Data loss is an extreme threat to businesses of all sizes and types – it can result in lost time, lost profits and a whole lot of stress. So what can your organization do to avoid losing data? Our Montgomery County business continuity service recommends you start by familiarizing yourself with the leading causes of data loss, which include:
- Power surges/outages – When there's an unexpected power loss/surge, whether it's due to a storm or some other event, it can affect your company's computers. Most times, a power interruption will result in a few files being lost, which is usually a fairly minor issue. Still, there's a chance that such an occurrence could render a computer completely unusable, meaning you'll no longer be able to access the files that are on it.
- Viruses/malware – Viruses and malware have the potential to steal, corrupt and/or delete sensitive information from your employees' computers. In severe cases, they may even be able to gain control over your entire network.
- User mistakes – While it may sound silly, employees accidentally deleting files accounts for a great deal of data loss incidents. Sometimes these files can be retrieved, but often they are lost for good.
- Hard drive issues – There are many things that can cause a hard drive to fail, such as overheating, liquid damage, impact from a fall and exposure to a magnetic field. In all of these cases, loss of data will often occur.
- Spilled liquids – Coffee, water and other liquids are extremely hazardous items to have near your electronics. If spilled on a device, liquid can cause it to short-circuit and stop functioning. Drying off the device can sometimes save it, but other times it will not. Thus, you may not be able to access the data on a device following a spill.
Now that you know about the main reasons data loss occurs, it's time to discuss what you can do to prevent these scenarios from occurring:
- Always back up your files to more than one location.
- Consider using cloud technologies to store data.
- Update your anti-virus software on a regular basis.
- At the first sign of hard drive failure, be sure to back up all of your files.
- Keep liquids where they can't spill on your devices.
- Use surge protectors at your business.
By following these tips from our business continuity service in Montgomery County, you'll greatly reduce the risk of your company's data being lost or compromised.
Contact Alura for Professional Assistance with Business Continuity Planning
Even when you take the aforementioned precautions, disasters can wreak havoc on your business' data and productivity. Therefore, it's important to devise a detailed plan for how your business will recover in the event of a business interruption.
Here at Alura Business Solutions, we're ready to help your organization do so. With more than 20 years of experience under our belt, we've come to be known as the business continuity service Montgomery County companies can count on.
To learn more about our Montgomery County service that specializes in business continuity planning, give us a call at 844-558-7200. And if you're interested in learning about how to keep your company's passwords secure, don't miss last week's post. We can't wait to help your business develop a comprehensive continuity plan!
