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The Ultimate Backup Checklist

Here at Lithium we’ve created the ultimate backup checklist – because protecting your data means protecting your business. From ransomware attacks to hardware failures, even human error, backups keep you running when the unexpected happens…

Are you backing up all critical data?

It’s easy to assume that all your data is being backed up. You’re using a backup solution, job done. However, using a backup solution doesn’t guarantee all critical data is protected. If data is stored in multiple locations or new drives are added, some files may be missed. Misconfigurations and human error can also result in incomplete backups.

Are your backups frequent enough?

The frequency of backups depends on how often your data changes. If your employees are regularly updating and creating new documents, for peace of mind you need to be backing up frequently to minimise data loss. Backing up every few days / weekly just isn’t enough. Automating your backups also reduces the chances of human error forgetting to run them.

Does your backup retention match company needs and policies?

Your backup retention determines how long your data is stored for before it’s either deleted or archived, which again should be chosen by you. This is different for every business depending on your needs and any legal or regulatory requirements you may have to adhere to. It’s important your backup retention is fit for your business and is reviewed regularly. Storing data too long is almost as bad as not storing it long enough!

Do the backups offer the correct level of RPO and RTO?

Recovery Point Objective (RPO) measures the acceptable data loss between backups, while Recovery Time Objective (RTO) defines how quickly systems must be restored. It’s crucial to assess whether your company can tolerate potential data loss and understand the recovery timeframe in case of downtime. If the loss is too severe, the backup schedule should be adjusted, and recovery time minimised.

Are your backups being stored offline?

Are you following the 321 rule? If your company has taken the time to invest in a backup solution, it’s imperative to ensure you’re also following the 321 rule of backups – maintain 3 copies of your data (including the original and at least 2 copies), ensure you use 2 different types of storage and that 1 copy is kept off site.

Have you recently tested the backups?

You’ve made the first step and invested in a backup solution, but are you also testing the backups? Are the files useable and haven’t been corrupted? In the event of a disaster, you need to be certain the data you’re restoring is useable and useful.

Have you got an air-gapped or immutable backup?

An air-gapped backup is where you create a ‘gap’ between the two forms of data, isolating your critical data to ensure it’s safe should the worst happen. This can protect against ransomware attacks, data breaches and any other form of unauthorised access. An immutable backup is where the data cannot be changed after it’s written, again protecting from cyberattacks. 

Are backups encrypted?

Encrypting your data is protecting it in the event of a breach – it means your data won’t be leaked via the backups in the event that you are compromised. This is done via an algorithm which scrambles your data, making it unreadable in the wrong hands.

Summary

Ensuring the effectiveness and security of backup solutions is critical for any company. Key considerations include verifying the correct levels of Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO), adhering to the 321 rule of backups, testing backups for usability, maintaining air-gapped or immutable backups, and encrypting data to protect against breaches. Regular assessment and adjustment of the backup strategy can significantly mitigate risks associated with data loss and downtime.

Contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your current backup regime or to discuss your backup requirements.  Don’t leave it to late…

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Each asset has an associated cost, and you want to maximize any investment by ensuring that equipment is being used properly by the right people. Asset management is also a key component of overall risk management as it ensures that your business only uses supported and compliant devices.

Single Order Generic Ethernet Access, or SOGEA for short, is a type of broadband internet connection that provides a dedicated Ethernet connection directly from a customer’s premises to the internet service provider’s (ISP) network.

SOGEA allows customers to connect to the internet using only a single order, which includes both the broadband service and the telephone line rental. This means that customers can use the same telephone line for both voice calls and internet access, without the need for a separate Openreach phone line.

One of the benefits of SOGEA is that it can provide a faster and more reliable connection than traditional broadband options such as ADSL, which rely on copper telephone lines. SOGEA is also a good option for customers who don’t need a traditional phone service, but still require high-speed internet access.

SOGEA is currently available in the United Kingdom, and it’s expected to become a more widely used broadband option as more internet service providers adopt it.

Starlink internet is a revolutionary new way to connect to the internet that is fast, reliable, and available virtually anywhere in the world.

With Starlink, you can say goodbye to slow, unreliable internet connections and hello to high-speed internet that delivers download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Best of all, Starlink uses advanced satellite technology to provide internet access to areas that are traditionally underserved or completely without internet access. Whether you’re living in a rural area, traveling on the road, or just tired of slow internet speeds, Starlink has the solution you’ve been looking for.

Our leased line product is a dedicated, private telecommunications circuit that provides a direct and continuous connection between two points, typically used for internet access, voice communications, or data transfer.

One of the main benefits of a leased line is the reliability and consistency it offers, as it guarantees a fixed bandwidth and symmetric upload and download speeds, without sharing with other users. This makes it ideal for businesses that require high levels of connectivity and bandwidth, such as those that use cloud services or require large file transfers. Additionally, our leased lines offer improved security, as they are not vulnerable to interference or hacking from external sources, unlike shared broadband connections. Lastly, leased our lines come with a service level agreements (SLAs), which provide guarantees for uptime and response times, ensuring a high level of customer service and support.

Ethernet First Mile (EFM) is a technology that enables high-speed, dedicated internet access over traditional copper-based infrastructure. Specifically, EFM refers to the use of Ethernet technology to provide connectivity from a customer’s premises to the service provider’s network.

In traditional broadband access, a customer’s connection to the provider’s network typically involves a shared medium such as cable or DSL. With EFM, the customer’s connection is dedicated, meaning that they have a direct, uncontended connection to the provider’s network.

EFM is often used to provide high-speed internet access to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as remote or underserved areas. It can offer speeds of up to 35 Mbps over distances of up to 10 kilometers, depending on the quality of the copper infrastructure.

Overall, EFM is a cost-effective solution for businesses that require reliable, high-speed internet connectivity but cannot access fiber-based solutions due to geographical or economic limitations.

FTTC stands for Fiber to the Cabinet, which is a type of internet broadband technology. It involves running a high-speed fiber optic cable from the internet service provider (ISP) to a street cabinet, which is usually located on the side of a road or a pavement, and then using the existing copper telephone lines to connect homes and businesses to the cabinet.

The distance between the cabinet and the property can affect the speed of the internet connection. The closer the property is to the cabinet, the faster the internet speed.

FTTC can provide faster internet speeds compared to ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology, which uses copper telephone lines for both download and upload data. FTTC can offer download speeds of up to 80 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, depending on the quality of the copper telephone lines and the distance between the property and the cabinet.

FTTC is often used as an interim solution while ISPs work on providing full fiber connections to homes and businesses.