One of the most serious threats that can tank any business is data loss, yet it is one of the things that many companies are unprepared for. Studies have shown that 93 percent of companies file for bankruptcy within one year of losing their data. With 25 percent of PC users losing their data at least once a year, potential data loss should be cause for concern.
There are numerous possible causes of data loss, but it is important to be familiar with the most common ones. Addressing or eliminating the likeliest causes can protect your data and business by a large margin, and we have compiled a few examples below to serve as a guide.
1. Human error
Human error is inevitable in every endeavor. Sometimes, the mistakes are small; sometimes, the mistakes are more devastating. Employees can overwrite or delete files unintentionally or even damage computers and other important equipment.
The best way to prevent it is to train employees to a sufficient level of technical skill and awareness. The next step is to ensure your employees understand how your backup and data processing processes work, whether this means teaching them how to backup manually or helping them understand when files backup automatically.
2. Viruses and malware
Viruses and malware don’t just steal large swaths of data; they can bog down systems and severely hamper company operations. These threats usually enter a system through emails and phishing scams. Even an employee just using one of their personal flash drives can bring some kind of virus, especially if their home computer doesn’t have antivirus protection.
As such, businesses must invest in protective software. It might also be helpful if employees use similar antivirus and anti-malware programs on their personal devices. These layers of protection can essentially quarantine business systems from potential threats.
Regular scans must also be conducted to make sure none of these threats are hiding in the system. If these threats remain unaddressed, it might lead to data loss and create a need for computer repairs.
3. Hard drive failure
Hard drives are the most fragile parts of computers. More often than not, they are the first part to fail. According to a survey of computer repair establishments around America, around 140,000 hard drives crash every week. 60 percent of these are due to mechanical issues, and 40 percent are due to mishandling and jostling. Jostling, dust, overheating, and overuse are some of the most common ways hard drives can fail.
As such, it is important to treat your hard drives properly. Do not move them too much or too roughly, do not overuse them, and make sure they stay cool and clean. If it is possible, upgrade to solid-state drives, which are longer-lived and hardier against movement.
4. Failure to backup
It is critical to back up your important data as frequently as you need to. You can use portable hard drives, solid-state drives, or cloud-based storage solutions with plenty of useful features. Without proper backups, you leave yourself open to data loss for whatever reason.
Final thoughts
Data loss can be devastating, but you can protect yourself against it with the proper skills and technological literacy. Your business doesn’t have to suffer a data loss if you use the right protective software, take care of your devices, and back up regularly.
If you need an Indianapolis-based computer repair center, send us a message at Finchum Fixes It. We can fix your computers and give you the tools to protect your business from data loss.
