With historic natural disasters like the wildfires in the west and Hurricane Irma following on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, most of us have had our eyes opened to the potential damage that can be done without notice. Though it’s not something anyone wants to think about, protecting and recovering your business’ data in the event of a natural disaster is an important topic to discuss.

For starters, having a backup system in place is key in preventing catastrophic data loss. Recovering data from a backup is typically a simple and painless process. Hardware can easily be replaced, but extra measures should be taken to protect your sales history, accounting records, etc. The most common methods are defined below.

Local backup

Local backup is any storage method where data is kept onsite. This can include an external hard drive, flash drive, or CD, just to name a few possible options. This solution is simple, and data can be quickly restored. Your data is also protected from cyberattacks. However, if the backup and source data are stored together it is likely if one is damaged by a natural disaster, the other will be as well. External data storage could be very expensive may take up plenty of space.

Offsite backup

Offsite backup is housed at a facility that stores data away from the business location. The primary purpose is to prevent data loss in the event of physical damage to a business’s POS system. It is essentially the same as a standard backup process but is not stored onsite. Offsite backup is more reliable as each file is backed up on a daily basis. It also reduces workload and saves money.

Backup

Cloud backup

Also known as online backup, cloud backup is done remotely over the internet, via a cloud storage platform. With cloud-based backup, data is automatically saved as it is received. This data is accessible from anywhere you have an internet connection. In the event of a natural disaster, data is stored away from any physical threat like a flood or fire, and easily recovered and restored. However, you will not be able to access your data without internet access and complete data recovery can be time-consuming.

Unfortunately, the road to recovery isn’t always easy. A previous Business News Daily article about recovery from 2012’s Superstorm Sandy reported that just 25 percent of small businesses had backups of critical programs and data before the storm, and even fewer (20 percent) said they had protected their buildings from the storm or prepared emergency survival kits. In the event of damage to your POS, there are ways that you may be able to recover data that has not been backed up. In some cases, an outside specialist is required, but there are ways you can start rebuilding your data on your own. Below are a few possible solutions that may aid you in your efforts.

Data Recovery Service

Data recovery services recover corrupt or lost data, typically from storage media like an external hard drive for example. There are different methods including in-lab, server recovery, and software designed specifically for data recovery.

In-lab data recovery is typically a low-cost solution, that in some cases will guarantee recovery of your data. This method supports different types of files such as music, pictures, MS office documents, etc.

Server recovery allows for instant data restoration either through the internet or through onsite rapid recovery appliances, provided your server is salvageable. This significantly reduces downtime costs. It also frees your staff from tedious backup and restoration tasks and helps your business rebound quicker. It provides improved access to your data.

If your hardware is intact, you can use data recovery software to resurrect any type of file, from music and pictures to spreadsheets and documents. The software can easily locate and restore your emails, compressed files, and executables. The best data recovery software can help maintain the folder organization of your various files, and it can even recover an entire drive or partition.

System Repair

System repair is handled by a specialized technician, utilizing various methods to repair hardware, software or network issues.
Generally, hardware failures require the review of a system to test for various abnormalities. Suspected parts, like RAM, power supply, hard disk or optical drive are individually checked, replaced or troubleshooted when an error is discovered.

Rebuilding Data

Rebuilding Data

When a hard disk fails, data is copied to an extra drive and the failed disk is replaced. Data is reconstructed on the fresh drive with the help of algorithms and parity data. During the rebuilding process, the performance of a few processes or applications might be adversely affected by latency.

In the event you are starting from the ground up, rebuilding data from third-party sources is a helpful place to start. Some of these records may include, but are not limited to:
• Merchant statements/credit card history
• Purchase Orders
• Vendor Records
• Accountant records/receipts

These are some important data backup and recovery methods that will help keep all your crucial data safe in case tragedy strikes. Take advantage of them and keep your business data safe at all times.