You can be sure that companies offering cloud accounting solutions are rigorous in backing up their users’ data; after all, if they had a major system crash and lost all of their customers’ data they would be out of business.
But does that mean that users can relax and ignore this significant but remote risk?
Many cloud software users adopt a data backup policy that utilises the services of yet another cloud resource: Cloud Backup Services. Users who adopt this policy pay for space on a secure internet server and simply organise to copy across their data on a regular basis. For less than £100 a year pretty well all companies can double-up their data backup in this way.
For smaller data users who operate from their laptop or desktop these solutions, whilst apparently effective in archiving their data still rely on the security promised by remote internet server farms.
It is possible to purchase a pocket-book sized hard drive for less than £50 with terabyte sized capacity; more than enough for the small-scale computer user. If you adopt this strategy, your backup device is disconnected from the internet for most of its working life and secure from hackers and their like. You will need to consider its physical security, your office may be burgled or burned down, but you always have the option to keep it with you.
There is no doubt that internet security is advancing, it is also evident that the activities of those who wish to penetrate that security are also keeping pace.
And we cannot ignore the GDPR that demands we protect the personal data of all those who are part of our business: customers, suppliers, business prospects, advisers and staff. This means that whatever method we choose to function as a data backup, we will need to get written assurance that the providers operate to a sufficient level of security.
Unless, of course, our backup medium is a portable hard-drive in our pocket.
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