World Backup Day 2023 – Are you ready?

Reliable data backup is crucial for any organisation, large or small. When it comes to IT infrastructure, a backup plan is essential to prevent data loss and ensure your organisation is protected in the event of unforeseen events.

31 March 2023 is World Backup Day. As a hosting & managed service provider, we would like to take this as an opportunity to remind you of the importance of having a proper backup strategy and performing regular backups to protect against data loss and corruption. Last but not least, it is highly advisable to carry out backup and recovery tests periodically – because as good as the backup concept looks in theory, it should not be tested in an emergency.

Some reasons why a backup plan is important:

1. Protection against data loss: a backup ensures that your important data and files are not lost if a system fails or is damaged. Without a backup solution, it can be difficult or even impossible to recover the data.
2. Security against cyberattacks: Cyberattacks can lead to the loss or compromise of your data. However, a backup plan can help protect your data by allowing you to revert to a clean version of your data before the attack has taken place.
3. Protection from natural disasters: Natural disasters such as floods or fire can cause unpredictable damage. With a backup plan, you can ensure that your data is safe even in the event of physical damage to your IT infrastructure.
4. Appropriate backup strategies

The 3-2-1 backup rule has proven to be the “gold standard” of data protection. It is basically very simple: (at least) three copies, on two different media, one of which is off-site, i.e. somewhere other than the original files. The first copy is the original file (primary), the second is usually a local backup (on-site backup), for example on USB hard drives or server backups in the company’s own data centres. The third copy is geographically separated from the productive infrastructure (offsite backup). The two most common forms of external data backup are the cloud and tape (tape backup). However, external tape backup systems go one step further in terms of data security, as they are offline and therefore inherently immune to cyberattacks such as ransomware that come via the network.

The advantages of tape backup

1. Reliability: Tape backups are considered one of the most reliable backup methods as they are independent of the availability of network connections. They are durable and can also be stored physically, which means they are protected against cyber attacks.
2. Control: With tape backups, you retain complete control over your data and have the ability to customise your backup strategy to perfectly suit your business needs.
3. Scalability: Tape backups are scalable and can be adapted to your growing requirements. They can also be automated to perform regular backups, reducing the workload of your IT team.
4. Cost efficiency: Performing tape backups can be more cost efficient than using public cloud backups, especially when it comes to large amounts of data.
5. Data protection: Performing tape backups in your own data centres or dedicated private clouds offers a higher level of data protection as the data is not stored on a public cloud infrastructure. This can be particularly important for companies that work with sensitive data and need maximum protection against cyber threats.

Overall, tape backups offer a reliable, controlled and scalable backup option that is cost-effective and secure. This is why tapes are still an indispensable part of a solid backup concept today.

Secure backup in certified data centres

A reliable backup is only truly secure if it is stored in a protected and controlled environment. Certified data centres that meet high security and availability standards form the ideal basis for this. Security measures include access controls, a redundant power supply, early fire detection, air conditioning and compliance with international security standards such as ISO/IEC 27001.

Professional providers also ensure a consistent separation between productive data and backup copies. This can be achieved through geographically distributed locations or the use of offline media such as tapes. Regular backup and restore tests are an essential part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure the integrity of data in the event of an emergency.

By using modern technologies and strict security processes, companies can ensure that their data is not only stored but also effectively protected – even in the event of cyber attacks, technical failures or natural disasters.

Data security starts with the right strategy

World Backup Day reminds us how crucial a well thought-out and tested backup strategy is. Whether cloud, tape or hybrid approaches – it is crucial that your data is available and protected at all times.