Even if you have a backup solution in place, it is strongly suggested you read this blog as it could save your business!
Did you know that based on 2024 actual figures, global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually this year? According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, 50% of businesses in the UK reported experiencing some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months, this highlights the importance of having a backup plan in place for your business, to ensure that if a breach occurs you know exactly what to do.
According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, 60% of small businesses that experience significant data loss are forced to close within 6 months of the disaster, this can even be the case if backups were in place. What is commonly misunderstood, is the techniques and methods of attack that you are likely to encounter if compromise does occur. We all think that we will never suffer from a Cyber-attack, but, if you did, could you recover, and would your business survive?
As a Managed Service Provider in the UK, Frontline offers valuable insights into attack methods, real-world examples, and steps to secure your recovery options. Data loss can occur for various reasons, and understanding these causes helps implement effective preventive measures.
Misconfiguration: Just because the lights are on and the system works, does not mean it is secured. In many instances, some very basic steps could be undertaken to significantly improve security. Often, this is not realised until it is too late due to a lack of visibility, consideration or automation / orchestration to verify your security posture. Literally one missed checkbox, one typo or gap in knowledge can lead to compromise, data loss and reputational damage.
Hardware Failure: This can be a server, storage device, network appliance or security device, but if single points of failure exist, or backups aren’t regularly taken and correctly protected, then this can easily lead to system vulnerability and a possible point of compromise.
Cyberattacks: Ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks can compromise systems and data. Strong cybersecurity measures are clearly essential, but often, we find that businesses only consider the more obvious methods of compromise. A lack of understanding around offensive techniques can lead to defensive techniques being implemented in the wrong area or simply being overlooked. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and often, security is bespoke to each system, network and infrastructure, which in turn is managed based on historical approaches and outcomes.
Human Error: Accidental deletions, improper data handling and a lack of knowledge in key security areas, can all lead to data loss. Continuously training employees on basic security principles, how to always be vigilant and what best practices to follow, can reduce this risk.
Software Corruption and out of date systems: Bugs (typically identified by unpatched systems) and crashes can either take a secure system and increase risk due to a lack of patching, or in several situations, corrupt data. Keeping software updated and maintained helps prevent this.
Natural Disasters: Events like floods, fires, explosions, gas leaks, earthquakes for example, can damage buildings, infrastructure and storage devices. Using off-site and cloud backups can mitigate this risk, but additional controls do also need to be considered.
Theft or Loss of Devices: Stolen or lost devices can result in data loss. Encryption and remote wipe capabilities can protect data.
Power Outages: Sudden power loss can interrupt data writing. Using uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and surge protectors can safeguard against this.
Having a backup plan is crucial for several reasons:
Whilst the answer often is to have a reliable backup, there is more to data backups than you might consider. For example, recovery point and recovery time objectives, systems and services that need to be available to facilitate restoration and credentials required to backup and restore are also key considerations.
Data Protection: A well thought out backup plan ensures that your data is protected against various threats such as hardware failures, cyberattacks, and accidental deletions. This means that even if something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your data and continue your operations without significant disruption. This can be done badly and practically lead to a total loss of data, so advice should be taken on how well you stack up.
Business Continuity: In the event of a data loss incident, having a recovery plan allows your business to act quickly and maintain continuity. This helps you avoid the financial and reputational damage that can result from prolonged outages.
Compliance: Many industries have regulations that require businesses to maintain data backups. Having a good backup plan helps you stay compliant with these regulations and avoid potential legal issues and fines.
Cost Savings: The cost of implementing a good backup plan is relatively small compared to the potential costs of loss. Data and system loss can lead to significant financial losses, including lost revenue, recovery expenses, and potential legal fees. A backup plan is a cost-effective way to mitigate these risks. Also be aware, that insurance doesn’t automatically cover such events if the controls and technologies implemented are found lacking.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your data is backed up and can be restored in case of an emergency provides peace of mind. This allows you to focus on your core business activities without constantly worrying about the safety of your data.
Now we have covered how data losses can occur and how important it is to have a backup plan, but what does that look like for your business?
First, you need to identify all your important data, this could include financial records, employee records and other key information. Then you need to decide how you want to back up your data you can use full backups (copying everything), incremental backups (copying only new or changed data), or differential backups (copying data changed since the last full backup). If you’re unsure about this step, consider:
How would the business continue if we lost access to all systems, all data and had no recovery points available. This can be a good point to work backwards from.
Make sure you perform a risk assessment, consider the 3-2-1 rule for backup, understand how your infrastructure authenticates and how you’d recover if that was compromised. With the above rule, use multiple locations and store your backups in different places to protect against disasters (consider immutability). Set up automatic backups to ensure they happen regularly without you having to remember, this keeps your data up to date and consider principles of role-based access and model of least privilege.
Next, test your backups, even consider tabletop scenarios where you attempt to recover under different sets of criteria, regularly check that your backups work and can be restored. This ensures you can recover your data if needed. Protect your backups with strong passwords and encryption to prevent unauthorised access. Decide how often you need to back up your data. This could be daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on how often your data changes.
Finally, write down your backup procedures, schedules, and who is responsible for them. This helps everyone in your business know what to do. Regularly review and update your backup plan to make sure it still meets your business needs.
In conclusion, regular backups are a small investment compared to the high costs of data loss. Prioritizing data protection ensures the continuity and security of your information, giving you peace of mind and safeguarding your business’s future. Backups protect against accidental deletions, hardware failures, cyber threats, and data breaches. In a world where data is critical, proactive measures are essential for maintaining trust and reliability with customers and stakeholders.
Don’t wait! Start regular backups today to protect your data and ensure business continuity. Remember, all backup solutions, methodologies and frameworks are not created equally. Evaluate risks based on what attackers are doing and adapt your backup methods to safeguard your business.
If you have any questions or need any help with backup or business continuity planning services, contact us today!
