Is Your Business Data Safe? Why RAID Is Not a Backup

Your company stores accounting records, customer details and shared documents on a server or NAS. With several hard drives installed, it may feel like your data is already protected.

However, RAID and backup serve different purposes. Understanding the difference can help your business avoid losing important files.

What Does RAID Protect Against?

RAID combines multiple drives into a storage system. Depending on its configuration, it can keep your server or NAS running when a drive fails.

For example, RAID 1 mirrors data between drives, while RAID 5 can tolerate one drive failure.

This helps reduce downtime caused by a failed drive. However, it does not provide a separate historical copy of your files.

If someone accidentally deletes a folder, RAID normally reflects that deletion across the storage system.

What Can Still Go Wrong?

Even with RAID, your business may lose access to data because of:

• Accidental deletion: An employee deletes or overwrites an important file.
• Ransomware: Malicious software encrypts files and may also attack accessible backups.
• Equipment damage: Fire, water or electrical damage affects the entire device.
• Theft: Your server, NAS and nearby backup drives are stolen together.
• Data corruption: Files become damaged or unusable.

Having multiple drives in the same device does not protect against every incident.

What Is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule?

The 3-2-1 rule provides a useful starting point:

• 3 copies of your data: Your working data and two backup copies.
• 2 different types of storage media: To reduce reliance on one storage method.
• 1 copy stored offsite: Away from your main business location.

An offsite copy helps protect against incidents affecting the whole office. For ransomware protection, also consider an offline copy or a backup with properly configured protection against deletion and alteration.

Does Cloud Sync Count as a Backup?

Cloud synchronisation makes it convenient to access files across devices. However, unwanted changes and deletions may also synchronise.

Some cloud services provide version history and recovery features, but these have retention limits and depend on your settings and subscription.

Before relying on cloud storage, check what you can restore and how far back you can recover.

Back Up Your Accounting System Correctly

For accounting software that uses a database, copying a folder while the system is running may not produce a usable backup.

Use the software’s supported backup function or an application-aware backup method. Your recovery plan should cover the database and any supporting files needed to restore normal operations.

Test Whether You Can Restore

A “backup successful” notification is useful, but a restore test provides stronger evidence that your data is recoverable.

Restore sample files to a separate location and check that they open correctly. For critical applications, test the recovery process in a suitable test environment.

Two questions should guide your backup plan:

• How much recent work could your business afford to lose?
• How long could your business operate without its systems?

The answers help determine backup frequency and recovery arrangements.

Protect Your Business Before Data Is Lost

A reliable backup plan includes separate copies, suitable protection, monitoring and regular restore testing.

Unsure whether your current setup is enough? Contact MY IT PLT to discuss backup protection for your business computers, servers and NAS.