5 Common Causes of Data Loss for Businesses

A single data loss incident can change the landscape of your business forever, with costs averaging to $5.4 million per incident.

That is just the beginning. The stakes are so much higher than just the frustration of losing work. Depending on the severity, data loss can change the public perception of your business, increasing the cost by tenfold.

Do not wait until it is too late. Keep reading to learn the five biggest causes of data loss incidents and find out how you can protect your business.

1. Acts of God

From tornadoes to floods to certain types of fires, an Act of God is any natural disaster that occurs without a person’s direct influence.

These events are devastating. Within the span of a single storm, hundreds of hours of work could disappear into thin air — even if you have backups.

It is a good idea for companies to take a multifaceted approach to data storage. While onsite storage is effective, it is not comprehensive.

To prevent data loss in the events of an Act of God, consider implementing cloud services into your business plan.

2. Human Error

No matter how diligent and intelligent humans are, we are still fallible. Mistakes can and do happen all the time.

Vital files get deleted, important documents get erased, and drinks get spilled.

While some of these are not preventable, you can do your best to minimize human error by educating your team and restricting access to certain files or documents.

3. Malware

It only takes one wrong click to send your entire business system into disarray.

Malware is one of the leading causes of data loss, with the number of cyber attacks against small businesses slowly but steadily rising within the last few years.

Should someone download a virus, your files could be at risk. Ransomware attacks, for instance, hold data hostage and could cost your business thousands of dollars.

Backup your data on a daily basis. You never know who might click on a bad link.

4. Damaged Hardware

Standard hard drives have a shorter lifespan than you may imagine. On average, you can expect your hard drive to last two to three years.

After that, you will want to keep an eye out for signs of impending hard drive failure.

Some common signs of disk failure include:

Slow boot times.
Constant freezes.
Data corruption or damaged files.
Mechanical noises.

Do not wait until your hard drive fails. Have a plan in place to back up and replace your drives every few years.

5. Data Breaches

Since cybercrime is on the rise, businesses need to conduct regular audits to ensure their systems are secure. Data breaches are increasingly common and can ruin a business, exposing crucial secrets or customer data.

Create a disaster plan, backup data, and enforce privacy standards to minimize the risk of a data breach.

Protect Your Business From Data Loss Before It Is Too Late

It may only be a matter of time before someone targets your business. Do not become the latest victim of data loss, protect your data before it is too late.

Get in touch to learn about our managed IT services and solutions and keep your data out of the wrong hands.

Sagacent Technologies offers technology management and support, including proactive/preventative maintenance, onsite and offsite data back-ups, network and security audits, mobility solutions, disaster planning and emergency business resumption services. The company serves clients of 10 to 150 employees within the Silicon Valley region.