In a recent post, we reminded business owners and executives that they should set up (or review) their backup and disaster recovery plans before heading out on summer vacation. Otherwise, they could find themselves facing sleepless nights while they worry about the hundreds of things that could happen while they’re away that might cost the company a small fortune.

To build on that reminder, today we want to give you a few key elements that should be part of any backup plan you put in place. Let’s look at a few details you can’t go without…

Current Copies of Your Most Important Files

Whatever data is key to keeping your business running day-to-day should be backed up on a near-continuous basis. So too should be files that pertain to sensitive or important information, and those that are needed to keep key applications running.

You might not know exactly what you need to back up, but an IT professional can help to devise a plan that is comprehensive enough to cover your company.

Secure, Offsite Data Storage

Having extra copies of your files saved anywhere is a good start, but to truly be protected they should be stored in a location away from your business. That way if something happens to your building or facility – like damage from a fire or earthquake – you won’t lose your backups at the same time.

An outsourced IT team can help you to find the right remote backup system, and ensure sensitive data is stored in an encrypted format that is protected from hackers.

A Technology Restoration Plan

Backups are important, but it’s crucial that you know how to access and restore them when it matters most. Ideally, you should have a written plan in place that would guide you through the process of bringing your computers and applications back online. It might even detail what you could do to get replacement workstations up-and-running if needed, or to manage your company from home.

Having all the backup files in the world won’t help you if you don’t know what to do with them when you really need to access things like customer records.

Regular Monitoring and Refreshing

It’s easier to rest easy when you know someone is keeping an eye on your network, communications, and technology. Things are even better when you know your backups are running automatically, so you always have current versions of everything you need, even when you aren’t paying attention.

These are important ingredients to your backup and disaster recovery plan that keep your data up-to-date. When the day comes and you need your extra copies you’ll be glad you were prepared for the inevitable.

We’ve Got Your Business Covered

Putting together a good backup and disaster recovery plan takes technical expertise, and eye for detail, and lots of experience working with computers. Luckily, you can get all of that – plus fast and friendly service – by outsourcing the job to Fantastic IT in Southern California. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation if you want to learn more.