Data loss, whether brought upon by an accident or by a security breach, can be a nightmare for any company. Losing your data means losing access to highly sensitive information, which in turn can greatly inconvenience your business as well as put your customers at risk while their data is in your system.
In addition, devastating data loss can cost you a hefty sum just to repair the damages caused by a wide-ranging incident. It also goes without saying that every hour lost to business interruption due to data loss can cause heavy bleeding to the business.
Knowing that, your company shouldn’t wait until the last minute to properly protect and back up its precious data assets. Here are some practical measures that you can look into to prevent your company from suffering devastating data loss:
1) Always Back Up Your Data
Common causes of data loss include human error and software corruption, both of which can happen at any time. If you’re caught off guard with no alternatives whatsoever, then you’ll be setting yourself up for a headache once you find out the damages these said mishaps have caused your data.
That said, you’ll want to prioritise backing up your existing data and investing in dedicated recovery and back-up solutions for enterprises. In case anything does happen to your main server, it won’t be hard for your company to recover critical data and to continue to use it without friction.
While there are many ways to go about backing up your data, utilising a back-up server is the most recommended solution, as it covers various points of your company’s digital infrastructure, from databases and applications to system files and user data. In such cases, you can rely on HPE servers like those in the HPE ProLiant line to house your back-up data and ensure that it remains safely stored.
Another option would be to use cloud storage back-ups and to pay for a subscription for cloud infrastructure as a service. Cloud storage back-up is often considered the ideal for small businesses and start-ups thanks to their low cost, flexibility, and scalability. Whatever it is you choose, don’t be remiss in making sure you have your business’s data assets backed up somewhere.
2) Keep Your Hardware Safe and Secure
With everyone focused on digital platforms, it’s easy to forget that the hardware that runs them is just as important. Since they comprise tangible equipment, hardware components are prone to risks such as breakage, theft, and destruction due to fire or other natural disasters. Of course, if they are damaged to the point of being irreparable, then all data inside them is essentially lost as well.
Hence, make sure that your company hardware—especially major components like servers—are kept in secure locations that are waterproof and fireproof. Make use of circuit breakers as well to protect your hardware from malfunctioning in case of a power outage.
Anti-theft measures, such as security cameras or alarms that sound out if a device is taken out of the premises without authorisation, can also help ensure that your hardware—and in turn, your data—remains safe and accessible.
3) Train Employees Over Proper Data Handling Practices
Your employees constantly interact with your company’s data and thus have access to modify, delete, organise, and archive it. If they don’t have the right training to handle sensitive data assets, your company may be extra susceptible to human error—which, in turn, can lead to devastating data loss. Untrained personnel can also be a liability when it comes to security breaches, especially if they aren’t equipped to spot scams or phishing tactics.
Always emphasise among your employees the important role they play in ensuring your company’s data security. To that end, aim to provide ample staff training on proper software use, data retrieval methods, and how to avoid being deceived by scams that can compromise your company data. Highlight the importance of proper confirmation during data or access turnover to make sure that any sensitive information only goes through the hands of authorised personnel.
4) Keep Stringent Security Measures in Place
Ransomware is a common form of cyberattack in which the criminal holds your data hostage until you pay up their demanded sum. They do this by hacking into your system and taking over access, essentially locking you out of your own files.
Such forms of data loss can be prevented if you have strict enough security measures put in place. These should include firewalls, antivirus software, and encrypted connections, among others. You should also be appropriately restrictive over access controls and at which level an employee needs to be to have access to certain tiers of data.
5) Always Keep Your Software Up to Date
You can also do a lot to prevent malfunctions that may destroy your data by ensuring that the programs you’re using are always up-to-date, with the latest upgrades and security patches onboarded in a timely fashion.
Have your IT team regularly monitor whether new versions of the software used in the company are available, and check if licences and software drivers are properly updated. This will ensure that the programs you’re using are stable and secure when you need them to be.
6) Look into Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software
For another safety net, your company might want to look into adopting data loss prevention (DLP) software that can keep your data secure and block out potential cyberattacks. Contemporary DLP solutions come with a wealth of tools, such as anti-malware systems, cloud storage, endpoint protection, and more. Choose a solution that fits your budget, size, and business type to give you full peace of mind over the status of your data.
Data security should always be a top priority for the modern, digital-forward business, especially the type that regularly handles sensitive customer information. Your effort to protect your data assets also goes a long way in protecting your customers’ well-being, the longevity of your business operations, and your reputation as a trustworthy brand. Use the tips above to shield your company from a data loss disaster and to ensure your ability to serve your customers and clients without interruption.
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