Forbes Insights partnered with a cloud services provider to conduct a survey of over 300 C-level executives. The report revealed key findings regarding data loss and departmental communications. The most cited cause of exposure to data loss came from pre-acknowledged vulnerabilities. In fact, 44 percent of all security breaches were attributed to issues that have been previously identified.
When survey respondents were asked to identify the reasoning behind these continued problems, many pointed to a difference in priorities between the security and operations teams. While the two departments argue over what to deal with first, the problem remains unsolved.
Participants noted that this gap is causing unnecessary data loss, extended downtime and bad PR for their companies as a whole. Yet somehow, nearly half of the participating executives reported not having a plan in place to deal with data disasters.
“Given the number of information security vulnerabilities that exist in the world today, security and IT operations can benefit tremendously from tighter collaboration and more efficient workflow,” said Morningstar Chief Information Security Officer Michael Allen.
Businesses should strengthen data protection protocol by encouraging collaboration between IT and security teams.The prescription plan
In order to effectively deal with gaps in communication regarding data loss, businesses need to set up a variety of measures to ensure optimal efficiency. When it comes to data protection, these systems are crucial. Failing to recover data in a quick manner can result in decreased productivity, financial losses and an overall loss of business continuity.
In the worst of scenarios, an extended amount of downtime can cause a business to shut down altogether. According to Herald & Review, for 70 percent of small firms a single instance of major data loss can cause a business to close within the year. Clearly, official plans regarding business continuity and remote backup are crucial in order to secure the future of a business. As such, we have created a list of essential safeguards every company should consider in their fight against data loss and downtime.
Create a disaster recovery plan: Disasters can come in many forms when it comes to data. Whether it be a full-blown natural disaster like we saw with the South Carolina flooding last year or a man-made disaster due to employee slip-ups, businesses need to have a plan in place to deal with the ensuing problems. Companies should draft up an official procedure for data disasters and make sure every team is equipped with the necessary information. Ensure all departments – especially IT and security – are on board and know their roles within the finalized plan. This can help improve reaction time and quell the indecision that often runs rampant due to competing interests.
Pick the best backup plan: Backup solutions are crucial when it comes to protecting your data. Whether it is online backup, remote backup or cloud backup, there is a backup plan that best suits every business. In fact, some service providers even offer tiered systems of backup, allowing users to protect high-level data more securely than more inconsequential information. Data is the backbone of any company and as such it needs to be well-protected. Business leaders should be diligent in deciding which backup plan best suits their data protection needs.
“Data is the backbone of any company.”
Choose a managed service provider: Managed service providers can be a great resource for businesses looking to unload the burden of data protection onto a professional. Instead of having to focus on the fine details of securing data, businesses can allow MSPs to take the rein. These providers are often partnered with high-level software firms that allow them to provide a company with the best in protection services. Recruiting an MSP is valuable because they can provide businesses with high-end customer service resources and a flat-rate for their work. MSPs are a true safeguard for a company, as they guarantee protection of your data through their various software.
Test it out: In order to ensure protection, companies must test out the systems they have put in place. This is arguably the most important tip on the list. While preparation is key, nothing can truly prepare an organization for the realities of a data disaster. The closest possible thing is to hold a practice run. Leaders should randomly select a day to imitate a data crisis and then ask their teams to react to the problem as planned. Whatever procedures have been set in place can then be refined to ensure optimal protection.
As we said before, data is responsible for the livelihood of any company. The many files of any given business make up the day-to-day procedures, software coding, secret recipes and a variety of other information that is crucial to business continuity. Companies should prepare themselves for any and all scenarios by employing a mixture of the measures listed above. You know the saying: It’s better to be safe than sorry.
