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Data Solutions
Data Solutions
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most valuable asset a company
Data Solutions
Data is often the most valuable asset a company has and to lose that data or access to it could put the entire business at risk of insolvency. Steel City Consulting have created a framework of storage solutions to make sure that your business data is captured and stored effectively. We have multiple backups suppliers and DR architectures capable of protecting your critical data. For full details please email our team at sales@steelcityconsulting.co.uk or call 0114 400 0038.
Managed Back-up
Our backup solutions are seamless with minimal business downtime ensuring that you can recover data as quickly as possible. Our online systems allow you to backup your data securely removing the need to take tapes or drives off-site and we advise on the best way to encrypt your data. Our backup specialists can provide a backup solution that offers proactive management and regular testing giving you piece of mind that your business has the best backup practices in place. We work with several back-up providers and have a solution for nearly every situation.
Our Back-up Providers Partners:
OUR FAQ'S FOR OUR Back-up solutions
Backing up data is an important to protect against data loss due to cyber attacks, hardware failures, or other disasters. By regularly backing up data, you can ensure that your important files and information are safe and can be restored in the event of a loss. There may also be compliance requirements for backing up your data. In certain industries, such finance or legal sectors there are specific requirements for handling data. Backing up your data can help you to meet these requirements and avoid penalties.
The frequency of data backups will depend on the specific needs and risk profile of your business. Some organizations may choose to back up data daily, while others may only back up data on a weekly or monthly basis. It is important to develop a data backup schedule that meets the needs of your organization and ensures that your data is protected.
Steel City Consulting can discuss the benefits of regularly backing up your data and make sure that this is manageable while ensuring that you are fully backed up. In the event we need to restore your data we can make sure that files are recovered in the quickest time possible.
There are several methods for backing up data, including backing up on external hard drives; cloud backup; backing via network attached storage (NAS); and tape backups. You can also choose to do a full backup; incremental backup; differential backup; or mirror backup.
Each type of backup has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to choose the right backup method for your needs and budget. You can also combine multiple backup methods for added redundancy and protection. Steel City Consulting can help you select the best backup method for your business and implement robust procedures that ensure your critical systems are always backed up. Additionally, we regularly test your backups to ensure that your data is recoverable in case of an emergency.
Choosing the best method for backing up your data depends on several factors such as the amount of data you have, the frequency of updates, the level of security you require, and your budget.
For those who have a smaller budget and want a more simple approach to backing up then using external hard drives can be a good solution as automated backups can be set up and the drives stored in a safe location. However, external hard drives can fail or get lost, so it’s important to keep multiple copies in different locations. Alternatively, cloud storage services like Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive enable you to access your data from anywhere and any device. However, you have to rely on the cloud service provider’s security and privacy policies, and it can also be costly as it requires a subscription to a cloud storage service.
In our opinion a hybrid solution, which uses a combination of onsite external hard drives for daily backups and cloud storage for offsite backups is the best method, as it provides quick access to data and added security, and can provide a balance between upfront and ongoing costs.
One of our back up experts can talk you through the best approach to backing up your data and provide a complete backup solution if required.
The decision of whether to trust your data to the cloud depends on several factors, including the sensitivity of your data, the level of security provided by your cloud provider, and your own risk tolerance. Cloud storage can be a reliable and secure method for backing up data, as long as you choose a reputable provider and follow best practices for data security. However, no system is completely foolproof, and there is always a risk of data breaches or other security incidents.
Before entrusting your data to a cloud provider, it is essential to research the provider’s security protocols and consider the sensitivity of the data you will be storing. If you are dealing with highly sensitive information, such as financial data or medical records, you may want to consider additional security measures, such as encrypting your data before uploading it to the cloud or using a private cloud solution.
If you are considering a move to the cloud or if you have any questions about how to keep yourself secure in the cloud one of our team will be able to discuss the best policies and talk you through your options.
The process for restoring data from a backup will depend on the specific method and location of the backup. In general, you will need to connect the storage device or access the cloud storage service, and then use the appropriate software or tools to restore the data. Before starting the restore process, it is important to identify the specific files, folders, or systems you need to restore from your backup. Depending on the backup software and the data you’re restoring, you may need to choose a specific location to restore your data, such as a specific folder or disk. After you’ve accessed your backup and started the restore process it is important to verify that the restored data is accurate and complete. You should test any applications or systems to ensure that they’re functioning correctly.
The recovery time for restoring data from backups depends on the size and complexity of your environment. In general, our backup and recovery solutions are designed to ensure fast and efficient recovery times, typically ranging from a few hours to a few days.
During our initial consultation, we will work with you to establish your specific recovery time objectives and design a backup and recovery solution that meets your business’s needs. We will also provide you with regular reports and updates on the status of your backups, including estimated recovery times in the event of a data loss incident.
