What is data back-up and disaster recovery?
Data back-up is the process of copying or duplicating data from one location and securely storing it in another location. Regular copies, also known as ‘snapshots’, of all the data a company holds at one time, get safely stored in a cloud location that isn’t accessible to users and therefore, protected from malicious access. If any or all data is suddenly lost, a company simply restores the most recent back-up and continues business.
Disaster recovery in IT, is the process of an organisation getting their IT infrastructure back to normal after a disastrous event like a ransom attack or power cut has caused major disruption. A disaster recovery plan is an agreed upon strategy an organisation develops in advance of a disaster, so that disruption is minimised, and recovery is as quick as possible. A good disaster recovery plan will include a detailed overview of the IT infrastructure, the data back-ups in place, and the processes and people involved in restoring operations back to normal.
75% of data loss is due to people deleting content accidentally or intentionally
IT Compliance Policy Group
Why is it important to back-up data?
Every company stores data. Losing this data becomes a disaster, not just because it could set your organisation back by months or even years from an operational perspective, but because new compliance regulations are coming into effect that will mean that every company will have to manage its data securely and effectively.
Data gets deleted, most of the time it by accident. A third of companies will experience a data loss event that costs money, time and lost opportunities. If you don’t have an effective back-up solution you could be in trouble. A single recovery can be more expensive than an entire year of a back-up solution. That’s not mentioning intangibles such as lost trust from staff or clients.
The UK has experienced a significant rise in ransomware attacks, with 20% of attacks on European nations happening in the UK – overall, we’re the second most targeted nation in the world, with the US first. Data back-up and disaster recovery services are a key part of handling ransomware attacks, especially because if a company has all their data backed-up, they are less likely to pay the ransom.
What is disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS)?
On-site back-up may seem to be enough, but what happens if your premises has a lengthy power cut or suffers an environmental catastrophe? Secure back-up with cloud computing gives you the safety net of multiple locations with state-of-the-art protection from experienced engineers. Disaster recovery as a service, shortened to DRaaS, is when we use cloud-based solutions to store and secure back-ups. DRaaS mitigates the worry of something catastrophic happening to an on-site server or physical files like a fire or burglary.
But why work with Fuse? Putting it simply, we tailor everything to your needs, putting your people at the heart of your IT infrastructure, not the other way around. We take the time to get to know you and your organisation, and make sure that your data back-up and disaster recovery does everything you need it to.
A predictable, low, fixed monthly price per user to quickly and easily get your employees back on track
Back-up and disaster recovery solutions
Comprehensive back-up
- Minimise data loss
- Increase speed of recovery
- Recover your own data from any point
Multiple locations
- Multiple physical locations
- Secure data storage
- Protection against environmental factors
Best-in-class security
- The latest technologies
- Peace of mind for every business
- State-of-the-art, regardless of your turnover and staff numbers
Seamless connection
- Get up and running with minimal disruption
Cost-effective investment
- Save time and money by storing your data securely with cloud computing
Unlimited capacity
- There’s no limit on the amount of data you can store
- Our back-up solutions scale automatically to meet your needs
Key features of data back-ups with Fuse CS
Easy set-up
- Nothing to install
- Easy to use
- Set and forget
One-click restore
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Find lost data in seconds
- Restore with single click
- Back on track quickly
Unlimited back-up
- 6 snapshots daily
- No data caps
- No retention limits
- No hidden charges
- Peace of mind
Do I need back-up and disaster recovery for my business?
Think about how these common issues would affect business operations:
- Experiencing more than 24 hours' down-time
- Setting future and current projects back by years
- Loss of trust from customers, staff, and stakeholders
- Confidential information being sold on the black market
- Paying potentially millions of pounds in fines
Unfortunately, these are just some of the very real consequences that can happen after data loss, without a disaster recovery plan and data back-ups in place.
Why is it important to back-up data?
Backing-up data is crucial to:
- Protect against accidental or malicious data loss
- Ensure business can continue quickly
- Remain compliant with GDPR and industry regulations
- Safeguarding against ransomware and other cyber attacks
Regular back-ups ensure that you don't lose critical information due to hardware failures, human error, natural disasters, or cyber attacks.
What is disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS)?
Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) is a cloud-based service model that allows businesses to back-up their data and IT infrastructure in a cloud environment. Using cloud-based technology eliminates the need for physical infrastructure to be recovered in the event of a disaster, which is much more cost effective. It also has the benefit of being highly scalable so you can grow or reduce your disaster recovery plan according to your business needs.
What is a disaster recovery plan in IT?
A disaster recovery plan is a documented and strategic plan of action that an organisation follows in the event of a disastrous interruption to normal business operations. Disaster recovery plans should encompass an entire organisation, including all IT related infrastructure. The IT portion of a disaster recovery plan will include the following aspects:
- Clear roles and the responsibilities for who will carry out each part of the recovery process
- Internal and external communications and communication methods prepared
- Identification and management of all assets and data
- Priorities and plan of action for recovery
- Regular testing and updates to ensure effectiveness
How often should a business back-up its data?
The frequency of data back-ups depends on the specific needs of the business, but frequency could be from as often as every 4 hours to weekly. Whether the back-ups are daily or weekly, regular reviews should be held to ensure the frequency aligns with the current business needs or threat levels.
What are the different types of data back-ups?
There are several types of data back-ups, your IT team will advise you on the most suitable for your business.
Full back-ups copy all data each time it occurs which has the benefit of being very comprehensive. The downside is that this method requires more storage and can be time consuming.
An incremental back-up saves only the new data that has changed since the last back-up. This requires less storage but will take longer to restore because of the numerous back-ups saved separately.
Differential back-ups only back-up the new data that has changed since the last full back-up. Running differential back-ups as well as full and incremental back-ups, can be a good option for balancing out storage, time, and resources.
How do I ensure my data back-ups are secure?
IT support ensure the security of their client’s data back-ups through encryption, secure cloud storage, and access controls. By ensuring they remain compliant with data privacy laws, and regularly testing for success, managed IT services can protect and restore back-ups with confidence.
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