7 Most Common Causes Of Data Loss And What You Can Do To Protect Your Business

Data loss can be a major issue for companies of all sizes, as losing important information means that you will need to spend a significant amount of money and time to recover this data. There are many reasons why you may experience a data loss incident. As a result, some or all of your data elements might become unreadable by both users and software applications, and this can have a lasting impact on your company. This means that data loss prevention is crucial, as this will minimise your organisation’s risk of data loss. Today we will explore some of the most common causes of data loss and what you can do to prevent them.

Theft

You may lose your business data through theft, if a laptop, computer, or other electronic device is stolen. This can be concerning, as most of the time, the data that is stored on a device is more valuable than the device itself. Once an unauthorised person gains access to business data, they can potentially alter, delete, or restrict access to it. They can also access secure accounts and use the information for identity theft. There are different ways in which data theft or digital theft can occur, such as insider threats, weak passwords, phishing, and system vulnerabilities.

Ransomware

A ransomware attack occurs when important business files get encrypted by a cybercriminal and your business is asked to provide a ransom payment to regain access. This is a common problem that businesses face nowadays, so it’s crucial to have a good backup plan. For instance, SaaS Protection is a cloud-based backup product, that can help you protect your Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data. SaaS protection is powered by Datto and provides three backup points throughout any given day so that you can ensure that your business is protected against all types of harmful malware and ransomware threats.

Human Error

Human error is one of the most common causes of data loss, as the day-to-day running of a business requires a lot of attention. By nature, humans are not perfect, which means that there are many daily processes that can result in accidental errors, such as typing, editing, and updating information. Unfortunately, this can easily lead to the unintentional deletion of files and other important company documents. In addition, spillage of coffee or other drinks can also result in data loss. To minimise human error in the workplace, it’s recommended to offer regular training and improve your document management system.

Natural Disasters

Although they might be a rare occurrence, natural disasters can happen when you least expect them. They can have a devasting impact on your company, as they can destroy your computers and data. Backing up your data on a regular basis is crucial to minimising the effect of natural disasters. It might also be beneficial to secure your business premises. For example, to protect your business against fire, you should install fire alarms and smoke detectors. You should also establish a good fire safety plan and map out an evacuation route. Also, remember to back up data in a remote location.

Electrical Outage

An electrical outage can also disrupt your business operations unexpectedly. As a result, unsaved data can be lost and other files may become corrupted because of improper shutdown procedures. This can have a lasting impact on your hard drive. Your computers may develop rebooting problems, which means you might not be able to access data. Thus, it’s advisable to make automatic backups part of your day-to-day operations. Most of the time, backups will be the only solution to recover data lost due to an electrical outage. It means that you should have at least one copy of your data on a separate medium.

Computer Viruses

Computer viruses can be dangerous, as they can steal, encrypt, corrupt, or even delete important information. In addition, they may also damage data stored on hard drives and affect the whole organisation’s network systems. Consequently, using anti-virus software is crucial to prevent viruses from infiltrating your systems. Your anti-virus software should be updated regularly so that it can operate effectively. It’s also essential to educate both employees and customers on the warning signs and risks involved so that they don’t fall victim to a phishing attack.

Hardware Malfunctions

Hardware malfunctions lead to a high number of data loss incidents, as hard drives are the most fragile components of your computer. These malfunctions are often due to a range of mechanical issues or human misuse or mishandling, such as dropping a laptop. Additionally, hard drives might also get damaged due to computer overheating as a result of overuse or dust build-up. This means that you should be aware of the common signs that your hard drive might be failing. For example, if a computer freezes unexpectedly or is unusually hot, it is advisable to contact a professional.