Online Data Backups: Small Business Insurance Against Cyber Attacks

One operational process that is essential for any small business is protecting the business's computer data by scheduling regular computer backups. Hiring an online backup service and regularly scheduling online backups is not only a matter of security, but also business survival.

Many small business owners believe that that having computer firewalls and virus protection software will protect their computer data and hardware. This is not always the case. The use of security software can protect many companies against cyber attacks, but they do not guarantee 100 percent security.

Smaller companies that do not have dedicated information technology staff tend to underestimate the most common forms of Internet attack, which are through e-mails and rogue Web sites designed to infect computers and damage hardware and data. Consistent and regular online backups is just good business.

Computer virus costs

Viruses are now capable of attacking the entire computer network just through one person opening an infected e-mail or opening the wrong Web site. Each day millions of computers are infected by new viruses that firewalls and anti-viral programs cannot detect.

When systems are shut down because of undetected viral attacks, money is lost and productivity comes to a standstill. The costs to small businesses that do not do online backups and ignore the convenience that online backup services offer is immeasurable, as some attacks target the computer hardware as well as data.

If the cyber attack causes a complete system failure, then data is destroyed and important records can never be recovered. With an online backup service, companies can recover all the data that has been backed up. Instead of having catastrophic disaster, the company may only lose a few hours of work.

Online backups

Online backups are an easy way to insure that the hard work and hours put into the company are not wiped out by a catastrophic event, such as a virus attack. Online backup services use an installed software product, which collects, compresses and encrypts a company's computer data. The software then sets up its own file transfer and makes contact with the online backup service's server. The business's files are then transferred through the Internet to the online backup service. Once a business installs the online backup software onto its desktop or server, the process becomes automatic.

For smaller businesses, the loss of productivity, data and possibly hardware can be exceptionally costly, especially since smaller businesses maintain slimmer profit margins than larger corporations. The cost of replacing customer information, sales data and other information that is vital for business survival can mean the difference between a profitable year and a business failure.

References:

Internet Attacks Are Growing More Potent and Complex - NYTimes.com

Developing world, developing problems

Consumer Online Backup Services Reviews, Best Internet Backup Service

Article, Stay Smart Online: Step 8: Back-up your online data

White Paper: Guide to Online Backup

Kabooza Global Backup Survey: Global Backup Survey 2009-02-15

Backups for Business: Online Backup Services - Business Center

PC Magazine: How to Prevent a Data Disaster

Article: Are you ready? Three years after 9/11, CEOs have made scant have made scant progress in keeping their companies safe. , Gale Group 2004

The Disaster Recovery Planning Guide: A-Z Business Continuity Plans