How Often Should You Backup Your Files?
Data is the single most valuable asset owned by many
companies, yet data loss still costs $12 billion each year in the U.S. alone,
enabling data recovery companies
to exist.
Consider where your business would be if all company data was wiped out by a
catastrophic event such as a hurricane, a fire, or a flood. Customer database
gone. Billing records gone. Financial records, contacts, vendors, accounts
payable, orders… all gone. Given the importance of data protection, it's
shocking to note that data loss is a major problem in the U.S. Every year, about
$12 billion worth is lost.
Data Recovery Services
Natural disasters aren't the only threats that you should be aware of. System or
hardware failure accounts for about 78% of data losses, plus software
corruption, malware – viruses, worms and Trojans – and human error.
In addition to replacement time and irretrievable data, catastrophic data loss
can destroy client confidence, leading them to take their business elsewhere.
Retrieving the data requires an embarrassing explanation, and lost data could
even lead to lawsuits.
The only way to protect a business against valuable data loss is by regular
backups. Important files should be backed up at minimum once a week, preferably
once every 24 hours. This can be performed manually or automatically. Many
automatic software options are available that you can set to make a backup at a
selected time of the day or week. Many of these offer a free trial version
online so you can try several and read consumer reviews before deciding on the
one that works best for you. There are also companies that specialize in this
service. If the company's servers are located offsite in a secure server
facility, there are usually automatic backup options offered as a part of the
normal service.
If you choose to do it manually, backups can be time consuming. You'll need to
decide what data is most important to back up. Most businesses will want to
protect contact information, customer data, billing, bookkeeping, orders,
website code, custom programming and passwords. Individuals may want to add
documents, presentations, spreadsheets, appointments and e-mails. Some
businesses will have specific needs, like blueprints, pdfs, company literature,
or artwork. Info can be saved to a USB jump drive or external hard drive, or
burned to a CD or DVD.
Once the data has been transferred to a portable solution, it must be treated
with care. Imagine losing a memory stick containing the totality of your company
information. In the wrong hands, that information could be even more disastrous
than a computer crash, especially if the information includes customer billing
info or employee records. Safeguard the information as surely as you would a
sack of diamonds, because it is every bit as valuable or more. It should be
password protected and then stored offsite, in a safety deposit box or locked
inside a safe at home.
Home users should also consider making regular backups and storing their data
elsewhere. Possessions can be replaced, but family photos, especially those of
ancestors, are irreplaceable. Knowing that there is a backup of photos, finance
and tax files, passwords, personal documents and even homework assignments can
be very comforting in the case of a crash, a natural disaster, or a soft drink
spill.
If you are a victim of data loss please consider Data Recovery
Labs. For more information about our data recovery and computer forensic service please call us toll free at 866-340-0111. You may also
click on the following link to request a free data recovery quote.
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