If you’ve ever had a major IT outage in your business or accidentally deleted files, you’ll know the importance of IT backup systems. With increasing cyber security threats and ransomware attacks, it’s becoming more critical to have a modern backup system in place.
The following article will outline two of the most crucial features of a modern-day backup systems. Additionally, we’ll outline why they are so essential for any size business. As a bonus, we’ll let you in on a little secret. (Hint it’s testing your backup system works).
1. Cloud and Local Backup
Most modern backup systems have replaced older tape-based systems. Previously, the companies IT department or someone with access to the server room would be tasked with changing a tape almost daily. This included storing the tape in a fireproof box or something similar. If the business was risk-averse, these might have been taken a step further with the tapes moved offsite.
In modern times, almost all modern back solutions are cloud-based. Benefits of cloud back up are obvious, for example, the backups are transferred offsite up to the cloud and most cloud providers replicate their storage between data centres and continents. If there’s ever any risk of the backup being damaged, there’s data replication taking place in the cloud.
2. Ransomware Protection
The majority of phishing emails that come into your inbox have one purpose. To try and inflict a ransomware virus on your internal IT network. Ransomware can devastate a business if the backup is not working correctly. Ransomware is destructive and will run wild on your IT network encrypting any file it comes into contact with.
There are two options when recovering from a ransomware attack – the first is to pay the ransom. This is something that we would never recommend as we can’t guarantee you’ll get the unlock code for your encrypted files. The second is to recover your data from a working backup. Of course, you do need a working backup to be able to restore, and this is something, not all IT companies check. However, while the backup software will tell you it has completed a job successfully what it won’t tell you is if your restore process actually works.
So, if you would like an independent check of your back up system, then get in touch with us today. Please call Dale Sutherland, Director of Aberdeen Cyber Security at 01224 679016 and contact us on our contact page.