Mass data loss or theft can result in significant downtime and financial losses.
There can be many causes for data loss, from human error to cyber attacks to natural disasters resulting in damage to servers. Managed IT Services offer a quick and reliable solution to restoring data using backups stored off-site. This means companies that lose data can be fully operational again, quickly.
How Managed IT Services Help in the Event of a Security or Data Emergency
They Offer Round-the-Clock Security
Many in-house security systems take a reactive approach to threats, attempting to solve the problem and prevent it from escalating after an event has taken place. Managed IT Services use advanced intrusion detection systems (IDS) to analyse network traffic and detect threats before they’ve made an attempt to breach a company’s network.
Along with using regularly-updated advanced anti-virus software, these services are able to successfully monitor systems, prevent threats and alert of any potential issues, such as cyberattacks.
Because Managed IT Services act on a 24/7 basis, these services offer round-the-clock defence and can protect company systems, even outside of company hours when the office is empty. This means IT teams may not even be aware of cyberattacks until the morning if they occur during the night, but they can be safe in the knowledge their systems are safeguarded at all times. Depending on the intricacy of the attack, the issue may have been resolved by the time the office opens again.
Businesses that suffer data loss as a result of a ransomware attack – in which cybercriminals hold the data of companies for “ransom” – suffer 20 days of downtime on average, according to research by ransomware experts Coveware. Managed IT Services can help neutralise ransomware attacks and stop hackers from breaching company networks.
In rare cases, data loss can come in the form of a serious technical fault. Managed IT Services will run thorough analyses to identify and fix the fault. They may then run what’s known as Recovery Integrity Testing (RIT) to determine the effectiveness of the hardware once repairs have taken place, to ensure it’s running efficiently and that similar faults won’t arise again.
They Prevent Data Loss by Offering Backups
The global average cost of data loss in 2022 was $4.35 million, according to figures from Statista. Businesses that house all their data on local hard drives put themselves at risk of suffering severe data loss if data isn’t backed up to a cloud storage system.
Managed IT Services help with continuity and data safety by utilising cloud storage that’s proactively backed up in line with service agreements. For example, backups may occur at the end of every day or, for large businesses with lots of data, every few hours. If a data loss occurs, once any security concerns have been resolved, the managed IT service will restore systems to the last backup, ensuring data is recovered quickly and avoiding disruption.
Backups are automated, so Managed IT Services are able to restore files to their previous versions, if the client requires, as they have consistent access to previous versions of files, documents and software.
Managed IT Services are also required to meet the latest data protection standards, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which is a strict set of rules businesses must follow concerning the way they handle customer data. Managed IT Services, because they store company data off-site, are required to meet the standards laid out by GDPR.
Access to 24-hour Expert Support
Hiring in-house IT experts can be expensive and many businesses may only utilise the skills of their in-house professional on a limited basis, whenever a problem arises. Having someone with the skills and expertise to solve IT issues quickly helps businesses maintain their productivity and continuity while experiencing as little downtime as possible, which is why outsourcing your IT to a managed IT service can be so useful.
If an event occurs out of hours that results in the loss or corruption of data, a Managed IT Provider would be able to act immediately to save or restore servers and data, ensuring minimum disruption and ensuring continuity. Hiring a team in-house isn’t likely to provide the same level of service because it’s expensive or (in some circumstances) not feasible to have employees working to a 24/7 rota.
Managed IT Services take IT-related Stresses Away from Businesses
If your business is seeking a reliable, affordable way to move the responsibility of your IT out of your hands and into the hands of experts who’ll be able to guide you through a crisis, choose a reputable managed IT service. By outsourcing your IT management, your business can relieve itself of the stresses and hassle of monitoring your systems, updating software, and acting quickly in the event of a security breach. These teams have years of experience in dealing with a wide range of IT setups and issues, so no matter how your business operates, they will be able to assist in the day-to-day management of your IT and help you make the most of your technology. Allowing an external team to manage your IT problems will also cut your downtime drastically, letting you continue with your important work without delay. Should you ever experience a security issue, you can rest assured that technical experts with the right knowledge can handle the situation, protect your data and guide you on your next moves.