The impact of data loss.
You may have been in this situation before: you go to boot up your computer, and something’s not right about the login screen. Best case scenario, you’re able to get in, but a default background greets you and all your files are gone. Worst case, you’re greeted by a gray or blue screen, the harbinger of death for your computer and hard drive. All your data is gone.
You thought you were all set when you installed that network storage appliance or tape drive. Hmmm. When’s the last time you checked it? Who did we put in charge of that again…..? You weren’t paying attention to those backups, and now it’s too late. So what are some of the consequences of not backing up your data?
Revenue – Not backing up your organization’s data can lead to a direct hit to your revenue. Products and research stored in a single place will be lost, meaning you may need to either spend valuable time recreating what you already made or contacting clients to get duplicate files from them. This time should be spent creating new products and maintaining your revenue stream, but instead you have to spend it backtracking.
Brand Reputation – Clients won’t know how to respond to either being asked for the content you originally generated or being told that pending content will have to wait while you begin again from scratch. Suddenly, the organization you’ve worked so hard to keep reputable won’t look so professional, and clients may begin looking elsewhere for more reliable services.
Regulatory Problems – Losing critical data can be a violation of federal and state regulations. This will subject your business to re-compliance costs and additional fines for the violation. The government also has a justifiable cause to investigate your business for any foul play, causing you to lose more valuable time and further damage your brand reputation.
Direct Cost – Even if your data can be fully or partially recovered, this can be expensive and will be a direct hit to your business. On top of fines and loss of revenue, your business will be paying for an expensive recovery service that may not even recover all your data. Plus, odds are your finance and payroll systems will go down in the process, forcing you to go through lengthy accounting records to figure out where your business stands.
Accessibility – So far, all of the consequences have dealt with a data crash. But even in normal operations, your data needs to be backed up over a network. Without a backup, you could be stuck in an airport or meeting without access to critical information and files. You will be stuck calling, texting, or emailing an associate to send you a file, completely at the mercy of their awareness to their phone.
Time – Every second you spend with less data than you have under normal conditions at your workspace is a second spent at less than ideal productivity. By not backing up your data, you’ll lose valuable time in transit to your office or, as we discovered earlier, getting someone to send you the files you forgot. And if you’ve suffered a data crash, all the previous points will make you lose days, weeks, or even months recovering.
With all the risks associated with having failed backups, or worse, no backup or disaster recovery for your data, it should be apparent what the right choice is for your business. Choosing a managed backup system that allows you to access your data easily and is completely hands-free can make you look like the business-savvy professional you are! It not only frees up your time for more important pursuits, but it will ensure your peace of mind and business continuity. To get started on keeping your data safe and accessible, contact I-Evolve at (716) 505-8324 or visit www.i-evolve.com for more information!
