If you’ve ever had a major IT outage in your business or accidentally deleted a file, you’ll know how vital an IT backup system is.

However, it’s become even more critical to have a modern backup system in place for your business with increasing cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks.

In this article, we’ll be outlining 2 of the most crucial features of a modern-day backup system and 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.

Back in the day, the IT guy/girl or someone with access to the server room was tasked with changing a tape almost daily. 

This included storing the tape in a fireproof box or something similar.

Although, these might have been taken a step further with the tapes moved offsite if the business was risk-averse.

Nearly all modern back solutions are cloud-based nowadays.  The benefit of cloud back up is obvious.  The backups are transferred offsite up to the cloud.  Moreover, most cloud providers replicate their storage between data centers and continents.

So if there’s ever any risk of the back up being damaged, there’s data replication taking place in the cloud.

2.) Ransomware protection

It appears like majority of phishing emails that come into your inbox have one purpose.

To try and inflict a ransomware virus on your internal IT network.

As a result, ransomware can devastate a business if the backup is not working correctly.  Ransomware is destructive.  For the reason that it 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.  Firstly, to pay the ransom.  Something that we would never recommend as it’s not guaranteed you’ll get the unlock code for your encrypted files.  Secondly, to recover your data from a working backup.

Most importantly, you do need a working backup to be able to restore and this is something not all IT companies check.  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.

Hence, if you would like an independent check of your backup system to make sure it’s working, please get in touch with us. 

Please email info@connectservice.com.au or call 1300 766 455.