External HDD Primary Option for Backup (51% – Down 17% From 2015)

Most businesses and consumers have a backup solution in place, but for those who do not, the cloud is becoming an increasingly popular option. That is one takeaway from updated data released today from Kroll Ontrack LLC.

Results from a survey of customers who lost valuable data confirm that traditional external HDDs still prevail as the primary option for backup (51% – down 17 points from 2015), and 23% are considering the cloud (an increase of 5% from last year).

The majority of businesses and consumers are taking steps to backup their data, but unintentional gaps in protocols continue to prove costly. 86% of respondents had a backup solution in place at the time of data loss. Of those respondents who had a backup solution, 16% currently backup to the cloud, 58% use an external HDD, 8% implement a tape system and 11% report using a NAS solution.

With 48% of respondents backing up their data on a daily basis, why are companies still losing data? Minor oversights or an inadvertently non-functioning backup can render backup procedures ineffective.

This year’s data shows that of those
who had a backup in place at the time of data loss:

• 22% describe their backup solution as not operating correctly
• 21% report their device was not included in backup procedures
• 21% say their backup was not current, reducing the likelihood of retrieving relevant data

“It’s no longer enough to have a backup solution where you hope for the best,” said Jeff Pederson, senior manager, data recovery operations, Kroll Ontrack. “As survey results indicate year-over-year, conducting backups is just one step in the entire backup strategy. Regularly ensuring your backup solution works effectively and the data is accessible is also essential. In cases where oversight or backup failure leads to data loss, consider enlisting the assistance of a creditable and experienced data recovery provider.”

Obstacles to Backup Adoption
Among the 528 respondents across North America, Europe and Asia, over half (54%) of people who did not have a backup solution in place cite time to research and administer as their primary reason for not seeking a backup solution (up 4% from 2015). However, 7% fewer people in 2016 (24%) report the expense of a backup solution as their primary reason for not leveraging a backup. Other findings include a 6% increase in the number of survey participants who report daily backups this year (48%).

“As storage devices are packing more and more data into smaller and more complex systems – which not only requires IT teams to dedicate significant time to actually backup the data, but even more time to verify the backups worked properly – IT teams face an impressive balancing act,” added Todd Johnson, VP of data and storage technologies, Kroll Ontrack.

Additional Statistics
Additional findings from the 2016 survey include a 6% increase in the number of survey participants who report daily backups this year (48%), and almost no changes in the numbers of people who report weekly (26%), monthly (22%) and annual (3%) backups.

When asked how often they test or validate their backups, only 28% report weekly tests (down from 35% last year). However, exactly half of respondents said they validate monthly – an increase of 14% from 2014. Only 14% claim to never test backups, which is down from a survey-high of 20% last year.

In acknowledgement of World Backup Day on March 31, Kroll Ontrack advised that individuals and businesses regularly monitor and certify their chosen method of backup to ensure it is successfully operating and capturing all relevant data, in addition to the following tips:

• Take the time to invest in a backup solution and set a backup schedule for all identified devices and media
• Ensure that backups are running regularly in accordance with the determined schedule
• Check backup reports for errors or failure
• Test backups on a regular basis to validate that data has been accurately captured and files are intact