portable devices – flash disks and notebook computers are often overlooked, but the data they contain can also be business-critical
- Know the law – to save yourself from potentially hefty fines, be aware of regulations that apply to your business and their impact on your technology requirements
- Match purchases to budget and requirements – where possible, choose scaleable data storage solutions which can be adapted as your business grows
Although implementing data back-up solutions can seem overwhelming, planning and careful consideration of the available options can greatly simplify the overall process. Once in place, a back-up solution can be a key factor in an organisation’s long-term survival.
See also: The importance of having IT disaster recovery systems in place
