Some businesses will use the reassuring words ‘data security’ with their clients and investors without really understanding what it is or how it can be achieved.
An understanding of data security at a grass roots level within an organisation is important, as every employee is likely to handle large volumes of vital data every day.
It is necessary that employees understand the basic concepts of data security. It is their responsibility to implement data security effectively and at an appropriate level.
Data Security Overview
Data security is simply the protection and safeguarding of information.
The reason why data security is often controversial is because many businesses struggle to protect their data against the following threats:
- Data breaches/theft/hacking
- Human error
- Viruses/Malware
- Natural disasters
- System failures
All of these threats can lead to data being compromised or lost completely and this can be devastating for businesses.
It is the aim of a data security programme to minimise and eliminate these threats.
To discover more about what threats your business face check out this post: UK Cyber Security: Is your Business Safe?
How to Achieve Data Security
When it comes to data security there is no single fail proof method and businesses will often use a combination of different security measures to protect their data.
However, almost every business that prioritises data security will have a data backup and rotation system in place. Data backup is universally acknowledged as one of the most reliable ways of ensuring that information is safe and secure.
Data Backup Planning & Scheduling
Data backup is fairly straightforward, but a business will have to create and plan a data backup schedule in accordance with it’s backup requirements. Backup schedules therefore vary.
Of the LTO tape backup and storage services we offer, the most commonly requested rotation schedules are as follows:
- Weekly tape rotation + 1 month end
- Monthly tape rotation
- Daily rotation (pre 10am, weekdays)
- Fortnightly rotation
- Monthly tape (for permanent storage)
Businesses that handle large volumes of data will require an offsite partner when it comes to managing an offsite LTO tape storage service to this level at the lowest cost.
Alternatives to Outsourcing Data Backup
Data backup is not the only way businesses can protect their information – although it certainly remains one of the most effective!
It is advised that businesses supplement their data backup programmes with more straightforward security measures that can be undertaken without the helping hand of an external partner.
It should be stressed that these security measures, whilst easy to integrate into a businesses computing system, are often not enough to prevent all of the possible threats mentioned above.
Anti-virus Protection
Anti-virus software is easy to install and will protect employees from computer viruses that an individual might not detect – for example in a well-disguised phishing email.
Viruses can be hugely disruptive, with the ability to delete high volumes of information, therefore it is recommended that every organisation take this level of precaution.
Complex Passwords
Another straightforward way to secure data is to ask employees to create complicated passwords all of their systems and online services. Employees should also be encouraged to change these passwords regularly.
Restricted Access
Finally, restricting employees’ access to certain devices is also an easy way of making sure that data is not seen by unauthorised eyes. Data servers should be located in rooms which have restricted access.
