Data is under more numerous and more sophisticated attacks than ever. The heavier dependence on cloud technologies — partly brought about by the shift to remote work — has opened more doors for cybercriminals to exploit data systems, and they have wasted no time in deploying attacks.
But despite knowing about these imminent threat, only half of businesses have a backup and disaster recovery (BDR) plan in place.. Having no concrete plans to mitigate disasters considerably lowers an organization’s resiliency, and it’s no surprise that 40 to 60% of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster.
Don’t be part of these statistics. In 2020, every business that produces, handles, or stores data should prioritize implementing a backup and recovery plan — and this includes your small- or medium-sized business in Kansas City, Missouri. Here are four reasons why.
Cyberthreats are evolving
Cyberthreats are increasing not just in number but also in sophistication. Antivirus software and firewalls are no longer enough to keep them at bay. Nowadays, you need advanced security solutions to protect your systems from powerful attacks.
Malware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, data breaches, supply chain attacks, and zero-day exploits are just some of the advanced threats that your company should be prepared for. Your business may have less data than big enterprises, but the latter usually have advanced cybersecurity infrastructure that is difficult to infiltrate. Meanwhile, SMB systems are relatively easier to penetrate because they have flimsy protection.
And when sophisticated threats meet weak cybersecurity, it’s a recipe for disaster. This is why you should prepare for the worst by backing up your data. Even if your files get compromised or you lose your access to them, you can use your backup to recover the information you need and keep operations running.
Internal threats are real
Forty-three percent of employees have made mistakes at work that compromised cybersecurity — and your staff is not exempt from making similar mistakes. They could unknowingly share confidential information on social media or unintentionally visit a malware-ridden site. They might also fall for phishing attacks and give up their login credentials to cybercriminals, giving the fraudsters free access to your systems.
Because you never know when your workforce will pose a threat to your data, it’s best to be ready 24/7 and have a tried-and-tested backup and recovery strategy. If a disgruntled employee erases business-critical data, for instance, a BDR plan will enable you to easily retrieve the deleted information and resume business in no time.
Preventive measures are not foolproof
No matter how tight your cybersecurity is, there’s always a chance that something can slip past it. Cunningly crafted social engineering scams, for one, can trick even the most discerning people by using legitimate-looking email domains and creating a sense of urgency. What’s more, unavoidable natural disasters can cause data loss and server downtime, underlining the fact that proactive data loss prevention is never enough.
When all preventive measures fail and your data becomes compromised or irretrievable, having a BDR plan in place will mitigate data loss and help your business resume operations immediately.
Losing data can hurt your company’s reputation
In addition to business interruptions and delays, data loss can also lead to loss of trust. It can hurt your chances of attracting the best talent because prospective employees might hesitate to join a company with a bad reputation. Vendors and partners alike might rethink their connection with your business, and some might even back out of deals to preserve their good name.
Perhaps what will deal the most damage, however, is customers’ loss of trust in your company. If you lose customer data like names, email addresses, payment information, and Social Security numbers, it will be very difficult to convince customers to keep patronizing your business.
To prevent these unfortunate scenarios from happening, make sure that you have a BDR plan. Having one in place ensures that no data is lost in the event of any disaster, preserving stakeholders’ trust in your business.
Complete Technology employs the latest backup technology to protect your data. By automatically creating several versions of your files, we can easily restore any of them up to any given point in time. Secure business continuity and never lose your data. Contact us today.