For any business with large quantities of data, a robust backup system is the most worthwhile investment you can make. There are so many potential threats that can befall any company, from malicious cyberattacks to office fires to an unforeseen technology malfunction. In these scenarios, you risk losing the entirety of your data, which would be disastrous for your company. 

Losing your data will disrupt business operations, costing you valuable time and money in the efforts to recover. It will also irreparably damage your reputation, potentially resulting in lost clients or even legal action.

What is a data backup system?

Data security should be at the forefront of any business owner’s mind. Not only to prevent data loss from occurring, but to mitigate the impact if such a disaster does occur and recover as much critical data as possible. A backup system effectively copies all business data and applications and stores them securely in a secondary data system that is separate from your primary storage system. This way, if anything happens to your files, these copies can be retrieved instantly.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to data backups. The ideal solution will depend on the size and nature of your business, as well as your particular security needs. Data backups can be automatic or manual, on-site or in-cloud, full or incremental. There are many options to choose from, so it’s worth taking some time to consider which choice is right for you. A trusted provider of IT services in Naples can help you evaluate your options and needs.

How should you back up your data?

Depending on your needs, there are three main types of data backup you can opt for.

• Full: A full data backup will back up every single bit of data that you determine. It will take a lot of time to perform, but you will benefit from the peace of mind that all of your files, folders, and applications are sufficiently protected.
• Incremental: An incremental data backup only backs up the data that has been added or changed since the last backup. This is more efficient and saves a great deal of time, as well as requiring less storage than a full backup. The only drawback is that it can take a lot longer to restore your data in the event of an emergency.
• Differential: A differential backup provides a middle ground between full and incremental. It will back up any data that has changed since the last full backup.

How should you store your backed-up data?

Your backed-up data has to be stored somewhere, and you have three further options to choose from in this regard

• Local/On-site: Your data will be stored in the same building as your primary storage, albeit on a disparate system. This is a good option for small companies or business owners who work from home. 
• Off-site: Stored in a location separate from your primary storage system, which provides added protection in the event of a break-in or natural disaster.
• Cloud: Your data will be stored and accessible on the internet. A good solution for large enterprises with vast quantities of data.