If Your Computer Died Tomorrow… What Would You Lose?
Most of us don't think about backups until we need one.
You turn on your computer one morning and something has gone wrong. Maybe the hard drive has failed. Maybe files have disappeared. Maybe you've accidentally deleted something important. Maybe your business has been hit by malware or ransomware. Or maybe the computer simply won't start.
Suddenly, you're not thinking about the cost of a new computer.
You're thinking:
“What about all my stuff?”
Your customer information. Your documents. Your emails. Your financial records. Your photos. Your quotes and invoices. Your business data.
And then comes the really important question:
Do you know what to do?
Something's gone wrong. Now what?
First things first — don't panic.
Stop, take a breath and think about what has happened.
If you suspect a cyber-attack or ransomware, don't simply start reconnecting backup devices or trying to fix everything yourself. A compromised system can potentially affect connected backups too. Don't keep clicking. Don't start plugging backup drives in. Don't assume everything is safe.If you're not sure what you're looking at, that's when you call someone who knows what they're doing.
Do you have a backup?
A backup is a copy of your important information that can be used to recover your data if the original is lost, damaged or compromised.
For a business, that might include things such as:
Emails
Customer information
Calendars
Financial records
Documents
Photos
Quotes and invoices
Other data your business relies on
But simply having something called a backup doesn't necessarily mean you're protected.
You need to know:
☐ What is being backed up?
☐ How often is it being backed up?
☐ Where is the backup stored?
☐ Is the backup actually completing successfully?
☐ How long are backups kept?
☐ Can you restore your information if you need to?
The Australian Signals Directorate recommends that businesses have a backup plan and regularly test their backups to make sure data can actually be restored.
Do you know how to restore your data?
Having a backup is one thing. Being able to get your business back up and running is another. Imagine your computer has failed. You've got a backup somewhere. Now what?Where do you find it? How do you access it? Which files do you restore first? Do you restore individual files or the whole system? What happens to your programs and settings? What if the problem was caused by ransomware?
These are the sorts of questions you don't want to be working out for the first time when your business is already down.
A backup should be more than something you hope is working. You should know that it works — and know how your data can be restored.
Do you know who to call?
This is something every business should know before something goes wrong.
Do you know:
Who looks after your computers? Who manages your backups? Who do you call if your files disappear?Who do you call if your computer won't start? Who do you call if you think you've been hacked?
Having those answers written down somewhere accessible can save a lot of time and stress when something goes wrong., and sometimes, getting help early can make a very big difference.
Who can help if something goes wrong?
You don't have to work it all out yourself. Depending on what has happened, there are different experts and organisations that can help.
Your IT Provider / Tech Team
Your IT provider can help investigate what has happened, contain the problem, restore systems and data where possible, and get your technology back up and running.
This is where Connelly's Tech Team can help.
Australian Cyber Security Hotline
If you think your business has experienced a cyber security incident, the Australian Cyber Security Hotline can provide guidance and help direct you to the appropriate reporting or support options.
1300 292 371 (1300 CYBER1)
ReportCyber / Police
If you've been the victim of cybercrime, you may need to report it to ReportCyber and, depending on the circumstances, the police.
This is particularly important if money has been stolen, systems have been deliberately compromised or you've been the victim of another cybercrime. Your BankIf money has been transferred to a scammer or you think your banking information may have been compromised, contact your bank immediately using an official contact number.
IDCARE If personal or identity information has been exposed, IDCARE provides support for people and organisations affected by identity theft and cyber incidents.
Your Cyber Insurance Provider If your business has cyber insurance, make sure you know who to contact and what your policy requires you to do if an incident occurs.
Some policies may provide access to specialist cyber security, legal or forensic support.
This is where our 360 Protection Plans come in
At Connelly's, we don't just want to help you when something has already gone wrong.
Our 360 Protection Plans are designed to provide ongoing monitoring and support for your technology. Our Tech Team can monitor your systems 24/7, helping identify potential issues early and working proactively to help prevent problems before they become problems for your business.
Because we'd much rather help you spot a problem before it becomes a disaster.
The aim is simple: Keep your systems safe. Keep your systems healthy. Keep your business running.
Because when it comes to your business: Prevention is better than a panic at 4:55pm.
A quick backup check for your business
Take five minutes and ask yourself:
☐ Do we have a backup?
☐ Do we know exactly what it backs up?
☐ When was the last successful backup?
☐ Do we know where the backup is?
☐ Have we ever tested restoring from it?
☐ Do we know what to do if our computer fails?
☐ Do we know who to call?
If you're answering “I'm not sure” to a few of these, that's okay.
Now you know what to check.
Don't wait until you need your backup to find out if it works.
Your computer can be replaced. Your business data may not be. When something goes wrong, you don't want your first question to be:
“What do we do now?”
You want to already know the answer.
Need help working out whether your business is properly protected?
Talk to the Connelly's Tech Team.
📞 02 6382 4099
Want to learn more?
Cyber.gov.au — How to back up your files and devicesCyber.gov.au provides information about what to back up, automatic backups, cloud and physical backups, securing your backups and restoring your data.
Australian Cyber Security Hotline:📞 1300 292 371 (1300 CYBER1)
Remember:
you don't need to know everything about cyber security and backups.
But you do need to know what to do, and who to call.
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