What Could Happen Without a Plan?

What Could Happen Without a Plan?

Backup Disaster Recovery is one of those things that all businesses need. Whether it is a natural disaster such as a tornado, a hardware failure, or an attack from a hacker. There are many threats that could disable your business if you are not prepared. For those of you still backing up data on tapes or *cringe* not at all. Here are some reasons why you should consider a BDR (Backup and Disaster Recovery) solution.

First, data disasters are more common than you might think. Currently, 58% of SMBs are not prepared for data loss. Worse yet, 60% of SMBs that lose their data will shut down within six months. These losses are preventable. It is scary to think about when 29% of hard drive failures happen accidentally. It would be silly to have human error, or a simple mishap put your company out of business.

You may have security protocols in place. Your employees may be well versed in avoiding things like malware. Well done. But you are still not protected. Human error is a large culprit in most data losses. It could be as common as accidentally deleting items or overwriting data. These “oops” can hit hard. Human error can result in other kinds of hardware damage such as spills or accidental drops. We see things like this all the time!  

Viruses and malware can be a significant cause of software or hardware damage. Depending on what kind of bug. Usually, you can avoid getting these with proper employee training. Firewalls can also filter malicious attacks.  

Yet another enemy is social engineering – the art of conning people. Hackers have been able to get into server rooms and other data-centric areas of the business. Employees may not even notice their mistake until it is too late. The person your employees’ thought is the “HVAC guy" might turn out to be a hacker in a clever disguise. Be sure your critical infrastructure is behind locked doors.

Sometimes software corruption can come from unknown viruses lurking around your computer. Most of the time it is due to improper usage. An example of this is not shutting down the computer the correct way.

Sudden power outages can trigger corruption. Once you interrupt and damage the software process. It may be impossible to recover data stored in the software.

Did you know that 140,000 hard drives crash every week? With that kind of number, it is a matter of time until it happens to you. That is not a comfortable position to be in if you know you do not have backup. Unfortunately, hard drive corruption is usually due to mechanical issues. Things like age and dust build up can (and will) cause technology to fail. We have all used the old laptop we still have that has been on its deathbed for months. Freezing often, taking forever to load a web page, and of course, acting as a heater for your lap or desk. All these things are signs leading to a crash. You may not care if it is an old hand-me-down laptop from the ’90s. You will care! When it is your pricey equipment with all your product data and client information stored on it.

Finally, good old-fashioned acts of God. You cannot prepare for a natural disaster. Even if you hear the tornado siren. Backing up your servers to tape will take longer than it will for the tornado to hit your business. Then what? That tape is among the rubble, destroyed. This may seem like an exaggeration, but it has happened to businesses. And even if only hypothetical, it makes for a great metaphor for any other crash within your business.  Proof that on-site BDRs may not be the final protective cover to your business. You may want to consider off-site or cloud data storage to ensure protection. Your data is safe even if your equipment is not.

Protect your business and keep it running. Backup Disaster Recovery options are available for all kinds of SMBs and their needs. Do not wait for the “big one” to learn your lesson. Protect your important data and enjoy the peace of mind that comes along with it. You have worked too hard to get your business where it is. Protect your hard work.  Call us for a no-pressure discussion about the many options available for your small business, 877-686-6642!

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