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While most organizations value data security, external threats may occur even with safety measures in place. Cybercrimes are on the rise as hackers continue to devise new ways to attack company systems and individuals. That is why data backup is essential in preventing possible data loss. Cyberattacks such as malware, or viruses may take over your machine and compromise your data. But if you have a backup plan like Microsoft 365 backup solution, you can easily access and restore your files with ease.
However, you may encounter data backup failures even after setting up a strategy. Whether it is for your business or personal data, you can fail to retrieve files from the backup machine after disaster strikes. Thus, it is crucial to understand the causes of data insecurity and the red flags to keep you vigilant.
In this article, we shall delve into the causes of data backup failures and tips for preventing data loss.
Media Malfunctions
Most organizations encounter backup failures due to storage media malfunctions. It translates to hardware faults, for instance, if you are using tape or external hard drive and it fails, all the stored data will get lost. Hence, you will not be able to retrieve the data during the recovery process.
Human Error
Another major backup failure is human error; since people are not perfect compared to machines and software. Employees in an organization can delete critical files in the backup system by accident, leading to data loss or storing fragile tapes in an unsuitable environment that could damage to the storage media. You may also back up the wrong files without cross-checking, and when you need to restore the files, it is impossible to retrieve the correct information.
Software Failure
Operating systems must be compatible with the application software to ensure smooth backup processes. When you use backup software that requires a particular OS version on an obsolete operating system, it will not achieve the objective.
Cyberattacks
The primary purpose of backing up data is to prevent data loss caused by cyberattacks. Online hackers are becoming more skilled and knowledgeable in using malware to infiltrate systems with high-level security measures. Ransomware attacks are on the rise as the attackers take over the backup systems and delete the files for their selfish gains.
Hardware Failure
Computers systems are prone to fail at some point, especially if they are not in a conducive environment. Elements such as dust, frequent power outages, and user errors can ruin your backup machine.
You must have proper knowledge of how to resolve these failures. There are many online resources available that guide these failures. One of them is AtechSavvy. They provide a useful guide How to resolve these issues. This resource also gives you guidance about the latest technology trends, tips, and tricks.
Although some backup failures are unavoidable, there are preventive measures to prevent data loss. Here are a few tips that you can apply for your business or personal backup needs:
- Ensure that you understand how to handle and store for the media storage tools, such as the tapes and hard drives.
- You need to know the backup environment – machines, software, and data, to prevent human errors. Do not tolerate careless and unauthorized employees accessing back up files due to the possible accidents and malicious attacks.
- Have patch management features to prevent malware vulnerabilities while regularly checking for updates.
- Limit the number of users with access to the backup files to avoid sensitive data leaking to the wrong hands.
- Use hybrid cloud storage backup with two-factor authentication and encryption features for adequate data security and recovery.
- Use efficient data backup solutions from reliable service providers to prevent software issues and other malfunctions.
Powering your business with a Cloud – Utilising cloud technologies
As much as data backups are essential, it is crucial to incorporate preventive measures that cause backup failures. Ensure that you understand how to duplicate files, handle media storage, and execute the backup software. While various errors are inevitable, you can practice safe backup and recovery methods to enhance data security.
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