Don’t be an April Fool. Protect your data on World Backup Day 2022
In this digital age, many of us generate large amounts of data in our professional and personal lives. With such a big portion of our lives stored digitally, what would happen if we lost some or all that data? Could a small business continue to function? What if it suddenly lost access to its data due to a clerical error or a cyber security incident? If you are a small or medium sized business, a data disaster could spell the end for your company. Fact of the matter is, we rely on digital data more than we realise. And that is why it is so important to protect your data.
World Backup Day 2022
On World Backup Day, we are playing our role in creating awareness of data integrity and automatic backup.
We’re highlighting the need for a proper backup plan that includes regular testing of data restores.
Already have a backup procedure in place?
One should also check (and then recheck) backup restores on World Backup Day to see if they actually work.
After all, a backup plan that doesn’t work isn’t much of a backup plan.
Don’t have a backup plan?
If you don’t, consider a plan to protect your data.
About World Backup Day
World Backup Day was purposely chosen to be the day before 1st April (April Fools Day) to deliver the important message that we each have a role to play in backing up data, files, pictures, spreadsheets, communications & financial documents before it’s too late.
Key points about protecting your data
- Items to backup: Business data, documents and files, operating system backup/servers, mailboxes, Sharepoint sites, websites, databases, OneDrive, shared documents, financial documents, computer, laptop, phone, iPad, tablet, other wireless devices, photos and videos, including those on social networks.
- Common ways to lose data: Theft, hardware failure, natural disaster, cyber security incident, administrative or human errors, account deletion, obsolete file formats or you simply forgot where you saved it…
- Backup options: Backing up is easy. Once set up, your data should be backing up automatically. There are two main types of backup solutions:
- Local backup: An external hard drive that can be easily retrieved.
- Cloud/offsite backup: An online backup service or hard drive securely placed in a different location.
Having both local and offsite backups offers peace of mind knowing your files are safe and secure.
- If you are working in a business:
- Tell your managers & colleagues about the importance of data backups.
- Check your backup procedures & restores to make sure everything is up-to-date and working.
- If don’t have one, consider creating a company data backup & continuity plan.