Data loss is common among PC, laptop, and cell phone users. Hard drive failures, accidental deletions, computer viruses, malware, and data thefts are leading causes of data loss. Research shows that 6% of PC users suffer from data loss every year and 30% of organizations lose data due to server outages. Not only this but 70 million cell phones are lost each year.
The lost data can be work-related due to system failure or from an accidental deletion of family pictures from your last vacation. We all need to identify methods of protecting our data and information irrespective of how and where its stored.
The Importance of Data Backup
Data backup is a copy of data and information stored on your devices, such as a laptop, cell phone, tablet and PC. In the event of data loss, you can make the most of this “copy” to retrieve critical data and information.
Common causes of data loss are:
Accidental deletion — Approximately 60% of organizations have experienced data loss due to accidental deletion.
Human errors — According to a study conducted by IBM, 23% of data breaches are caused by human errors.
Hard drive failures — 38% of data loss incidents take place due to hard drive failures.
System failures
Malware and viruses — Malware is the third most common cause of data loss. Per leading chief security officers (CSOs) around the globe, 29% of data loss incidents are caused by malware.
Data theft — Per RiskBased’s security report, in the first half of 2020, data breaches exposed 36 billion records.
Data Backup Can Help in Data Loss Prevention
Research shows that 30% of people have never backed up their data. It may look like a small number. However, if you consider the data loss statistics discussed above, you understand why much of the world celebrates “World Backup Day” every year.
Data backup can prevent both business and personal losses. By backing up your data, you’re always ahead of accidental deletions, human errors, hard drive issues, malware, and cybersecurity threats.
Data Backup Can Come in Handy During Audits and Tax Reporting
If you’re experiencing data loss right before the tax reporting and auditing exercise, data backup can help. It’s vital for organizations to save accounting and finance-related data for tax and audit purposes.
Data Backup Checklist for Individuals and Organizations
As a rule of thumb, you should back up all data that cannot be retrieved once lost. This should include:
Contact details
Images
Videos
Address books
Documents
Emails
Audio files
Financial data
Spreadsheets
Here are additional checkpoints for organizations:
Customer details
Operating system (OS) details
Employee details
Configuration files
Organizations don’t need to back up system folders and programs. These files need to be reinstalled if they’re accidentally removed from the system.
Data Backup Options You Should Explore
Make the most of these four data backup solutions to prevent data loss:
Removable Storage
Removable storage is the most convenient data backup storage option. Most removable storage devices are small and easy to carry. Examples of removable storage devices include pen drives, flash drives, jump drives, and thumb drives. Removable storage devices are limited, with storage capacities between 128 MB and 256 GB. They are also not protected by additional security layers.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is one of the most popular storage options in today’s tech-savvy world. Many organizations are leveraging cloud storage to save their business-critical data and information. Since all the data and information are safely stored on the cloud, the risk of data theft is almost negligible.
Other benefits of cloud storage include large storage capacities, affordable storage options, data encryption, and ease of use. Some of the most popular cloud storage platforms include DropBox, Google Drive, and iCloud.
However, if you’re using cloud storage, ensure you have a reliable internet connection. Your internet connection can make or break your data backup session. Nevertheless, we’ve got you covered: you can bid goodbye to internet issues with data internet at home and on the go thanks to gotW3.
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are also removable storage devices. You can connect them to your devices through cables or a wireless connection. Examples of external hard drives include solid-state drives (SSDs). Unlike removable storage devices, external hard drives come with higher storage capacities. They can easily store files between 128 GB to 1 TB.
Third-Party Services
If you have massive volumes of data that you want to protect, we recommend exploring third-party data backup services. They have access to reliable data backup platforms, robust equipment, and hybrid backup options.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Data Backup Solution
Here’s a list of things you need to check when you are searching for a suitable data backup:
Is the solution easy to set up and use?
Is the solution affordable?
How much storage capacity do you need?
How quickly can the solution back up data?
How often do the backups need to run?
Does it require a reliable internet connection?