We have implemented robust measures to ensure that your data is protected during the backup process and are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of security and confidentiality. Below are some of the measures that we implement to ensure that your data is secure:
- Encrypted backup: We use industry-standard encryption technologies to encrypt your data during the backup process to prevent unauthorized access to your data.
- Secure storage: We store your backup data in secure data centres that are designed to protect against physical and virtual threats such as theft, fire, flood, and cyber attacks.
- Access controls: We restrict access to your backup data to only authorized personnel who require access to perform backup and recovery operations.
- Monitoring: We continuously monitor the backup process to identify any potential security risks or vulnerabilities and take corrective action to mitigate them.
- Regular testing: We perform regular testing of our backup and recovery solutions to ensure they are functioning correctly and that your data can be recovered in the event of a disaster.
Microsoft 365 Cloud Back-up
Microsoft do not guarantee retrieval of your content and recommend that companies use third-party back-up solutions. Having a comprehensive Microsoft 365 backup and recovery plan is increasingly important to capture a point-in time copy so that if data is accidentally deleted it can easily be restored. Many of the best backup providers now incorporate numerous security features into their solutions to protect against ransomware attacks, as well as offering free trials of their software. Steel City Consulting partner with several of these cloud back-up vendors which include: Acronis, Druva, Dropsuite and Barracuda.
Our Preferred for Microsoft 365 Back Up Partners:
Acronis is a leading backup provider for Microsoft 365 and ensures users can easily back-up all of their mailboxes and find a file in seconds with an enhanced search feature. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud integrates data protection with cybersecurity and makes security a centre point of your solutions ensuring that users have complete protection of their mailboxes and can prevent unauthorised file modification and encryption. Acronis offer free trials of their service for 30 days.
Druva delivers comprehensive backup and protection for Microsoft OneDrive, Exchange Online, Sharepoint and Microsoft Teams. Their secure SaaS platform allows Microsoft 365 to be open and accessible to unified governance policies and rasonmware protection, while allowing users to obtain critical insights into Microsoft 365 data and projects. Druva inSync delivers cohesive data protection and information governance that simplifies data backup and device management.
Dropsuite simplifies data protection and effortlessly backups Microsoft 365 by adhering to compliance regulations with email archiving, eDiscover, and GDRP Responder. Dropsuite’s backup solution provides a means of ensuring business email are fully protected from a ransomware attack and automatically back’s up email up to 3 times a day. Dropsuite is secured by military-grade encryption and in the event of an attack emails can be restored quickly with its 1-Click feature.
OUR FAQ'S FOR backing up microsoft 365
Although Microsoft 365 is designed to be a secure and reliable platform for email communication, it’s always recommended to have a backup of your mailbox data to prevent data loss due to unforeseen circumstances such as accidental deletion, malware attacks, or system failures. Microsoft 365 provides some level of protection against data loss, but it’s not a complete backup solution. For example, if you accidentally delete an email or a whole mailbox, it may not be recoverable unless you have a backup. Therefore, it’s a good practice to have a backup of your mailbox data in addition to using Microsoft 365’s built-in data protection mechanisms.
You can backup email, contacts, calendars, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and other important data stored in Microsoft 365.
We strongly recommend implementing a comprehensive backup solution that includes backing up all of your data, including email, documents, databases, and other critical data to ensure that your business can recover from any data loss incidents. While it may be tempting to only back up the most critical data, such as financial records or customer data, it’s important to remember that data loss can occur in any part of your organization.
Many regulatory compliance standards require businesses to keep backups of certain data, such as employee records or customer information. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant penalties and fines. Our team of experts can work with you to identify your specific backup needs based on your business operations and compliance requirements. We can also help you determine the optimal backup frequency and retention policies to ensure that your data is backed up appropriately and can be recovered quickly and efficiently.
There are several ways to backup Microsoft 365, including:
- Using a third-party backup solution: There are many third-party backup solutions available in the market, such as Acronis, Druva and Veeam. These backup solutions provide a simple and easy-to-use interface to backup and restore Microsoft 365 data.
- Using Microsoft’s built-in backup tools: Microsoft provides built-in backup tools to backup and restore Microsoft 365 data. These tools include the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center and PowerShell commands.
- Using Azure Backup: Azure Backup is a cloud-based backup solution provided by Microsoft. It can be used to backup and restore Microsoft 365 data, along with other data sources. It provides a simple and cost-effective way to backup your data to the cloud.
Disaster Recovery
While backup offers a preventative measure for securing your data, disaster recovery provides an insurance policy for when things go wrong. We utilise a host of technologies to ensure that your whole IT infrastructure can be restored instantly should the worst-case scenario become a reality. We can design a disaster recover plan that takes into account how long your business can survive without its entire infrastructure and how much data you can afford to lose but still carry on. We will then test this to ensure the solution can be implemented within a guaranteed time frame.
