Is Your Data Safe and Secure?

Summer is upon us. Time for a stroll in the park; softball; fishing; a few rounds of golf. So how can you relax during this year’s getaway time and still have confidence your company’s computer data is safe and secure?

Here’s a quick nine-step checklist you can use to ensure that your company’s computer network, and the data for your business, is safe and secure from disruption:

  1. A written recovery plan – Simply thinking through what needs to happen when things go south, and documenting it all in advance, can go a long way toward getting your network back up and running.
  2. Have a clear communication plan. What if your employees can’t access your office, e-mail, or phone system? How will they communicate with you? Make sure your communications plan details every alternative, including multiple ways to stay in touch in the event of a disaster.
  3. Automate your data backups. The #1 cause of data loss is human error. If your backup system depends on a human being always doing something right, it’s a recipe for disaster. Automate your backups wherever possible so they run like clockwork.
  4. Have redundant off-site backups. On-site backups are a good first step, but if they get flooded, burned, or hacked along with your server, you’re out of luck. Always maintain a recent copy of your data off-site.
  5. Enable remote network access. Without remote access to your network, you and your staff won’t be able to keep working in the event that you can’t get into your office. To keep your business going, at very minimum, you need a way for your IT specialist to quickly step in when needed.
  6. System images are critical. Storing your data off-site is important. But if your system is comprised, the software and architecture that handles all that data must be restored for the data to be useful. Imaging your server creates a replica of the original, saving you an enormous amount of time and energy getting your network back in gear should the need arise. Without it, you risk losing all your preferences, configurations, favorites, and more.
  7. Maintain an up-to-date network ‘blueprint’. To rebuild all or part of your network, you’ll need a blueprint of the software, data, systems, and hardware that comprise your company’s network. An IT professional can create this for you. It could save you a huge amount of time and money in the event your network needs to be restored.
  8. Don’t ignore routine maintenance. While fires, flooding, and other natural disasters are always a risk, it’s more likely that you’ll have downtime due to a software or hardware glitch or cyber-attack. That’s why it’s critical to keep your network patched, secure, and up-to-date. Deteriorating hardware and corrupted software can wipe you out. Replace and update them as needed to steer clear of this threat.
  9. Test, Test, Test! If you’re going to go through the trouble of setting up a plan, at least make sure it works! An IT professional can check monthly to make sure your systems work properly and your data is secure. After all, the worst time to test your parachute is after you jump out of the plane!

Be sure you have all 9 steps fully covered. As you guessed, we can help you with these. Too much to cover at one time? Choose the top two or three and let us help you knock them out! – 630-850-9039, CustomerSupport@www.syscon-inc.com – CMW

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