Backing up your data is essential, but it’s only half the battle. You also need to ensure it is secure, reliable, and accessible when needed. And the best way to do that?
Proactively avoid these common data backup mistakes.
5Putting All Your Backups in One Place
One of the costliest data backup mistakes you can make is storing all your backups in one place. Imagine relying on an external drive, only to find it has failed when you need to recover your data. Storing backups in just one place, even a cloud service or NAS device, leaves your data vulnerable.
The safest approach is to follow the 3-2-1 backup rule. This means keeping three copies of your data: the original file and two backups. To minimize risk, these backups should be stored on two different media types, such as an external hard drive and a cloud service. At least one backup should be kept offsite in a different physical location from your primary data to ensure protection against any local disasters. Hence, an external hard drive is likely to be at home, and a cloud backup is likely to be on an external server, far away.
4Infrequent Backups
Even if you have multiple backups, they may not be very useful if they are outdated. If you back up your data only occasionally, you risk losing critical files created or modified since your last backup.
To avoid this, it’s best toestablish a regular backup schedule. Ideally, backups should be performed daily or at least weekly. However, the frequency may vary depending on the importance and volume of the data being backed up.
You can also automate backups using cloud services or dedicated backup software to ensure your data is consistently protected. This eliminates the need for manual backups, minimizing the risk of losing valuable information.
3Overwriting Old Backups
Automating backups is useful, but you should also be careful not to overwrite old backups too soon. Many people assume that having a recent backup means their data is safe. However, if a file becomes corrupted or lost and you don’t notice immediately, your latest backup may have already replaced the older, intact version. This means you could lose important files forever.
To avoid this, you should have a backup system that keeps multiple versions of your files. Manypopular cloud storage servicesand backup programs offer “versioning,” which lets you restore older copies of your files if needed.
you’re able to also set up a schedule to keep backups for a certain period before they’re deleted. For example, keeping weekly backups for a month and monthly backups for a year ensures you have multiple recovery points.
If you’re using an external hard drive, you should avoid overwriting the same backup file. Instead, it’s a good idea to save backups with different dates or use software that manages versions for you. This way, if something goes wrong, you’ll have multiple options to recover your files rather than relying on a single, potentially compromised backup.
2Ignoring Backup Security
A backup alone isn’t enough if it’s vulnerable to cyber threats like ransomware, unauthorized access, or accidental deletion. In other words, a poorly secured backup can be just as risky as having no backup at all.
Encrypting your backups ensures that even if someone gains access, they won’t be able to read or use the data without the decryption key. Similarly, using areliable multi-factor authentication (MFA)for your backup systems can add an extra layer of security and make it much harder for unauthorized users to gain access.
you’re able to also maintain an offline (air-gapped) copy of your most critical backups. Cybercriminals often target online storage and networked backups in ransomware attacks, but an offline backup remains secure and can be used for recovery.
All in all, regular security audits and proactive monitoring can help you detect and address vulnerabilities before they become major threats.
1Failing to Verify Your Backups
Backing up your data safely, regularly, and securely is important, but you also need to ensure your backups actually work. Corrupted files, incomplete backups, or storage failures are common issues that could leave you without access to critical data when you need it most.
The last thing you want is to assume your files are safe, only to discover they’re unusable when you need them. To prevent this, periodically verify your backups by restoring a few files or performing a full test recovery. This ensures your backup software is functioning properly and that your files remain intact.
If you’reusing an external hard drive, cloud service, or network drive, take a moment to open a few backed-up files to ensure they’re accessible and uncorrupted. A simple verification process can help you avoid unpleasant surprises when disaster strikes.
Avoiding these common backup mistakes isn’t too difficult and can save you from the stress and potential loss of valuable data. Instead of waiting until disaster strikes, take the time to review your backup practices and make improvements where needed.
