What comes to mind when you think of “business continuity”? If you don’t have a plan to maintain the critical functions of your business after an emergency or disruption, you could be setting yourself up for unnecessary complications. Like the old saying goes, “prevention is better than a cure”, which is why you should never overlook the importance of computer backups.
Backing up your data regularly is the first step to putting your mind at ease. Next comes a full understanding of how much a backup can do for you, the different types of backups, and their uses. If you skip this step, you’re missing out on the power that’s at your fingertips. Keep in mind, a recording of all activities and file changes may be the concept behind backup management but being able to flawlessly bounce back after a crisis is the reality.
The different types of backups:
File backup:
This is the most basic type of backup; it holds copies of all changed files. Have you ever edited a file only to discover you overwrote something important while saving it? With a file backup you can easily retrieve what was lost because you can extract your revisions. To be on the safe side, you can have a backup made every revision, enabling you to go back hourly, daily, or even monthly to retrieve a file.
Machine backup:
A machine backup follows the same premise as the file backup, with one key difference. It allows for recovery of the system in its entirety. You can run this backup multiple times per day, which leaves you with a reliable safety net.
Server backup:
Something that’s becoming less common is having computer servers on-site. More common is utilizing cloud backups. Which are quite superior for multiple reasons. For one, they can be recovered remotely via a virtual server hosted off-site anytime, even if the physical server is down or destroyed.
Two critical takeaways:
- Test your backups; if you haven’t run a restore test you can’t be sure your backups are set up to give you the data you need in an emergency.
- Ask yourself how long your business can survive without the information you currently back-up.
Real world example:
A client of ours was hit with a ransomware attack, essentially shutting down their business. Fortunately, we were able to have their entire back-up restored and get them back to running transactions within 2 hours. This is an example of successful business continuity.
When you’re considering backup methods, consult your IT professional for the latest in technology. Your business deserves it.