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Backup 101: Back to the Basics

Last March, we “celebrated” (for lack of a better word) World Backup Day, but do you know why the process is so vital to the success of your business?

Since the first recorded cyberattack occurred in the 1960’s, we have been enmeshed in cyber warfare.  As quickly as “black hat” hackers find holes, we find ways to block them.  This doesn’t look like it will be coming to an end anytime soon.  As long as there is data out there, hackers will attempt to access it.  The only way to truly “win” the cyber war is to stop storing data on interconnected computers entirely…but is that really winning?

We all know the benefits of our interconnected data – remote access at any time from anywhere and from any device to all of our personal and professional accounts has given us the ability to get done what needs to be done while on the go.  But as we all know, with this comes risk of data loss.  Consider this:

  • 94% of malware is delivered by email. (CSO Online)
  • The average cost of a ransomware attack on businesses is $133,000. (SafeAtLast)
  • 48% of malicious email attachments are office files. (Symantec)
  • Ransomware detections have been more dominant in countries with higher numbers of internet-connected populations, and the U.S. ranks highest with 18.2% of all ransomware attacks. (Symantec)
  • 1 in 13 web requests lead to malware. (Symantec)
  • Phishing attacks account for more than 80% of reported security incidents. (CSO Online)
  • $17,700 is lost every minute due to a phishing attack. (CSO Online)
  • Attacks on IoT devices tripled in the first half of 2019. (CSO Online)
  • Malicious PowerShell scripts blocked in 2018 on the endpoint increased 1,000%. (Symantec)
  • The Mirai-distributed DDoS worm was the third most common IoT threat in 2018. (Symantec)
  • 30% of data breaches involve internal actors. (Verizon)
  • IoT devices experience an average of 5,200 attacks per month. (Symantec)
  • 90% of remote code execution attacks are associated with cryptomining. (Purplesec)
  • 69% of organizations don’t believe the threats they’re seeing can be blocked by their anti-virus software.(Ponemon Institute’s Cost of Data Breach Study)
  • 1 in 36 mobile devices have high- risk apps installed. (Symantec)

Backing up your mission critical data is not just a “should do” but a “must have.”

What is a “backup?”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a backup as “to make a copy of (a computer file or data) to protect against accidental loss or corruption.  For IT purposes, the definition is: a copy of computer data taken and stored elsewhere so that it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event.   A backup can be done virtually (cloud), or locally to an external hard drive, USB drive or another interconnected device on your network.

There are several different types of backups: full, incremental, differential, and mirror.

Full backup: This type of backup copies all data to a storage device, and has a low recovery time.  However, full backups take up a lot of space on the device and take longer to perform.  It is usually combined with incremental or differential backup strategies.

Incremental backup: This operation results in the copying only the new data created since the last full backup was performed, and reduces both the time to perform and the space needed on the backup device.

Differential backup: Similar to the incremental, the differential backup copies all data changed since the last full backup, and continues to copy all data changed since the previous full backup.  It stores more data than an incremental, but not nearly as much as a full backup.

Mirror backup: TechTarget describes a mirror backup as “a backup type creates an exact copy of the source data set, but only the latest data version is stored in the backup repository with no track of different versions of the files.”  This creates a “mirror” of the backup and is the basis of the name.

Why do you need a backup plan?

Quite simply, your backup plan is a contingency plan.  Natural disasters, malicious sources, pandemics all have the ability to take your business offline with significant consequences.  To quote the Cloud Security Alliance, “Having a backup plan helps to protect the reputation of your business in the long run. Inconveniences and calamities in a business environment are inevitable, and every company should ensure that such negative factors don’t compromise their business.”  A backup plan creates a contingency plan to operate under should something happen to the original, can save you money from reducing the risk of the loss of client data (and your business integrity) and protects the image of your business.  And quite honestly, who wouldn’t want these protections?

How can you properly backup your business?

Paraphrasing Paul Simon…There are 50 ways to lose your data:

  • Hardware failure
  • Malware attack
  • Accidental deletion
  • Stolen hardware
  • Ransomware attack
  • Natural disaster

Need we go on?  Didn’t think so.  A proper backup for your business includes 3 main components:

  • A plan to perform regular backups
  • A reliable media and/or cloud solution
  • If using physical hardware to backup your business, a secure, off-site location

The Balance SMB says, “The basic rule for business data protection is that if losing the data will interfere with doing business, back it up.”  Software applications can be reinstalled.  Word documents can not.

Why you need an MSP for backup

We get it.  It takes a lot of time and effort to run a successful business.  Being an owner/operator of any business requires that you wear many different hats, and a tech specialist is most likely not one of them.  Even if you have the skill set to provide the needed technical support, data backup and cyber security for your business, your time may be better served in other roles in your business.  There are several reasons to hire an MSP to manage this critical portion of your business:

  • Cost savings
  • Increased efficiency
  • Access to ongoing technology innovation
  • Access to qualified skills that may not be otherwise accessible

Protecting your business assets is a big deal, and to be done right needs a devoted individual with the right certifications.  MSPs specialize in this type of talent, securing the ongoing education and certifications needed and investing in the right talent and training.  We take our business of securing your business seriously.

What is your contingency plan?

Letter from the Owner

Summer is rapidly approaching, and so is the potential of severe weather.  Wildfires, floods, extended heat waves putting pressure on electrical grids, tornados, or hurricanes all have inherent risks to your business continuity.   Now is the time to take a good, hard look at your backup solution and business continuity plans, before weather wreaks havoc on your ability to keep your doors open.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.  Give me a call at 619 940-7490 or email at ComNET.MSP@gmail.com to get your free assessment scheduled.

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