With more and more people working from home (although this may change in winter with the energy crisis!), ensuring your staff back up their data is more important than ever before. Whilst we like to think anything stored on our computers is safe and secure, unfortunately this is not the case. Cybercrime is on the rise and hardware attacks show no signs of slowing down either. 

As most businesses rely on laptops heavily, it is essential that you have a backup strategy or process in place to avoid sensitive data from being compromised. You have a duty of care with regards to GDPR and the customer information you hold.

Why Back Up Your Data

We have mentioned the most obvious reason, cybercriminals, but there are lots of other ways business laptops can be destroyed. A simple drink spillage, a house fire, or accidentally dropping a laptop will all cause the data being held on it to be unsalvageable.

Backing up your data will not only keep all your sensitive data safe, but also easily accessible in the event that you need to replace your laptop. If you store your backup on the cloud, it is incredibly easy to pull up reports, emails, presentations etc. instantly & securely.

Types Of Backup

Let’s start with the more traditional methods of backup (which still have their place in the world of business).

1. USB Flash Drive

Are USB sticks a reliable tool for long-term data storage? In short, no. They are convenient and affordable but not the best choice for businesses. Not only do they have a small storage capacity, they are so small in size that they can easily be lost or destroyed. 

The advantage of a USB drive is that you have a tangible way of holding onto your data, and are useful for small files or presentations. There are much better backup options out there though.

2. External Hard Drives

Hard drive disks (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD) are popular physical storage options, mainly because they are compact, fast, reliable and require low levels of battery life to operate. Data is transferred quickly with both of these devices, which is a huge bonus if you are moving large files or lots of data at once. They are also compatible with most electronic devices.

3. NAS Device

A Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device acts as a mini-server, where any device within its wireless network can access the data stored on it. Whilst this is a bulkier storage option, they are great for at-home use, particularly if you tend to move between a laptop and a desktop PC.

File transfer times are often a lot slower as NAS devices are connected through either hard-wired Ethernet cables, or Wi-Fi. However, they are a very safe and secure way to store personal data. As long as you stay up-to-date with software updates and the latest operating systems, you should be fine.

4. Cloud Backup

Out of all the backup options we have listed, our personal favourite is cloud backup. This is a streamlined, secure way to store and share your data without the need for a physical device. Copies of the information you upload are created, and these copies are then stored on a secure server with high levels of encryption.

Examples of free backup software include Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive & Dropbox (all come with limited file storage with their free versions). They both make it easy to view file history, as well as storing and organising your documents all in one place. 

Offsite Backup Solutions

If you require a backup system that is more secure & offers greater security capabilities, you might want to consider offsite backups. If you do find yourself under threat from a cyberattack, the main advantage of an offsite backup is that you can restore data that was lost with a click of a few buttons. 

For backing up data at home, an external hard drive could be the simple solution. However, if you are a business owner looking to share & collaborate data, a cloud storage solution would be the better option. It all depends on the size of the data you hold, and making sure the backup solution meets your individual needs. For more information, why not contact the expert team at Reality Solutions who will be able to give you the best advice based on your circumstances.