5 Common Data Backup Mistakes

In this digital age, all businesses use technology to run efficiently. But there are many ways that technology can fail, so it’s important to save multiple copies of all sensitive and important information. That way, an emergency like data loss won’t grind your business to an indefinite halt. 

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when backing up their data. Each has a simple solution to make sure you’re never at a loss.

Not backing up data at all 

This one may seem obvious, but the worst mistake you can make when it comes to data backups is simply not doing them at all. Surprisingly, many business owners fall into this trap. 

Not backing up data at all could have serious consequences for a business. A natural disaster or cybersecurity breach would mean the permanent loss of information, including the sensitive personal information of employees and customers. This is financially expensive, but it also costs the trust and loyalty of customers, as well as damaging the reputation of the business.

Not saving the backups on different hardware 

Once you perform a data backup, where do you store the files? If you keep them on the same hardware as the original data, they are only doing half their job. Keeping both sets of files on the same machine means that if that machine dies, your data is lost, despite the backup. You’ll want to save your backup files on a separate hard drive or in the cloud in order to keep them safe.

Not testing to make sure the backup worked

Backing up data is a complex technological marvel that can go wrong in several ways. It’s important to test that your backup files are saved correctly and were not corrupted. 

Loading the backup as if to recover data will assure you that all is well and the backup is secure. If the backup did not operate correctly, it will need to be redone in order to make the saved data accesibile. 

Not backing up data regularly 

It can be easy to forget how much time has passed since your last data backup. It’s a good idea to set calendar reminders or something similar in order to make sure the backups are performed regularly. Not backing up data regularly could set your projects back a long time in the event of a data loss. You could perform a full backup or a differential one, where you add any new data to the existing backup. Or you could do a combination of both. 

Not naming the backup files clearly 

After making the backups, be sure to name them clearly, recording which hardware it came from and when. Complications may arise if you try to load saved data on the incorrect machine. Keeping your files labeled clearly will make loading the backup a quick and easy process in what may be a very stressful time.

Backing up data may seem overwhelming or complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. An IT company can manage your backups for you, ensuring that all your business’ information is safely secured in the event of an emergency. That way, you don’t have to worry about these common mistakes; you’ll know your data is taken care of, and you can focus on running your business.