How do you backup your organization?

1 Choose a backup strategy

To begin backing up your organization, you must select a backup strategy that fits your needs and resources. This strategy determines what, when, where, and how to backup your data and systems. Common backup strategies include full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup. A full backup is the most comprehensive but also consumes a lot of storage space and time. An incremental backup is more efficient but relies on the previous backups for restoration. Differential backup is a compromise between full and incremental - it requires more storage space and time than an incremental but less than a full - and simplifies the restore process as it only requires the last full and differential backups.

2 Select a backup medium

The second step to backup your organization is to select a backup medium that stores your backup files securely and reliably. This could be a physical device, such as a hard disk or tape, or a virtual device, such as a CD, DVD, flash drive, or cloud storage. When making this selection, you should consider the capacity of the backup medium, the speed of its transfer rate, its durability and portability, and the cost of acquiring and maintaining it. This is especially important if you plan to store your backup files off-site or in multiple locations for extra protection. All of these factors should be taken into account when considering the size of your data and systems, as well as the frequency of your backups.

3 Implement a backup schedule

The third step to backup your organization is to implement a backup schedule that determines when and how often you backup your data and systems. This schedule should balance the trade-off between the frequency and the impact of your backup, as a more frequent backup provides a higher level of protection and a shorter recovery time, but it also consumes more resources and disrupts normal operations. When implementing a backup schedule, consider the importance of your data and systems, the rate of change, and their availability. For instance, financial or customer data may need to be backed up daily, while internal or archival data can be backed up weekly or monthly. Dynamic or transactional data should be backed up hourly or daily, while static or historical data can be backed up weekly or monthly. Finally, online or real-time data should be backed up during off-peak hours or weekends, while offline or batch data can be backed up during normal hours or weekdays. This will help ensure that your organization is properly protected against data loss while minimizing resource consumption and disruption.

4 Verify and test your backup

The fourth step to backup your organization is to verify and test your backup regularly to ensure that your backup files are valid and usable. A verification is a process that checks the integrity and consistency of your backup files, such as the size, the checksum, the format, and the metadata. A verification can help you detect and correct any errors or corruption that may occur during the backup process. A test is a process that simulates a restore scenario and evaluates the functionality and performance of your backup files, such as the data quality, the system configuration, and the compatibility. A test can help you confirm and improve your backup strategy, medium, and schedule, as well as your restore plan and procedure.

5 Secure and manage your backup

The fifth step to backup your organization is to secure and manage your backup effectively and efficiently. A security is a process that protects your backup files from unauthorized access, modification, or deletion, such as encryption, authentication, authorization, and audit. A security can help you safeguard your backup files from internal or external threats, such as hackers, malware, or theft. A management is a process that organizes and optimizes your backup files, such as labeling, indexing, cataloging, and archiving. A management can help you locate and retrieve your backup files easily and quickly, as well as save storage space and cost.

6 Restore your backup

The sixth and final step to backup your organization is to restore your backup when needed. A restore is a process that copies your backup files back to your original or alternative data and systems, such as in case of a disaster, a migration, or a testing. A restore can help you recover your data and systems and resume normal operations as soon as possible. To restore your backup successfully, you need to have a clear and updated restore plan and procedure, as well as a trained and experienced restore team. You also need to monitor and evaluate the restore process and outcome, and report and document any issues or lessons learned.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?