If you’ve ever faced a major IT outage or accidentally deleted a crucial file, you already know how essential an IT backup system is to your business. But with the rise in cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks, having a modern, reliable backup system is more critical than ever.
In this article, I’ll outline two of the most crucial features of a modern IT backup system and why they are indispensable for businesses of any size. Plus, I’ll let you in on a little-known secret that could save your business in a crisis. (Hint: It’s all about testing your backup system regularly.)
But first, let me share a quick story.
Not too long ago, I received a frantic call from a pharmacy owner whose entire patient records system had gone down. A ransomware attack had hit their network, encrypting everything. It seemed like they had no choice but to pay the ransom. However, thanks to the robust backup system I had implemented for them, I was able to recover their data swiftly and save the day. That’s why these two features I’m about to mention are so critical.
1) Cloud and Local Backup
In the past, businesses relied on tape-based systems for backups. The IT person or someone with access to the server room was responsible for changing tapes daily and storing them securely, often in fireproof boxes. In more cautious companies, these tapes would even be moved offsite.
Today, most modern backup solutions have evolved to include cloud-based backups. The benefits are clear — your data is stored offsite in the cloud, and most cloud providers replicate their storage across multiple data centers, often across different continents. This ensures that if there’s ever a risk of your local backup being compromised, your data remains safe thanks to cloud-based replication.
2) Ransomware Protection
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats businesses face today. Many phishing emails landing in your inbox are designed with a single goal: to unleash a ransomware virus on your network. Ransomware encrypts your files, holding them hostage until a ransom is paid.
The first option in a ransomware attack is to pay the ransom, but I strongly advise against this — there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive the decryption key. The second, and far more reliable option, is to restore your data from a working backup.
However, to restore successfully, you need to ensure your backups are functioning properly. Backup software may show that backups are completed successfully, but what it doesn’t always tell you is whether the restoration process works. This is where many IT providers fall short — they don’t regularly test the restore process.
The Secret to Backup Success: Testing Your Backup
The number one thing most IT providers overlook is regularly testing the restore process of your backup system. It’s not enough to know that your data is being backed up — you need to ensure that it can be restored when disaster strikes.
If you want to make sure your backup system is fully operational, get in touch with us at Tekcom Computer. We can perform an independent review and ensure that your backup system works as intended, so you’ll be ready when you need it most.