Did you know that 70 percent of small businesses who experience catastrophic data loss fail within a year of the catastrophe? If you don’t want to be in that number, you need some sort of plan for backing up your precious data on a regular basis. Let’s look at a few basic considerations you’ll want to make when putting such a plan together.

What do you need to backup? Any data that matters to you, your operations, your business associates, or your customers needs to receive periodic backups. You probably won’t need to make backups of your applications or operating system software, since these programs can just as easily be re-installed from separate sources (either on disc or online).

How frequently do you need to perform those backups? Some files will need more frequent backups than others. For example, a database that’s constantly receiving changes might require daily backups, while a permanent document that never receives any updates might need to be copied onto other media only once. Many of today’s backup programs allow you to select different frequency levels for different categories of files. As a general rule of thumb, schedule backups based on how much new data (a week’s worth, a month’s worth etc.) you could comfortably tolerate losing.

Where do those backups need to go? Follow the “3-2-1 Rule” of data backup. In other words: Always makes three copies of all data, keep two of those copies on different kinds of storage media, and keep one copy off-site in case your facility gets damaged or robbed. Fortunately, remote backup is easier than ever in these days of virtual servers and cloud computing.

Gravity Systems can provide all the backup solutions your business may need, from reliable on-site storage devices to cloud-based automated backup solutions. Contact our Austin IT support team today!