To discuss a disaster recovery plan contact us at sales@steelcityconsulting.co.uk or call 0114 400 0038 and one of our sales advisors would be happy to assist you.
OUR LEADING DISASTER RECOVERY PARTNERS
OUR FAQ'S FOR OUR disaster recovery services
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a comprehensive plan that outlines the procedures and processes that an organization will follow in the event of a disaster, such as a cyberattack, natural disaster, power outage, or other unexpected event that can disrupt normal business operations. The DRP typically includes strategies for data backup and recovery, system restoration, and resuming normal business operations.
Disasters can occur at any time and can have a significant impact on your business, leading to data loss, downtime, and financial losses. A DRP helps your business to prepare for these unexpected events and minimize the impact on your operations. Implementing a DRP is essential for any business that relies on technology to conduct business operations. The plan can help to ensure that critical data and systems are protected, and that your business can recover quickly and resume normal operations following a disaster.
The DRP should be customized to meet the specific needs of your business and should include a clear communication plan, backup and recovery procedures, and testing and maintenance processes. Regular testing and maintenance of the DRP are also essential to ensure that it remains up-to-date and effective. Generally speaking a DRP should be created by following these general steps:
- Identify potential risks – Identify potential risks and threats to your business, such as natural disasters, cyber attacks, power outages, and equipment failures.
- Determine critical business functions and assets – Determine which business functions and assets are critical to your operations and prioritize them based on their importance.
- Define recovery objectives – Define the recovery objectives for each critical business function or asset. This includes recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs).
- Develop a recovery strategy – Develop a recovery strategy for each critical business function or asset. This may involve having multiple backup copies of data and systems, using a disaster recovery site, or having redundant systems in place.
- Create a communication plan – Create a communication plan that outlines who will be responsible for communicating with stakeholders, employees, customers, and vendors in the event of a disaster.
- Test and revise the plan – Test the DRP regularly to ensure that it is effective and up-to-date. Revise the plan as needed to address any new risks or vulnerabilities that may arise.
- Train employees – Ensure that all employees are trained on the DRP and understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.
Creating a DRP can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it is essential for protecting your business from potential disasters. Our team of experts can work with you to develop a customized DRP that meets the specific needs of your business and helps you to prepare for the unexpected.
As an MSP, we recommend testing a disaster recovery plan (DRP) regularly to ensure that it is effective and up-to-date. Here are some steps you can take to test your DRP:
- Identify the scope of the test – Identify the systems, applications, and data that will be tested as part of the DRP.
- Define the test objectives – Define the objectives for the test, including the recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) for each system, application, and data set.
- Develop the test plan – Develop a test plan that outlines the steps that will be taken to test the DRP, including the tools, equipment, and personnel needed to conduct the test.
- Conduct the test – Conduct the test according to the test plan, simulating a disaster scenario and following the recovery procedures outlined in the DRP. This may include restoring data from backups, testing redundant systems, and ensuring that critical applications are functioning properly.
- Evaluate the results – Evaluate the results of the test to determine whether the DRP was effective in meeting the recovery objectives. Identify any areas that need improvement and develop a plan to address them.
- Update the DRP – Update the DRP based on the results of the test and any identified areas for improvement. Ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the changes and that employees are trained on the updated DRP.
- Repeat the test: Repeat the test on a regular basis to ensure that the DRP remains effective and up-to-date.
Regular testing of a DRP is essential for ensuring that it is effective and can help your business to recover quickly in the event of a disaster. Our team of experts can work with you to develop a customized test plan and conduct regular tests to ensure the effectiveness of your DRP.
Steel City Consulting have extensive experience creating DRPs for businesses of all sizes and across a range of industries. Our team of experts has helped numerous clients identify potential risks and vulnerabilities to their businesses, determine critical business functions and assets, and develop comprehensive DRPs to mitigate the impact of disasters.
We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and develop customized DRPs that meet their specific requirements. Our DRP creation process includes a thorough analysis of their existing IT infrastructure, data protection strategies, and business continuity objectives. We also take into consideration their RTOs and RPOs, compliance requirements, and budget constraints to ensure that their DRP is effective and feasible.
Our experience in creating DRPs covers a range of potential disasters, including natural disasters, cyber attacks, power outages, and equipment failures. We understand that every business is unique, and we tailor our DRP creation process to ensure that it meets the specific needs of each of our clients. Our team is experienced in all aspects of DRP creation, from identifying risks to developing recovery strategies, testing the plan, and revising it as needed. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the expertise and support they need to protect their businesses from potential disasters and ensure that they can recover quickly and efficiently in the event of an unexpected event.
