Most businesses have some kind of backup. Far fewer have tested whether they could actually recover from one. Run through these five questions honestly.
1. Do you follow the 3-2-1 rule?
Keep at least three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy offsite. A USB drive on the same desk as the server doesn't count as offsite.
2. Are your backups protected from ransomware?
Modern ransomware looks for backup files and encrypts them too. Your backup solution should have active ransomware protection and keep copies the attacker can't reach or change.
3. Is everything covered?
Servers are obvious. Microsoft 365 mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Workspace, websites and the data on staff phones are easy to forget. Cloud services don't automatically back up your data for you.
4. Is the data encrypted?
Backups contain everything sensitive about your business and your clients. Under POPIA you're responsible for protecting that information. Look for strong encryption (such as AES-256) with keys only you control.
5. When did you last test a restore?
A backup you've never restored is a hope, not a plan. Test restoring a file, a mailbox and a full system at least a few times a year, and time how long it takes.
If you answered "no" or "not sure" to any of these, it's worth a closer look.
ZMT Solutions offers encrypted local and international backups with active ransomware protection. See what we protect or ask for a quote.