Once you’ve made the decision to invest in a BDR (Backup Disaster Recovery) solution, the next step is to determine exactly what data needs to be backed up. While many businesses aim to back up everything for the sake of security, cost considerations can come into play.
The choice of BDR solution you’ve selected will influence how data is managed, stored, and backed up. In today’s tech landscape, there are three primary backup approaches: direct-to-cloud services, software-based solutions, and hybrid setups that combine on-site hardware and software with cloud integration. The capacity for data backup, data segmentation, backup frequency, backup methods (full data backups versus incremental backups that focus on changes), and ease of data access all hinge on the specific solution you’ve chosen.
Not all data needs daily backups, but certain considerations should guide your decision-making process.
- Firstly, it’s crucial to prioritize the safeguarding of financial data, such as credit card transactions, receipts, invoicing, receivables, payroll, and all financial records. Your accounting software should automate the backup process for these critical financial components. Even the loss of a single invoice can have a detrimental impact on your business.
- Secondly, give utmost protection to all intellectual property. Unless you possess a secure vault akin to those guarding famous recipes like Coca-Cola or KFC, ensure that you regularly back up anything that provides your business with a competitive edge in the market. This includes any data vulnerable to hacking or any assets that could be compromised; daily backups are advisable.
- Next, it’s essential to create backups of your client files. Safeguarding this information is not only crucial for its security but also vital for maintaining client trust in case of any potential loss or theft. Additionally, don’t forget to back up your client and prospect lists, including any data stored in your CRM system. Building and maintaining these lists for marketing purposes is a significant investment of your time, and losing this data can be a leading cause of businesses failing within six months after a data loss incident.
- Lastly, ensure that you back up all your project management software. Any tools your business relies on to track daily activities and ongoing work should be backed up to ensure you can continue making progress even in the face of data loss, while also preserving a comprehensive record of project communications.
Regarding BDR (Backup and Disaster Recovery), the ideal scenario is to create backups for all your data. However, practical constraints such as the high costs associated with managing extensive data chains may make this impossible. At the very least, remember to prioritize these key items, and you’ll significantly reduce the risk of encountering a catastrophic business disaster.
If your business is still relying on USB hard drives as means to backup crucial data, you need to get in touch with us. For over 13 years, we have helped businesses recover from catastrophic data loss with our comprehensive backup solutions.
