Data loss despite backup - please test

The time-consuming full backup of data is routine for most companies and private users today. This was the result of a recent customer survey by data specialist Kroll Ontrack. Backing up data in the cloud is also becoming increasingly popular. Compared to the previous year, twice as many users (around 33%) carry out their backups online, as the provider writes. Backing up via tape is also high on the list, despite digital solutions: more than twice as many companies and private users (17%) than in the previous year stated that they banned their data to tape, according to the survey. Nevertheless, about one-third of the 1,000 customers surveyed from North America, Europe and Australia had suffered a data loss.

At 12% the backup was corrupted

It was striking that only 35% of the loss victims did not have a (current) backup. Consequently, most companies had suffered a data loss despite having a solution in place. In addition, the data backup did not work properly for a quarter of the respondents. Of the users who had suffered a data loss and were able to fall back on a backup, at least 67% stated that they had been able to restore almost all of the data, and a further 13% had been able to restore up to three quarters of the data. For 12%, the backup was corrupted. Just under 3% were only able to recover a small amount of data, according to the survey analysis.

Do not forget mobile data carriers

One possible explanation for data loss despite backup is the system, writes Kroll. If not all end devices are integrated, data could be lost in this way. To ensure a reliable backup, mobile data carriers such as cell phones or notebooks must also be connected to the backup server. Among those users who did not have a backup, only around 7% believed their data was safe without a backup. Some 14% of the global participants in the survey said that researching suitable solutions for a data backup and its costly management was too tedious.

Mostly unencrypted

The study also found that three-quarters of all backups are performed unencrypted. Compared with the United Kingdom, where just under half of the survey participants encrypt their backups, Germany scores rather poorly in this discipline with around 27%. The majority of users (44%) create a backup daily, while in Germany an impressive 71% take care of this daily. More than 18% of those surveyed would back up their data once a week, and just under 16% once a month. Only around 4% performed a backup annually.

24% test backup never

Of the users surveyed, 24% test their backups at least once a week, just under 30% once a month, and slightly less than 14% once a year. 24% never test.

And finally, a few tips on what businesses and home users should keep in mind to achieve the best possible backup results:

• All devices and media must be covered in the backup schedule.
• The function of the backups must be guaranteed and they must run at the set times.
• Data backup systems must be checked regularly for errors.
• Likewise, data backups must be tested for completeness and function.

The next issue of the SecurityForums/IT-Security addresses the important topic of backup.