If your business relies on computers, as most today do, you probably have concerns about data loss. Whether caused by hardware failure, human error, theft, or a computer virus, this loss can be costly. This is why it’s important for you to establish a prevention system at your business to lower the risks of information loss.

The Dangers: Loss of Unique Information and Financial Costs

According to the data recovery company DeepSpar, “hard drive failure is the most common cause of data loss” of these scenarios. This loss can be detrimental to your business. If you lose financial reports, client information, or systems that are unique to your business, you can be down for days. Once this information is lost, data reconstruction becomes a priority. The rebuild takes employee time, and can delay other projects and network updates.

Data on Mobile Devices

With all of the information we store on smartphones and tablets, mobile device data loss is becoming an even bigger concern. Whether the devices are company-owned or employees use them as part of a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, the loss can be detrimental. When an employee uses their mobile devices to access company systems and third-party applications, there is a lot of business information on these devices. If the phone or tablet is lost or stolen, this information could end up in the wrong hands.

Prevention: Have a Backup Plan

A backup plan is key to your business data protection strategy and encourages you to store data in a separate, safe location in case the original data is damaged or lost. Often times, the backup is stored offsite in case there is a natural disaster or burglary at your office.

Updating data frequently is also strongly advised. Updates can be done as often as daily or as infrequently as quarterly, depending on your operations. It is also important to do periodic testing of the data to ensure it is viewable and accurate. This can help prevent loss in case the backup becomes corrupted.

In addition to the offsite backup, it is recommended to have a third backup somewhere else. This can be done with a trusted online cloud service. In addition to keeping your information safe, you can also enjoy the benefit of being able to access it anywhere you have an internet connection.

Cite: “The Dangers of Data Loss and How Your Business Can Prevent Them.” BusinessBee RSS. N.p., 06 June 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

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Data Loss Facts

• 140,000 hard drives crash in the U.S. every week.
• 12,000 laptops are stolen or lost each week in U.S. airports.
• 70% of data loss is due to events beyond user control.
• 43% of businesses never reopen after significant data loss.
• 93% of all companies that suffer a significant data loss close within 5 years.