Infrastructure

A backup is indispensable for your IT, we'll tell you why

Every day, businesses capture, collect, and analyze vast amounts of valuable data. Therefore, it is an absolute necessity to preserve this data properly and, most importantly, provide a reliable backup. We’ll tell you how to get started with this in the topics below.

Diversity of risks

Cybercriminals are increasingly and successfully targeting sensitive data. However, they are not the only cause of data loss. Besides cybercrime, human errors, technical failures, theft, fire, etc. there are many situations where your data can be compromised. While it’s obvious that prevention is better than recovery, it helps to be as well-prepared as possible. A few questions you should ask yourself are:

How can you limit the damage in an emergency?
How can you get your organization up and running as quickly as possible after an incident? Time is crucial to minimize downtime because costs can quickly escalate, and your company’s positive image may suffer, leading to customer loss.

A reliable backup is the perfect solution

This is sort of a safety net to recover your data when it’s lost. Now how do you get started? We’re here to help you establish an efficient strategy.

A guiding principle is the 3-2-1 backup rule:

Create three copies of your data.
Store these backups on two different types of media.
Keep one copy at a different physical location.

Next, consider the following essential guidelines:

Test regularly and optimize as needed.
Create enough backups, taking into account your Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and your Recovery Time Objective (RTO).
Ensure an off-site backup environment different from your business location.
Include a cloud-based backup (as issues can occur there too).

Backup Strategy and ISO Standards

Setting up a proper backup is not only crucial for your IT security but also a requirement for meeting the necessary ISO standards. These standards allow companies to demonstrate that their systems, services, and products meet agreed specifications.

There are clear guidelines for backups in the ISO standards as well, such as ISO 27001 or 27040, which cover information and storage security. To comply with these standards, you will need to create backups at regular intervals and test them regularly. This way, your data will always be protected against hackers or intrusions. It’s important for your company to guarantee quality, safety, and reliability.

Check Your Business Continuity

If you are able to answer the questions below affirmatively, you have a high-quality backup strategy. If not, you can start improving your existing strategy.

Is your backup divided into a separate subnet so that there is no access from the production servers on the admin console of backup?
Is your backup storage located separately from production storage? Are they in separate locations as well as on different devices?
Do you generate random passwords for backup environment access?
Did you set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts?
Is your backup connected to the Active Directory?
Do you have a successful Disaster Recovery plan that is being tested regularly?
Is your backup environment Write Once Read Many (WORM) or air-gapped (physically isolated) to prevent ransomware from affecting it?
Do you limit the number of people with admin access to the backup? And do you keep track of them in an updated list?

When you’ve discovered weaknesses in your current backup, it’s important to address them immediately. This way you avoid the risk of data loss in the future.

Avoid the Five Most Common Backup Mistakes

Making a poor backup is as good as not having one at all. You can still lose data while assuming you’re protected. We frequently come across the following mistakes in practice, and we want to help you avoid making them:

Not creating a backup:
Surprisingly, some companies still don’t invest in a proper and robust backup system. Many companies have lost critical information in recent years because they lacked a backup plan, resulting in high costs and customer loss.
Insufficient backup frequency:
There are no clear guidelines on backup frequency, leading many companies to create backups too infrequently. Most assume that a daily backup is sufficient, but that’s not always the case. The frequency depends on how often you modify specific files or data.
Not testing or checking backups:
Many clients proudly tell us they have set up a backup but forget to test it regularly. It’s possible that, for various reasons, the backup may not work optimally or not at all. Regular testing provides peace of mind and allows you to correct incorrect configurations or other issues, ensuring your backup works optimally.
Underestimating the consequences:
Customer loss and high costs are two significant consequences of data loss. Customers expect a reliable service and trust you with their data. If your company fails to meet these expectations, it can negatively affect your reputation, resulting in negative word-of-mouth, and harming your company’s good name.
Not having a backup in a separate physical location:
If you only have a backup in the office, you risk losing your data in case of a fire, water damage, or other disasters. It’s advisable to have a physical backup on a different location.

As an experienced IT company, we understand how complex it can be to develop and manage a reliable backup system. We are here to provide you with advice and comprehensive services. Contact us, we would be happy to see how we can support you in creating a high-quality backup.