From being just chunks of digital information, data has evolved into being a strategic asset for businesses. Companies today are juggling to find a fine balance between collecting the right quality of data and storing/ protecting this data from every possible misuse. The exponential growth of data has furthered the case of building a foolproof data management plan. Industry experts have time and again spelled out some of the best practices of data backup which go a long way in securing enterprise data from all kinds of potential misuse.
Data management plan : Need of the day
When you are surrounded by all kinds of data, it becomes essential that a proper data management plan is in place. Incidences like data leak, hacking, ransomware attacks, etc. have only highlighted how data management plan and data security are critical for every organization – regardless of their size and area of business.
Data backup is one of the first and very important steps in every data management strategy. The lifeblood of every organization, the right data governance plan provides:
- Highly reliable storage system
- Error-free storage of archived assets
- Best practices for recovery of data in case of any disaster – natural or manmade.
Best data backup practices
Adoption of remote data storage
It hardly makes any sense in backing up the data and storing it in the same place as the original data. Remote storage or off-site data storage has emerged as one of the best ways in which data can be stored and protected without any hassles. It is in this context that cloud storage has emerged as one of the most sought after remote data storage solution.
Conducting backups regularly
Often businesses are unclear about the frequency at which they should backup their data. It is recommended that critical data be backed up more regularly, whereas static data can be updated on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Having a well-defined schedule for data backup is sure to improve data management and security.
Choosing the most appropriate data backup equipment
Right-sizing the equipment you wish to store your data on, also plays a significant role in data management strategies. The size of the business and the regulations it is governed by plays key role in determining the most appropriate data backup equipment. Also, one needs to realize that the volume of data is sure to increase in the upcoming years. Thus, it makes more sense to choose the data storage product and its format accordingly.
Opt for encrypted backup and store on RAID
Often businesses make the mistake of just storing their data off-site without encrypting it. An encrypted backup guarantees data security, and so you tend to recover your exact files in the event of any mishap. Along with encryption, storing the backup in multiple drives of the RAID arrays ensures protection of your data even when one of the disks fails.
Revisit your data backup plan
With change in time, the volume of business, and new regulations, it is essential that businesses revamp, test, and re-configure their data backup plans. This strategy goes a long way in plugging in the loopholes in the existing data backup system, as well as does away with the chances of data leakage.
Eventually businesses should accept the fact that data when not stored and protected in the appropriate manner will turn into a liability for the organization. Failure in data management is sure to disrupt business and result in loss of important information and at times even the client base. Going back to the basics and fixing the foundation of data governance is the cornerstone for all infallible data backup strategies.
The market experts at Technavio has compiled a number of comprehensive market research reports that dwell into data management and security practices, that will see productive application in the near future. You can sample these reports for FREE HERE, or reach out to US HERE.
