Thought your data was safely backed up in the cloud? Think again…

There is a lot of confusion regarding the terms ‘sync’ and ‘backup’.

In my experience as managed IT services provider, I find that there are still many businesses setting up their devices to sync critical data with services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Box, EverNote, etc. thinking that their data is all safe and sound in the cloud.

But remember:

The primary purpose of syncing services is to give you the ability to access your files and folders on any device, anywhere, and anytime. For example, the notes you make on your company iPad whilst away on a business trip will appear instantly and automatically on your PC sitting at the office.

If this is how you have set up your “business backup strategy” then I’d like to inform you that you have NO backup in place. And in fact, you are at serious risk of losing all your important information!

Let me tell you why your data is not really backed up

Since file sync and sharing services are synchronizing your information to the cloud, everything that happens on your device replicates to the cloud.

To give you an example:

Let’s say that your laptop was infected with ransomware and all the information on your hard drive is encrypted with a ransom demand of R100 000. If you are using a sync service, it means that all your information in the cloud will be encrypted, too. Because your laptop automatically and instantly synchronized to the cloud, there is no way of recovering the data because you do not have a backup.

Synchronising also works vice versa, so whatever happens on the cloud, replicates on your device. Working on a big collaborative project and have multiple employees accessing documents from a shared sync account?

A malware infection would be even more disastrous.

If one employee device is infected, ransomware files will be subsequently synced to the cloud and then among all other synced users too. It’s the perfect scenario for major data loss nightmare – the infection spreads rapidly – and there is no backup to restore from.

Additionally, many consumer file sync services (like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) are neither built nor intended to store, migrate, and support critical business data. These services don’t support rigorous data integrity assurance systems for dealing with corruption errors. You may try restore a backup file from your OneDrive account, only to find it corrupted and inaccessible.

Okay – Here’s how you should backup

If you are looking for a solid backup system in your business, the very first step is investing in an enterprise-grade cloud and data backup service solution that:

• Backups all your data automatically;
• Run backups multiple times daily (such as hourly);
• Maintains three separate copies of your data simultaneously (a main copy, local copy, and an offsite copy in the cloud);
• Executes proactive and perpetual cybersecurity monitoring; and
• Rapid recovery and data verification systems are active roles in the solution.

Practically, this might mean a private cloud, public, or hybrid cloud implementation depending on the exact nature and ICT requirements of your business. At times, robust on-premise storage is the better option for some.

Read our beginner-friendly articles on these modern data backup solutions to learn more:

• The Three Types of Cloud Computing for Small Business
• The Pros and Cons of Cloud Storage for Your Small Business
• On Premise vs Cloud Computing: Which is best for your business?

iSite Computers is Here to Help – Book A Free Consultation with our Team

File syncing leaves your business at major risk to data loss and business disruption. Instead, opt for a modern solution that incorporates multiple safeguards to ensure your business data is both truly backed up and fully restorable.

Not sure where to start? iSite Computers offers a free 30–60-minute consultation for small to medium-sized business owners in South Africa. With no further obligation, we can discuss your current backup scenario and advise on a way forward.

Book your free consultation today. Or contact our team directly via phone or email.

Think before you sync!