What is data? That ambiguous word is thrown around in today’s world. Data can be comprised of pretty much anything factual and fictional in theory. It’s what’s done with the information, called data, which makes this the case. Information is used to model and mold calculations or reasoning.

Accurately calculating and reasoning correctly can make or break the success of any venture. Even if that venture is rock climbing. A business uses data to function and grow. What would a company do if they arrived to find that every bit of data about their business had been encrypted, and they could only recover that essential information by extortion? CrafTech has prevented data loss and restored data for clients in that position.

A client in Poland, an accounting firm in the midst of tax season, whose data is crucial to operation, once woke up to this frightening reality. An entire year’s worth of data had been encrypted with a demand to pay money for the release of their data. The accounting firm was dead in the water as long as their data was encrypted. Initially, they considered paying the ransom, not considering that giving their bank information would further put them at risk. The moment of fear, of their loss, was lessened by the knowledge that they had backed up their data with CrafTech. There was no need to pay the incredible ransom. Instead they contacted their managed service provider and requested to have their data restored. CrafTech was able to remotely remove the virus and have the accounting firm up and running in half an hour. Due to CrafTech’s help, tax season was saved. Back up of crucial data should be stressed in the same way wearing a safety harness during rock climbing is stressed. The danger is too great. There are many other ways in which data can be lost, this ransomware scenario is only one incident.

Loss of data can occur through hardware or software failure, theft, and human error.

Statistics show:

• 42% of IT professionals agree ransomware is the biggest risk. (StorageCraft.com)
• 29% said the main cause of data loss were viruses. (StorageCraft.com)
• 31% of IT professionals stated the main cause of data loss to be hardware/system failure. (StorageCraft.com)
• 29% of downtime incidents are caused by human error alone. (StorageCraft.com)
• Natural disaster account for only 10% of downtime. (Enterprise and the Cost of Downtime, Independent Oracle User Group, 2012)
• 50% of businesses that found themselves without data management for this same time period filed for bankruptcy immediately. (National Archives & Records Administration in Washington)

Treat your business like an excursion to the top of a mountain. The view will be great, but getting there can be treacherous, even if you are aware of the risks. Backing up data is the best insurance plan.