World Backup Day on the 31st March is an important prompt for businesses to check that their data is fully protected. With the potential for sophisticated cyberattacks, human error, software corruption, natural disasters and hardware failures, data is always at risk. In this post, we explain why traditional backup methods are no longer an option and why advanced cloud-based solutions are the most effective way to protect and recover valuable data.
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What puts your data at risk?
Data loss can happen at any time, often when you least expect it. While issues like hacking, malware and ransomware make the headlines, many incidents have far simpler causes. Human error, such as accidentally deleting files or misconfiguring systems, hardware breakdowns, ageing infrastructure and power outages, can all result in data being lost. At the same time, risks like fire, flooding or theft can wipe out not just data but also any backups you have stored on-site.
The consequences of losing data
When critical data is lost, businesses can find themselves paralysed. Customer records can’t be accessed, websites go offline, operations grind to a halt, and transactions cease. The longer it takes to restore data, the greater the damage in terms of lost revenue, customer dissatisfaction and reputational damage.
Additionally, clients who expect you to keep their data secure may end up abandoning your business, cancelling contracts, or even taking legal action. Companies that handle personal or financial information could also be fined for breaching data protection regulations, like GDPR.
What makes a reliable backup solution?
Effective backup solutions need to be reliable, secure and flexible. Once they are configured, they should work in the background, automatically backing up your data while also ensuring backups are available and working when you need them.
A reliable solution will include:
- Automated scheduling so backups run consistently without manual input
- Secure encryption to protect data during transfer and storage
- Remote storage to protect data from local damage or disasters
- Swift restoration, enabling you to get back online quickly
- Scalable storage allowing you to store larger backups as your business grows
- Centralised management giving you full control from a single dashboard
For more information, read: Website and Data Backups – A Practical Guide
Why traditional backups may let you down
Many businesses still use manual or local backup methods without realising how vulnerable they can be. External hard drives and USBs are prone to failure and, together with office servers, are often left unmonitored and unencrypted. Manual backups, which can be time-consuming, are also easy to forget or can be less of a priority when teams are busy.
Additionally, tape drives, which were once standard, need careful handling, regular testing and require specialised recovery processes, while backups stored on local computers or staff devices may be insecure and prone to theft, fire and damage.
All these methods are also slower when it comes to recovery. In the event of a major disruption, this delay could cost businesses hours or even days in lost productivity.
The value of cloud-based backups
Cloud-based backups are solutions that have evolved to meet the needs of modern businesses that rely on data. With automated backups being stored on secure, remote servers, there’s no need for manual input or physical equipment like USBs or tapes.
Cloud backups also provide more control, enabling you to set retention policies, schedule backups to suit your needs, and verify that backups are complete and error-free. You can even control which data you back up, from single files to entire systems, while enabling quick and easy access to it when required.
The best cloud solutions are also highly secure. They feature end-to-end encryption, role-based access control, and protection against ransomware attacks that target backups.
Need more information? Read: Website Backups – Why Cloud is the Best Solution
Cloud backups from Webhosting UK
Webhosting UK offers Acronis Cyber Protect, a leading cloud backup solution that combines robust security, ease of use and advanced recovery tools in one central platform.
With Acronis, you can back up all types of environments, from physical and virtual machines to cloud-based systems and hosted servers. This includes services that run on local infrastructure or are hosted with providers like AWS or Azure.
Once Acronis is installed, you manage everything via a secure, user-friendly web dashboard. With this, you can configure backup frequencies, retention policies and storage, monitor backup status, and restore data quickly when needed. For security, files are encrypted using AES-256 standards and protected from unauthorised access through multi-factor authentication and role-based permissions.
You can even restore files or databases directly from control panels like cPanel and Plesk, saving valuable time during recovery.
Make sure you choose the right provider, read: The Crucial Role of a Web Host in Business Backup Strategies
Conclusion
World Backup Day is an important reminder of the consequences of data loss and the vital need to keep it protected. From reading this post, you should also understand how legacy backup systems no longer meet the needs of businesses and why opting for a cloud-based solution provides the security, flexibility, automation and recovery speed vital in the face of today’s threats.
It’s World Backup Day, don’t wait until it’s too late! Easily secure your data with our cloud-based Acronis backup solution.
