A backup is a secure copy of a company’s data. Its purpose is to allow information to be restored in the event of data loss, system failure, human error or a cyberattack. Backups are one of the key pillars of any cybersecurity and business continuity strategy.
Backed-up data may include documents, databases, emails, applications or even entire servers. In the event of an incident, the company can recover all or part of its information and resume operations much more quickly.
Backups are particularly important when dealing with ransomware. When a cybercriminal encrypts a company’s data and demands a ransom, having a recent backup will often make it possible to restore the affected files without giving in to the extortion attempt. However, the backup itself must also be protected, as some types of malware are designed to delete or encrypt backup copies as well.
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To be truly effective, backups should be performed regularly, tested to ensure they can be restored and stored in a secure environment. Many companies follow the 3-2-1 rule: keep at least three copies of the data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored off-site or offline. This approach significantly reduces the risk of losing all data as a result of a single incident.
It is also important to distinguish a backup from simple synchronisation with a cloud service. If a file is deleted or encrypted by ransomware, synchronisation may replicate that change across all devices. A proper backup, on the other hand, makes it possible to restore an earlier version of the data.
By combining regular backups with system monitoring, security updates and employee awareness, companies can significantly strengthen their resilience to cyberattacks and limit the impact of an IT incident.