No one understands busy like the small business owner. It’s likely you get up every morning with a long list of to-dos that have to be done, and data recovery probably didn’t make the list. Symantec recently conducted a study that indicated nearly 60% of small businesses didn’t have a data recovery plan in place, even though most experience six outages each year on average. The primary causes include power failures, natural disasters and cyberattacks. It can seem like a tedious task to prepare in advance for a data catastrophe, but if you have a solid plan of action, you could prevent or lesson the effect of data loss and its impact on your business. Here are five data recovery tips to help you recover business data should the unthinkable happen.
Planning for the Very Worst
Your data is essential to your success and losing your files could mean the end of your business. However, if you are prepared for the absolute worst that could happen and are proactive you increase the chances your business will recover and succeed. The first step of preparation is to create an emergency plan for data. This includes a comprehensive inventory of all your storage-based hardware. Secondly, do your research on data recovery vendors. If you have this information on hand even though you haven’t experienced data loss, you’ll be one step ahead of the game. Thirdly, consider buying a service plan for data recovery. Sometimes this can be purchased with new hardware. This can be a little extra insurance should there be a loss of data.
Back up – Always!
Prevention is the best protection. This means investing in a backup system. Having a solid and secure backup procedure means having copies of critical data files. It is a good idea to test a backup system now and then to ensure critical files are being backed up properly. You will want to keep at least one copy of critical data off-site always.
Protect – Always!
Use software programs that are up-to-date including those used for data security like virus protection and firewalls. Even though your computer has protective software, don’t assume the computer system is safe from incoming viruses. All incoming data should be scanned for corruption. If your computer is equipped with backup software and an up-to-date virus protection, your chances of losing important files is greatly decreased.
Partner with a Professional
Every dime counts for the small business owner, and it’s no different when it comes to data protection. You may be a DIY type owner, but when it comes to losing data or recovering it, you need professional help. If you attempt to recover it yourself, you could end up risking further damage or permanently losing it. Typically, the first recovery attempt is the most successful. Send your hardware to a professional to be safe.
Know Data Recovery Basics
If you know the signs a drive is failing, you can optimize the chances of a successful recovery. If your drive makes grinding, whirring or clicking noises, shut the computer off immediately and don’t use the data recovery software. This can actually cause the loss of data. Unplug the computer from its power source and then remove the hard drive. Remember that they are sensitive to physical jarring and static electricity. Remember to not power up devices that have obvious signs of physical damage or that are making unusual sounds. Finally, take the hardware to your data recovery provider you selected in the emergency action plan previously.