Data loss can be a devastating hit to small- and medium-sized businesses. The effects, far-reaching, inflict on the deepest organizational levels — from causing downtime to operational and productivity disruption to reputational damage, or worst yet, creating irreparable financial losses or even business failure.

Unfortunately, your data remains vulnerable to losses for a variety of reasons. These can include:

• Hardware failures
• Malware and viruses
• Cyberattacks or data theft
• Natural disasters/power outages
• Human error

Businesses should take proactive, precautionary measures to prevent data loss and protect their valuable information. Your business’s future depends on it. Here are three key ways to get started.

Backup and Recovery Solutions

One of the most important measures businesses can take to prevent data loss is to implement a backup and recovery solution. 

Start by creating copies of critical data — top to bottom, big and small — and storing them in a separate location, such as a cloud-based server or an external hard drive. In the event of a data breach or loss of any kind, these copies can then be retrieved and restored, ensuring operations can resume without a hitch or any significant downtime.

To start implementing a backup/recovery plan, first, identify your critical data and determine how frequently you’ll need to back up this information. It’s recommended that businesses back up their data daily or weekly, depending on their volume of data and the frequency of changes. Consider regularly testing the solutions in place to ensure that they are functioning correctly and can restore data quickly without any hiccups or delays.

Cybersecurity Measures

Another proven, effective way to prevent data loss is by implementing robust cybersecurity measures — a must in 2023. The complexity and sophistication of cyber crimes advance each day, with criminals and bad actors in the space devising new and inventive ways to harm both individuals and businesses, so it’s important to remain vigilant. Cyberattacks are a common cause of data loss, placing businesses squarely in the crosshairs as targets for cybercriminals.

In fact, in 2022, there were 1,802 total data compromises (including data breaches and exposures), victimizing more than 422 million people, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Start by investing in cybersecurity tools and strategies to protect networks, systems and data:

• Implement firewalls and antivirus software to prevent and detect malware attacks
• Create strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to data
• Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices and the risks of phishing attacks
• Regularly update software and operating systems to ensure they are protected against known vulnerabilities

Disaster Recovery Plans

Businesses of all sizes and in all industries should develop a disaster recovery plan to prevent data loss in the event a natural disaster, power outage, or other catastrophic event becomes the primary cause of data loss, whether it’s the destruction of hardware or the wiping of software, programs or saved information.

A thorough disaster recovery plan outlines the procedures and resources needed to recover from a disaster and resume operations as quickly as possible. Consider these steps:

• Identify critical data and systems that need to be recovered in the event of a disaster
• Create a backup and recovery plan that includes offsite backups and redundant systems
• Establish communication protocols to keep employees, customers, and suppliers informed during a disaster
• Test the disaster recovery plan regularly to ensure that it is effective and can be implemented quickly

Dive Deep Into Data Loss Protection

Data loss can pose severe consequences to businesses of all sizes — that is, if you allow data to be lost to begin with. With the right safeguards, precautions and proactive measures in place, the risk of data breaches is not only lessened but also something you can prevent and control. 

SUCCESS Computer Consulting brings its best-in-class approach to managed technology solutions to ensure that small- and medium-sized businesses in the Twin Cities keep their data safe and secure. Need professional assistance developing data protection solutions? Contact SUCCESS today.