Data loss to a small business is a catastrophic event. Depending on the companies and how much damage has been done, that will usually shut them down within a few months of the disaster. It’s understandable considering all the months and years worth of content, reports, communications, and legal contracts an office has. This type of ordeal is expensive and time-consuming. As a small business owner, you’re responsible for making sure that your essential data is safe and secure.
Each year we learn just how important small businesses are to our economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than 50% of the jobs in the U.S. are connected to small businesses. This is a number has continued to rise since the early 1980s. Which means businesses that never backup their data (close to 33% don’t!), end up hurting our economy. Any type of data breach or error that affects the ability of the business to function properly, in turn affects our economic growth.
You’ve heard of “who, what, when, where, and why?” When it comes backup solutions for small businesses it’s a matter of “what, when, and how?”
What to backup? Well, what is essential to keeping your business up and running? Make sure all your financial and customer records, tax and sales info is all being backed up. Anything that’s critical to keeping your business working. Make sure you use encryption so your business data stays safe.
When to backup? As with most things in life, timing is everything. The best time to backup your data is whenever it changes. Continuous backup is great for computers with users working on files throughout the day, constantly backing up new files and updating existing ones.
How to backup? Less of a question and more of an instruction. Using an external USB-based hard disk drive is fine to store backups. Hard drives do wear down over time and stop working, so don’t rely exclusively on this. Computers with faster connections can use their fastest connections to help cut down backup time. The built-in software on Macs and Windows PCs backs up your computer’s data making recovery simple.
Losing financial records and customer info aren’t the only things you can lose. The thought of the long road towards data recovery can make you also lose your mind! Don’t allow these dire consequences destroy you professionally and personally. Data disasters happen, so guard your workplace from them today.
