If data is deleted by accident or with intent, corrupted by a virus or encrypted by malware, this constitutes a breach. To mitigate such incidents, it is vital that information is backed up routinely. In the event of an issue, whether it is a natural disaster that wipes your server or a malicious ransomware gang that locks you out, your firm will be able to restore its data and operating systems from backups.

Read on as we look at three key considerations when you keep copies of your content:

1. Always store data off-site

You can store your data on a physical server or drive at an additional location, or simply upload it to cloud-based storage, but off-site data stores are essential for backups. In the unfortunate event that your central server is impacted, it will of course be inconvenient, but at least nothing will be lost, and you can be back up and running swiftly. Backups are crucial if companies want to stay resilient.

Remote storage is key, but you should also always keep three copies of all company data on two different devices or mediums, with one storage solution being off site.

2. Back up data regularly

Infrequent or sloppy schedules for backups can lead to disaster. Depending on the size and activity of an operation, a single day or week’s worth of data lost can be catastrophic. Staff hours will be wasted, key data may be unrecoverable, and the expenses involved can be incalculable.

If possible, regimented backups should be performed every 24 hours, or at a minimum, at least once per week. Backups can be carried out manually, but an automatic option can ensure they are never missed.

3. Encrypt your backups

To safeguard the data you back up, adding extra layers of protection is advised. Encryption is an effective way of ensuring only individuals with the appropriate access rights can view or interact with backup files.

Encryption software scrambles documents saved, making them appear like a meaningless collection of characters. However, authorised personnel issued with a decryption key will be able to see content in a legible format.

By using encryption, firms can be sure that, should they need to restore their systems and data, their backups will be 100% dependable.

Expertise in encryption at your fingertips

If you’ve decided to deploy encryption to your backups, we can help. At Galaxkey, our secure system promotes premium levels of data protection by providing powerful three-layer encryption. Approved by the National Cyber Security Centre and using the “onion model” advised by the US government, our encryption solution can protect data that is being stored on your server or in the cloud. It can also be added to data files of unlimited size, along with emails and their sensitive attachments. Exceptionally easy to apply, files can be encrypted in seconds with a single mouse click.

If you would like to test out our encryption for yourself, get in touch with our technical team today. They will be happy to arrange a free two-week trial for your firm so you can explore the benefits of encryption by safeguarding your backups with a simple-to-use system.