A backup is a copy of the files on your computer, server or cloud application. That copy comes in handy when something unexpectedly goes wrong. It is not inconceivable for files to be accidentally deleted, damaged or for the computer to crash or be hacked. Via the backup, these files can then be recovered and restored again.
Types of backups
There are different types of backups: for example, a distinction is made between a file copy and a system copy. A file copy copies only your files. A system copy is a one-to-one copy of your computer's entire hard disk. When something goes wrong, this copy can be restored to restore files, settings and programmes. The backup can also be a full backup, where a full backup of all files is made each time, or an incremental backup, where after a full backup is made, only the changes are kept. This allows easier interim backups to happen for example during a working day to save changes;
A good back-up policy within your company
A good backup policy is an essential way of ensuring that lost data can be recovered by keeping a copy of the data. It is therefore an indispensable system to ensure continuity of operations and ensure that data is not lost.
It is important that backups are taken
at least daily and kept for a sufficiently long period of time. It is not uncommon for computer systems to be infected for weeks and for hackers to also try to infect the backups. Hence the importance of also keeping copies of several weeks or months in case a similar attack occurs.
Backups are best kept in different places. For example, a physical backup can be taken or a backup can be kept in a data centre other than the one where the central database is stored.
It is best for a backup to be encrypted. Also make sure that you are not completely dependent on one external service provider as far as your server, database and backup are concerned. Make sure that if problems arise with this service provider, you can still maintain control and management of your data yourself.
Check your backups periodically
Run a test periodically to see whether the backup was effectively successful and whether it is possible to restore the backups taken. It is not uncommon for a backup to appear successful, but the files still cannot be restored due to an unforeseen error message, rendering the backups unusable.
What can Mr.Franklin do for you?
Mr.Franklin assists companies in drafting customised security policies, ISO27001 implementation, phishing simulations,... For all matters related to cybersecurity and IT law, you can count on us.
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