Why is it so important to back up your data? 

Sponsored content

Most people are at least somewhat aware that cloud backups for your data can be valuable, whether you’re running a profitable business or just tending to your personal files. But why is it so important? And is it worth the cost of backing up your data?

How Data Backups Work

First, let’s explore how data backups work. Backing up a digital file is, essentially, making a copy of that file. You can make copies of files on external hard drives, on local servers, or most commonly in the modern era, with a cloud backup provider. 

In the latter case, you’ll upload your files to the cloud; it will then be stored in multiple data centers, usually separated in terms of physical location.

The point of a backup is to keep your copied files in a location that’s both secure and separate from your original location. This way, if your original location is compromised, or if you lose data, you’ll have a ready backup available. You can restore your backed up files and continue as if the threat never occurred.

Threats to Data

Backups are important because they’re the only way to restore your files if they face damage, theft, or loss. These are just some of the threats to your data:

•         Physical damage. If you drop your laptop and it no longer turns on, there’s a chance you can still recover the files that it contained – but there’s a chance those files could be lost for good.
•         Natural disasters. What if your business sustains damage in the form of a hurricane, an earthquake, or a fire? If a natural disaster destroys your devices as well as your local servers, even your manual backups will be destroyed.
•         Theft or loss. Don’t discount the possibility of one of your company’s devices being stolen – or lost by one of your employees. If the files are no longer physically accessible, a data backup is your only real hope of restoration.
•         Saboteurs. All it takes is one disgruntled employee to cause major damage to your internal systems. If you have a saboteur in your midst, backups are your only real line of defense.
•         Ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks are increasing in both frequency and severity. If your systems and data are being held hostage, the only alternative to paying an exorbitant fee is to restore your systems to a previous version.
•         Other malware. Ransomware is just one type of malware; other viruses and worms can also corrupt, destroy, or otherwise compromise your data.

There are good strategies to protect yourself against these types of threats. For example, a strong firewall, a good VPN, and thoroughly trained employees can prevent the majority of cyberattacks. But because there’s no way to protect yourself from 100 percent of threats, 100 percent of the time, data backups become a practical necessity.

The Cost of Data Loss

So what happens if you don’t back up your data and you suffer an attack or loss?

•         Time and money. For starters, it’s going to cost a ton of time and money trying to restore your systems back to normal. Merely ending your downtime can take days, or weeks, and some files may never be fully recovered. That’s one reason why the average cost of a data breach is $4.24 million. Compared to the minimal costs of data backup and recovery software, the costs of recovering from an attack are egregious.
•         Reputational damage. You also need to think about reputational damage to your business. If your business suffers a catastrophic loss of data, especially if this loss includes customer data, your brand’s reputation may never fully recover. As a result, you may lose customers, have a harder time reaching new customers, and ultimately make less money.
•         Compliance and legal issues. Depending on where you’re operating, your business may be legally responsible for protecting consumer data in some specific ways. If you’re not in full compliance, you could face steep legal fees – and be forced to pay for any damages that occurred as a result of your failure.

Because of the incredibly high costs of data loss, any data backup and recovery option is going to seem cheap by comparison. You can’t possibly prevent every attack or threat that faces your data, but you can take measures to ensure your data is easily recoverable in the event of such events.

Despite the clear benefits of backing up your files, and the relatively low costs and ease of making backups, 30 percent of people have never once backed up their data. If you don’t yet have a data backup and restoration strategy in place, now is the time to step up and create one. 

With the right cloud backup software on your side, it should be fast, convenient, and inexpensive. 

• read also: Hungary ranks 32nd in the World in Digital Quality of Life Index 2021