Data Backup and Recovery Basics For Small Businesses

Backing up your data is critical. It doesn’t matter if you own a small business or a large business – keeping your data safe and restorable will ensure that all of your precious documentation is not lost forever. For small businesses, backing up data is especially important, because if information is wiped out, it could affect your company’s bottom line. If you are a new company, this could take your company out of commission and you may have to start from scratch. When it comes down to it, there are a number of data backup and recovery basics that will help you get familiar with some of the common concepts of data protection. Here are some data backup and recovery basics for small businesses.

1. When should I perform a data backup? Many people wonder when they should back up their data. Well, the best time to back up your data is weekly. After a week, your small business’ data will have accumulated to the point where it is dangerous not to back it up.
2. What does backing up data mean? Backing up data simply means that you are putting the information on a server. This server could either be onsite or it could be in a cloud. In the cloud, your data exists on multiple servers that are usually overseen by a single company. If you have your own servers, you will be responsible for all the backing up. You will also be responsible for restoring the data if there is a crash. This is why many people like the cloud versus onsite server backups.
3. Is there an easier way to backup data? Yes, there is an easier way to back up data. There are many companies, like Colotraq, that offer managed hosting services. These services offer a totally comprehensive service that manages your entire system. This platform exists on the cloud, which means that it is more efficiently stored. You may not imagine that the cloud is safer than your own servers, but you would be surprised. Managed hosting services have extremely complicated firewalls and encryption methods.
4. Do I backup everything? Yes, you must backup everything. Of course, you want to put things in their applicable file – just like you would if you still had a filing cabinet. For instance, you would put internal documents in one file and financial information in another file. Moreover, you would keep employee and customer documentation in other separated files. Keeping your information separated will help you organize everything. If you don’t backup everything, you may lose incredibly important data in the instance of a breach or crash.
5. Can I get my information back if there is a crash? This is why you backup your data, so that you can retrieve it in the instance of a crash. The truth is that computers are not impervious, so you could easily lose a trove of data if you aren’t careful. In the end, restoring data is quite easy if your documentation is organized and kept safe.