Backup

The word ‘backup’ literally means ‘reinforcement’ or ‘safeguard’ and, in IT, refers to a backup copy. For businesses, backup copies of their computers, servers and, above all, their stored data are extremely important. This is because, in the event of data loss or corruption, up-to-date backups enable a return to normal operations as quickly as possible.

What exactly does the term ‘backup’ mean?

It is unlikely, but possible: computers, hard drives, servers or the entire system may become unusable for various reasons. For example, due to

technical faults with the hardware,
Malware such as worms or ransomware,
force majeure (lightning strikes, natural disasters such as floods, fires in the building, water damage to the building, etc.).

Using a backup, you can recover lost, damaged, deleted or encrypted data and, if necessary, reinstall the entire system. The more up-to-date your backups are, the quicker and smoother it will be to resume operations following such an interruption.

There are various ways to create backups. Any of them is better than none. It is advisable to combine several methods:

Automated backups stored on the computer
Backups stored on external devices, such as an external hard drive or a server
Backups stored in other network locations
Backups stored in a company-owned cloud
Backups stored in an external cloud

“Bootable backups” are backups that allow you to continue working as normal straight away. They contain not only your data, but also, for example, the programmes and settings of the computer you were working on.
Important: Ensure that at least one, preferably two, backups are stored separately from your system and offline. This is because, particularly in the case of targeted ransomware attacks on businesses, cybercriminals take care to encrypt as many system components as possible.

If a backup is connected to the system, it will also be encrypted and rendered unusable to you.
If, on the other hand, the backup is stored on an external hard drive that is not currently connected, it remains unencrypted and accessible.

Where do I come across backups in my day-to-day work?

You may never even come across it, for example if backups in your company are created automatically and/or after working hours. Following a data loss, you may encounter the issue of backups if, for example, your administrators reinstall your computer and restore your data from a backup. If you don’t know how backups are handled in your company, just ask!

What can I do to improve my security?

If you haven’t been taking any backups at all, or only sporadically, create one right away. Make this step as simple as possible:

Use the backup software installed on your computer
- te a system image” in Windows
- “Time Machine” on macOS
Save the backup to an external hard drive.
Once the backup has been created, disconnect the external hard drive from your computer and store it safely.
You will probably need administrator rights to carry out this procedure.

If you do not have administrator rights:

(1) Back up all the data you can by copying it. Again, use an external hard drive or a USB stick. Once you have finished copying, disconnect the hard drive or USB stick from your computer.

(2) Optimise and diversify your backup strategy. Consider which data, settings, systems, etc. are absolutely critical to your business, which are important, which are desirable, and so on. Based on these considerations, you can prioritise and plan your backups.

(3) Back up your data using at least two different methods. Bear in mind that:

Only a backup that is stored offline and kept separate from your system will remain uninfected, even in the event of a targeted ransomware attack.
Data stored at a different location will remain intact even if a disaster such as a fire or similar occurs at your business premises. These options include: external hard drives or servers located elsewhere, and external cloud storage.