Data loss can be an immense challenge for an organisation to overcome. Information related to clients, partners, quotes, orders and employees are all important for your organisation to be able to access in order to operate smoothly.

In order to ensure that a data loss does not lead to an extended interruption for your organisation, it is necessary to regularly back up your information. When doing so, include these five steps:

1. Identify—Assess what data is essential and organise it so that those who might need it know where to find it.
2. Separate—Make sure that your backup files are kept separate from other drives or devices so that files remain safe and classified. Certain cyber-threats, such as malware, may infect external storage attached to the device that was originally attacked. It is also advisable to consider storing backup files in a different location than your primary premises so that data can be recovered after a fire or another disaster.
3. Limit access—Keep your backup files are safe by limiting who within your organisation is allowed to access them.
4. Consider the cloud—Cloud storage saves your files in a virtual space separate from your physical location. This can make the backup process more reliable and also provide more convenient access to files for employees who are off-site.
5. Make it a habit—Implement a regular policy regarding when and how you will be backing up your data and stick to it. Revisit this policy regularly to ensure that it is adequate.

This blog is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as compliance or legal advice. In relation to any particular problem which they may have, readers are advised to seek specific advice. Further, the law may have changed since first publication and the reader is cautioned accordingly. Content by Zywave, Inc. Provided by TH March.