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Making sure your business data is safe involves more than just copying information. It's about knowing the differences between data backups and IT continuity. Both systems work to prevent significant data loss, but they do so in different ways.Data backups restore data from a specific time point while continuity continuously saves data in real-time. Data backups can be simple or complex, but continuity duplicates whole systems and requires a detailed execution plan.Knowing the differences between these two systems can help businesses better determine what tools, plans, services, and budgets they need to protect their valuable data.WEBIT Services has helped clients in the greater Chicago area build IT strategies and safeguards for over 25 years.By reading this article, you will learn what data backups are, the definition of IT continuity, and the importance of both systems.
Backups are snapshots of important pieces of data from a particular point in time. It's essentially a "photograph" of your data.For example, you may back up your system every 24 hours. Every day at 6:00 PM, all the data for the day is safely stored. If your system crashes the next day, you can restore the files from the last saved backup.There are two kinds of backups: file-based and image-based.File-based backups store individual files but not operating systems or programs. For instance, it will save a Microsoft Word document but not restore the Microsoft Word application.On the other hand, image-based backups save a "snapshot" version of your entire operating system, files, and programs when it was saved to your backup system. In this case, restoring a backup includes the Microsoft Word document and the application. Your computer is restored to its state when the last backup was saved.Backups can be used to restore data that may have been lost when:
To determine what data you need to backup and how frequently, ask yourself the following questions:
It's important to note that the more backups you need—the more frequently you need them saved, and the longer you need to hold them—the more storage space you need.
IT continuity is more than just data backup; it involves a detailed plan and is the IT-specific part of a broader Business Continuity Plan (BCP). IT continuity plans map out critical systems, workflows, relevant personnel, and data locations.An IT continuity plan outlines what to do when an IT system suddenly fails and how to get it online as quickly as possible with minimal interruption to productivity. Unlike IT backups that duplicate data at specific times, IT continuity saves and restores data in real-time.Essentially, an IT continuity plan requires that you know:
An IT continuity plan also asks and addresses the questions,
Time is crucial in IT continuity and affects costs. Businesses should determine their continuity needs based on:
IT continuity plans cover both onsite and offsite recovery, using strategies like "air-gapped" systems."Air-gapping" means disconnecting at least one recovery system from the live environment. This strategy prevents attackers or disasters from affecting all critical systems. In an attack or disaster, the air-gapped system is protected through its disconnection, acting as an isolated island of safety for data. While effective, air-gapped systems need manual processes and can be costly, depending on recovery time and data loss tolerance.
IT backups and continuity protect your data from being lost in a cyberattack, disaster, or error.IT backups take a "snapshot" of your data or operating system at a specific point in time, allowing you to restore information from that save point. IT continuity, on the other hand, saves and restores data constantly in real-time, so no data is lost.IT backups should be applied to any data that is too valuable to be lost or too difficult to duplicate. This may include customer information, confidential files, product instructions or recipes, patient records, etc.IT continuity plans should be reserved for mission-critical systems only. Yes, businesses can create continuity for every IT system, but it would require significant funds, time, processes, and equipment.To determine your IT backup or continuity plans, examine your business processes to find which IT systems you use daily for business operations, what data is too valuable to lose, and your industry’s legal requirements for data retention.You should also establish a budget for these systems and communicate your needs and expectations.Talk to your IT provider about IT backup and continuity plans. Your provider can help you determine what equipment, systems, or services can help meet your needs and minimize downtime and damages in an IT disaster.Your IT backup or continuity plans should be as unique as your business. It may not meet your needs if your provider has a standardized, one-size-fits-all backup or continuity systems for all its clients—regardless of size, compliance standards, or budget.WEBIT Services has served hundreds of satisfied clients in the Chicago area for over 25 years.If you are looking for a new IT provider or want to develop a backup and recovery system, schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see how WEBIT Services can help.If you're not ready to make a commitment but would like to learn more about IT backups and continuity, we recommend the following articles:
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