A rundown of backup recovery and data loss

As a business owner, knowing how to protect your digital data is a must when it comes to avoiding disruption to your business. Your business's essential data may be on a device that can get damaged, and data that is stored online may be accidentally deleted. Fortunately, data backup and recovery services make getting your data back if something happens to it easier than you might think. Here is an overview of what data backup and recovery typically look like and how they can benefit your business!

What Is Data Backup and Recovery?

Data backup and recovery describe the steps business owners can take to make sure they still have access to their digital assets, files, and other data in case something were to happen to the original version. Data that has been properly backed up in advance can usually be recovered if it is accidentally deleted, your device is damaged, or your business becomes the target of a cyber attack.

Difference Between Backup and Recovery

Data backup and recovery are two closely related concepts, but they are not exactly the same thing. Data backup is a preventative measure that should be taken long before you experience data loss or other problems with your data, while recovery is the process of getting your data back after a problem occurs. Properly backing up your data is an important step in making sure that you are able to recover it if you need to, as the process cannot be done in reverse if data that has not been adequately backed up is lost.

Types of Backups

Your business has several options when it comes to backing up your data. Although you will need to begin by performing a full backup, incremental and differential backups tend to be more efficient options for backing up new data.

Full Backups

A full backup creates an extra copy of all the data on your system. This type of backup is the most thorough, and it is an essential starting point when backing up your system for the first time. However, it is usually not the best choice for adding new data once the majority of your information has already been backed up because it is a very time-consuming process that typically takes many hours or even days to complete.  

Incremental Backups

Under most circumstances, incremental backups are a better option when it comes to backing up new data. Because you do not need to back up your entire system over and over, selecting this option allows you to only create a copy of new files or other types of data that have not yet been backed up. As long as you have done at least one full backup in the past, an incremental backup is a faster and more efficient option for making sure you have a backup copy of all the files you need.

Differential Backups

Differential backups fall in between full backups and incremental backups. Like incremental backups, they only affect some of your data, but they use your most recent full backup as a starting point instead of your most recent incremental backup.

Types of Recovery

There are also several types of data recovery methods to choose from, some of which can work better for certain types of data failure than others. Some of the most common types of data recovery include granular recovery, instant mass restoration, volume recovery, virtual machine disk recovery (VMDK recovery), bare machine recovery, and instant volume mounts. Assuming your data was backed up properly before its failure, you can choose which type of recovery is the best fit for the type of data you lost and what problem caused it to disappear.

Importance of Backup and Recovery

Here are several reasons why considering data backup and recovery before you need them is essential when it comes to protecting your business!

Your Data Is Essential to the Operations of Your Business

Digital data security has quickly become a far bigger concern for many businesses than it was even a decade ago, although it has been an important consideration for as long as it has been used for business purposes. Your business likely relies on a wide range of categories of digital data to function normally on a daily basis, and abruptly losing access to that data can hinder your business from accomplishing as much as it should. For this reason, taking steps to ensure the overall security of your data is a must when it comes to keeping your business up and running.

No Business Is Immune to Data Loss

No matter how strong your security measures are, your business's devices and programs can fail or experience a cyber attack. Laptops can wear out and no longer turn on, files can become corrupted and unable to be opened, human error can cause you or an employee to accidentally delete data, and your business may become the target of a ransomware attack or other cyber security concern. Although your IT team should certainly take steps to reduce the likelihood of these problems, it is impossible to guarantee that they will not cause your data to disappear. 

Ramifications of Not Backing Up Your Data

Although it is understandable that your quest to find ways to save time and money for your business may not automatically include investing time and money in data backup and recovery programs that you may never need to use, it is important to carefully consider the ramifications of cutting corners in an area that has the potential to cause extreme financial losses and productivity setbacks if something happens and your data cannot be recovered.

Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated even as cyber security programs become stronger, and banking on never experiencing a cyber attack because you are taking precautions could be catastrophic for your business. Simple human error, such as accidental deletion, can also destroy hours, weeks, or even years' worth of hard work. 

At Zix, we prioritize helping our clients take steps to avoid the damage that data loss can do to their businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take steps to protect your data from a wide range of potential losses or to get started!