How data backup and disaster recovery are like basketball
March Madness is upon us, when top basketball teams put their strategies to the test. Businesses also must develop winning strategies for protecting their business data.
Just for fun, let’s look at the similarities between backing up your data and playing in a championship basketball game.
Planning ahead
A winning basketball team must plan an effective strategy long before setting foot on the court. You want to be ready for anything that the opposing team throws at you — including the unexpected.
Similarly, businesses need a data protection plan for any situation. Whether it’s a hurricane or a ransomware attack, you can prevent data loss by keeping the following in mind when making your plan:
- What files need backing up
- When to back up files
- How often to back up files
- How many copies of the files do you need
- Where are these backups being stored
You wouldn’t expect your favorite basketball ball team to take the court without developing a strategy. Same too in the business world when it comes to protecting your company’s data.
Reliability for tough times
Every basketball team needs reliable players who can pull them through and win challenging games. In the business world, natural disasters and data breaches call for a backup plan you can depend on. Your business team needs a solution that will stay up-to-date and constantly back up your data.
When choosing a backup solution, look for the following required features:
- Regular system snapshots
- Integration of all systems and apps
- 24/7 monitoring and management
- Multiple sites of backups
- Data encryption
- Quick recovery
Like valuable team members, these features can save the day when a disaster does strike. According to Forbes. every small to midsize business should have a disaster recovery plan.
Working as a team
Every player has a part to play in a basketball game. The team needs each of the five players on the court for a winning game. From center to point guard, all team members work together.
Similarly, each backup component plays a vital role when you need a quick recovery. For example, regular snapshots and 24/7 management protect all your data. An integration feature ensures that all systems and apps are protected.
Finally, offsite and onsite backup keeps your data safe, no matter where the disaster hits. The backup and disaster recovery plan is only effective when all components work together.
Redundancy to keep data safe
A basketball game can be exhausting, even for the best players. Sometimes a player is injured or just getting tired. That’s why a successful basketball team has substitute players who can provide relief and redundancy. With fresh players on the court, the team can function even if the star players are out.
Just as a team needs substitutions, your data backup plan needs redundancy in case the worst happens. For example, an earthquake may disable hardware in your office, but you’ll still have copies of your files offsite. If a component fails, other components can step in and keep your data safe.
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A strategy for staying in the game
A backup and disaster recovery plan should be a priority for every business. Natural disasters can happen at any time with notice, from hurricanes to wildfires. Not to mention cybercriminals who are constantly targeting sensitive data. In 2021, for example, data was leaked in 72 percent of healthcare ransomware attacks.
Don’t let manmade or natural disasters knock your team out of the game before it even starts. Your business should at least follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: storing extra copies of data on two different media with one copy stored offsite.
At CTSI, our backup and disaster recovery solutions can protect your data and give your company the competitive edge it desires. Contact us today to learn more about our IT and security services.
