In the digital age, where data drives business decisions and strategies, ensuring that your backups are reliable isn’t just a best practice; it’s a necessity. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Thompson, a seasoned IT specialist with over 15 years of experience in data management and backup systems. Through our conversation, Mark shared invaluable insights into the art and science of verifying backups, a subject that often gets overshadowed by the more glamorous topics of cybersecurity and data analytics.
Mark began by emphasising the analogy of backups to an insurance policy. “You don’t buy insurance expecting to crash your car,” he chuckled, “but you’re grateful for it when you do.” This analogy underpins the critical importance of not just having backups, but ensuring they work effectively when needed. The increasing incidents of ransomware attacks have only heightened this need.
1. Monitoring Backup Jobs: A Daily Ritual
For Mark, the first line of defence is religiously monitoring backup jobs. “I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to keep an eye on your backup processes,” he noted. Despite the allure of ‘set and forget’ solutions, Mark insists that vigilance is key. He shared a story about a client who assumed their automated backups were running smoothly, only to face a nightmare scenario when they attempted a restore, realising that the system had been failing for weeks due to a software glitch. “It was a hard lesson learned,” Mark said, “but it drove home the point that you can’t take these processes for granted.”
2. Regular Testing of Restores
Another critical step Mark advocates for is the regular testing of data restores. “Your backup is only as good as your last successful restore,” he stated. Mark recommends setting a consistent schedule—be it monthly or quarterly—to test restores. He recounted a situation where a backup appeared complete but was actually corrupted due to a minor hardware failure. Regular restore tests caught the issue before it became a major problem. “It’s like fire drills,” he explained, “you practice so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency.”
3. Data Verification: Beyond Basic Checks
Particularly intriguing was Mark’s emphasis on data verification, especially for offsite backups. “When you separate your data from your production environment, you introduce layers of security and assurance,” he said. Mark’s approach involves checking different types of data for accuracy and inconsistencies. This meticulous process ensures that backups aren’t just ticking boxes but are genuinely reliable. He explained how this practice has saved businesses from substantial data loss, as verification often uncovers hidden issues in the backup process.
4. Maintaining Storage Health
Lastly, Mark highlighted the importance of maintaining the health and capacity of storage systems. “Predicting storage needs can be tricky,” he admitted, “but underestimating can lead to catastrophic failures.” Mark advises companies to consider scalable solutions, such as cloud-based Backup-as-a-Service, which can accommodate growing data volumes without the headache of physical storage limitations. He shared an example of a company that switched to a cloud solution and saw not only improved backup success rates but also cost savings.
Throughout our conversation, Mark’s passion for ensuring robust data management practices was evident. He reiterated that while the technical aspects are crucial, the mindset of continuous vigilance and improvement is what truly safeguards a company’s data. “It’s about building a culture of reliability and resilience,” he concluded.
For businesses navigating the complex world of data protection, Mark’s insights offer a practical roadmap. By focusing on monitoring, testing, verifying, and maintaining, companies can ensure their backups are more than just a safety net—they become a fortress against potential data disasters.
As businesses continue to digitise and data grows exponentially, the wisdom of professionals like Mark Thompson becomes invaluable, reminding us that in the realm of data protection, diligence and foresight are our greatest allies.
Chuck Derricks