Backups: The Most Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
A robust backup strategy is a core component for any organisation, whether you’re a global corporation or startup. Despite this, we frequently encounter businesses that are ill-prepared for data loss and fail to have an effective disaster recovery process in place. For example, the most popular misconception is that you only need to create one additional copy of your data. Yet what happens if that copy is destroyed or lost?
Be sure to avoid these backup blunders.
We have detailed the 3-2-1 backup method in a previous blog post, but the standard practice is to make three copies of your files, storing each on at least two separate and different types of devices, with one located off-premises
We’ve rounded up three common mistakes people make when it comes to backing up data.
1. Forgetting to verify.
It’s all well and good setting up a backup system, but what if it fails and no one notices?
Regularly checking your backup to ensure everything is running smoothly can save you a huge headache later on down the line.
When verifying your backup, you should look to see if the time and contents are correct, that each backup has finished and that you can successfully restore any data written during the backup.
We recommend doing this once per month. This way, if one month your backup fails, you only have one month to recover, rather than several months or a whole year.
2. Avoid automation.
Manual backups are a great place to begin when you’re first starting out. However, automation can provide so many benefits for your business.
Firstly, it’ll save your team a lot of time. Let’s face it, copying files is a tedious task and we’d all rather be working on something more inspiring.
Secondly, it’ll limit the chance for errors. We’re only human, after all. And, this means we all get sidetracked from time to time, especially when there are so many other priorities involved in running a successful business.
By having a computer keeping an eye on your systems, you can be assured that no file will be missed.
Lastly, it saves you from relying on one person to manage all of your backups. Not only does this reduce the risk of mistakes, but it can also account for when that person is away or sick.
3. Confusing backups with sync.
Whilst file-sharing tools – such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox – are an excellent way to store and sync files, they should never be mixed up with your backup strategy.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing they will have your back, but these platforms are not specifically designed for backing up files and therefore cannot be fully relied on.
If you are keen to continue using these online storage solutions, that’s fine – there are some amazing cloud-based services out there that integrate with these workspaces, offering a more secure way to backup your data.
If you would like to find out more about backups and the right disaster recovery strategy for you, please contact us today.