Backup Strategy: Your Business's Time Machine When Disaster Strikes

Backup Isn't Optional - It's Business Survival

60% of small businesses close within 6 months of major data loss. Don't be a statistic. Proper backup is your only defense against ransomware, hardware failure, and human error.

Why Businesses Don't Backup (And Pay The Price)

• "It won't happen to us" - Famous last words
• "We use cloud storage" - That's sync, not backup
• "It's too expensive" - Cheaper than losing everything
• "It's too complicated" - Not with modern tools
• "We'll do it next month" - Disaster doesn't wait

The 3-2-1 Backup Rule

• 3 Copies: Original + 2 backups minimum
• 2 Different Media: Cloud + external drive
• 1 Offsite: Not in your office/home

What to Backup (Priority Order)

1. Customer Database: Irreplaceable business relationships
2. Financial Records: Accounting, invoices, tax documents
3. Business Documents: Contracts, proposals, projects
4. Email Archives: Communication history and agreements
5. Website/App Code: Your online presence
6. Employee Records: HR documents and payroll

Backup Solutions by Budget

Testing Your Backup (Most Skip This)

A backup you can't restore is just wasted disk space. Test monthly:

1. Pick random file from backup
2. Try to restore it
3. Verify it opens correctly
4. Document restore time
5. Fix any issues immediately

Ransomware-Proof Your Backup

• Air Gap: Disconnect backup drives when not in use
• Immutable Storage: Use write-once cloud storage
• Version History: Keep 30+ days of versions
• Different Credentials: Backup account ≠ main account
• Regular Testing: Can you restore if main system is encrypted?