Your business is constantly filtering through new information. Everything from interactions with your home website to new purchases to your customer habits is tracked. Big data has allowed organizations to take an incredible leap forward, pushing us further into an era of personalization and highly-customized business marketing and operations.
Yet, just because big data is useful, doesn’t mean it's infallible. From time to time, whether it's due to a human mistake or a crisis event, we lose access to our data. Without insights into customers, buying information, or the ability to process new information, we’re left in the dark. This can be disastrous for companies, with the average small business losing between $18,120 and $35,000 from a single small data loss event.
That’s not even mentioning larger hacks or major data crisis events. To make sure you’re prepared for the worst, businesses need to get ready ahead of the event, using a range of big data disaster recovery strategies to help them weather the storm. In this article, we’ll touch on the leading methods that you should be using.
If you’re not already protecting your data, be sure to start the following practices:
● On-site and Off-Site Backups
● Coherent Crisis Playbook to Follow
● Create Backup Data Storage Locations
Let’s dive into these strategies.
On-site and Off-site Backups
Without a doubt, backups are the most important element of any data security protocol. No matter what other strategies you have in place, if you’re not using backups, you will be actively putting your company at risk.
We’re not talking about one or two backups here, we mean you should have a variety of them in a range of different places. At the very least, you should attempt to have on-site data backups and off-site data backups:
● On-site Backups - When disaster strikes, you want to make sure that you still have access to the data that keeps your business running smoothly. An on-site backup will ensure that your company can still get local access to the files they need, helping you to get back on track if your other sources go down.
● Off-site Backups - Off-site backs are stored in a remote location, far away from your actual headquarters. If your main site is targeted by a cyberattack, or maybe if you suffer a massive electricity outage and don’t have backup generators, this off-site hub will serve as your safe haven. While on-site storage is normally very safe, that doesn’t mean that a natural event couldn’t occur that jeopardizes your site. Make sure to have a remote location where you store additional data.
The main reason behind needing so many backups is that you want to always have a second option. While it’s unlikely, you could have two systems that fail on you at the same time. If you have three different backup sites, that now means that you’re covered even in the most extreme circumstances.
People often have at least three backups of their most important functional company data.
Coherent Crisis Playbook to Follow
In times of crisis, even the best of us get a little bit on edge. This state of being overly alert or worried can lead to us making some poor decisions. Especially when it comes to something as important as getting our data infrastructure back online, we cannot afford to take any risks with bad decisions.
That’s where a crisis playbook comes in. Before you’re ever in a data event situation, you should carefully plan the exact steps that you’ll take during the event. This plan will logically move through different scenarios and explain to your team what they should do if it were to occur.
By having this document, you’ll have a carefully-organized voice of reason to follow during a crisis. Instead of panicking, your crisis playbook will allow your team to act immediately, moving through the outlined steps that you’ve created to get your business back up and running as quickly as possible.
Of course, every situation is different, but your guide should give you enough overhead to make the right decision in a moment of pressure.
Create Backup Data Storage Locations
When your data architecture goes out, most of the time, you’re unable to continue to capture new data. Depending on your industry, this continual flow of information could be vital to what you offer your customers. If that’s the case, you want to make sure that you have backup architecture in place that can help you capture new data, even if all your current systems are offline.
Having a backup storage location that can step in and collect this flow of information is vital for ongoing success. While it could day a few days or even weeks to recover from a data event, you don’t want to disable your company’s ability to continue being productive during this period.
Data protection is all about minimization, with strategies like these allowing you to continue as if nothing were wrong while you quickly act to get your data architecture back online. These additional storage locations can come in many different formats, depending on what your business currently uses.
Often, if your business turns to cloud solutions, you’ll be able to rapidly find locations for storage. If we read through a comparison between specialized analytics databases, like Druid vs Pinot, instantly we’re alerted to the flexibility of these systems to accept data. By using one of these, we can create a remote, cloud storage that can be used as a final salvation.
If you’re already working with a different cloud service, be sure to inquire about creating a further backup of your products.
Final Thoughts
No one wants to end up in a data disaster event. But, it’s more than likely that this will occur at some point in your company’s history. Even if you think that there’s only a remote chance of this happening, you should still prepare. If an event does occur and you’re prepared, you can quickly minimize the damages and get your organization back up and running in no time.
If you’re not prepared, you can expect huge losses for your business, impacting customer trust in you and reducing revenue considerably. And, that’s not even mentioning the fact that 60% of small businesses that experience a data loss will close within six months of the event.
It’s always a good idea to place yourself on the side of caution. Follow the tips that we’ve outlined in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to ensuring the complete safety of your data.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).