Businesses are constantly under threat. They are normally unpredictable but are nonetheless always there.
Every business should therefore be vigilant when it comes to implementing a business continuity strategy. All businesses should ensure that – should a disaster strike – they have fully minimised the risks of data storage breaches.
In order to ensure business continuity it is first important to recognise business threats presenting themselves now and in the future. The Business Continuity Institute issued a report recently which stated cyber-attacks now pose the greatest threat to businesses.
10 Greatest Threats to Businesses
After cyber-attacks the BCI listed the 9 other perceived greatest threats to UK businesses:
- Cyber attacks
- IT/Communication downtime
- Data storage breaches
- Disruption to utility supplies
- Supply chain disturbances
- Security breaches
- Weather
- Illness
- Fire
- Terrorism
The survey included 760 organisations from across the globe with 82% of respondents stating that they were worried about a cyber-attack and 75% saying they were concerned about the possibility of a data storage breach affecting their business.
These results are likely to have been influenced by the numerous high profile data storage breaches that have occurred in the past year, such as the breaches at Sony and Anthema. These breaches have put businesses on high alert.
Whether organisations take action to make sure they have the correct preventative measures in place is another matter.
Howard Kerr, the Chief Executive of BCI stated: “Tracking near and long-term threats provides organisations of all sizes with an objective assessment of risks and how to mitigate them. Failing to apply best practice leaves organisations and their employees, business partners and customers at risk.”
Supply chain disturbances was the quickest growing threat, a problem that could be attributed to recent epidemics and international instability in the Middle East and the Euro zone.
The report also highlighted the vulnerability of smaller businesses that often overlook putting adequate resources into their business continuity strategies, such as offsite data storage.
A new company will undoubtedly be busy with other aspects of it’s business model when starting out, however a halt in business operations could be disastrous for a startup if left unaddressed.
Biggest Data Storage Breaches (Infographic)
Small businesses should always prioritise the implementation of an effective recovery plan to prevent data storage breaches – even if disaster or hacking seems improbable and in the far distant future.
Businesses can Prevent Data Storage Breaches with Offsite Backup
The BCI report highlights just how important an effective disaster recovery plan is for a business of any size.
Whilst data storage breaches and cyber-attacks are relatively new threats, natural disasters and environmental hazards are forces that businesses have always had to contend with.
An offsite data storage facility can help provide support for businesses dealing with new and old threats – support that would prove to be vital to a businesses if a disaster were to strike. By storing your data offsite you can be assured that if your business ever was faced with a disaster, man-made or otherwise, your businesses’ information would be safe.
In order for a business to achieve continuity in it’s operations it would need quick access to this information. An offsite data storage company with a retrieval service therefore offers an ideal backup solution.
Information accessibility is absolutely vital for business continuity.
As the BCI report shows many companies are still ignoring some of the greatest threats facing businesses today and are not effectively preparing their businesses for disaster. Is it worth leaving the success of a business up to chance?
