{"id":596,"date":"2023-12-14T16:47:39","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T22:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/?p=596"},"modified":"2023-12-14T16:47:39","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T22:47:39","slug":"data-backup-for-nonprofits-7-best-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/data-backup-for-nonprofits-7-best-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Backup for Nonprofits: 7 Best Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Data is an essential part of nearly every organization, including nonprofits. From sensitive donor information to program details, your nonprofit relies on data in nearly every arena.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, depending so much on data creates the critical need for robust data backup strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just imagine if hackers breached the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/5-tips-to-protect-personal-information-and-business-data\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">personal information<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of any of your longtime, dedicated donors, or if cybercriminals exposed and spread private forms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/credential-theft-is-the-leading-cause-of-data-breaches\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">contacts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, financials and more. You\u2019d likely lose your supporters\u2019 trust, as well as your reputation as a trustworthy, professional organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To avoid the devastating effects of data loss, we\u2019ve researched seven best practices. They\u2019ll help you confidently deliver services while avoiding <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/6-signs-your-business-has-been-hacked\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cyberattacks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/new-research-highlights-ongoing-cybersecurity-threat\/\"><b>New Research Highlights Ongoing Cybersecurity Threat<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Understand Your Data\u2019s Value<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We hardly need to convince you of the importance of your own data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most people care about the organizations they work for (and with), right? That rings especially true for nonprofits because their focus is generally selfless and community-focused.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With an ethical mission statement lauding your work\u2019s value, you should protect any nonprofit work-related data at all costs!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019re not saying only some of your nonprofit\u2019s data is important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019re simply pointing out that some data is more important than other data, so you should prioritize the most critical types. Place donor data, financial records and program information at the top of your backup strategy list to ensure the swiftest recovery possible!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Establish a Regular Backup Schedule<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We all know consistency is key \u2014 especially when it comes to data backup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So as a nonprofit, you should establish a regular <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/world-backup-day-just-happened-are-you-prepared\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">data backup schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Lay out a strict routine that accounts for frequent data updates, backups and general data cleanings (think deduplication). Whether your schedule is daily, weekly or monthly is entirely up to your organization\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But don\u2019t be afraid to err on the side of caution with more frequent backups. That way, there\u2019s less risk of your critical data sets being left unprotected!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Use Reliable Backup Solutions<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not all backup solutions are created equal, so choosing the right one for your nonprofit is paramount.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/whats-the-cloud-all-about\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cloud-based solutions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that provide secure and scalable data backup options:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amazon S3<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Google Cloud Storage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Microsoft Azure\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These easily accessible platforms offer encryption and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/searchsoftwarequality\/definition\/versioning\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">versioning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, making them ideal for nonprofits with limited IT resources. But hiring an IT services provider like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CMIT Solutions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> takes the hassle of learning these platforms off your hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We specialize in providing high-quality IT services with a general aim of safeguarding and managing data in a way that\u2019s trusted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/google-chrome-ad-privacy-settings\/\"><b>New Google Chrome Ad Privacy Settings Deserve Attention<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Implement Redundancy and Versioning<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As we mentioned earlier, versioning is an essential component of a great backup strategy plan alongside redundancy!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With redundancy, your system stores backups in multiple locations to prevent data loss due to any unforeseen events. These events include hardware failures, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/how-to-protect-computers-and-technology-from-natural-disasters\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">natural disasters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Versioning allows you to keep multiple copies of the same file over time. As a result, you can roll back to a specific point when and if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/dont-let-a-data-disaster-impact-your-business\/\"><b>Don\u2019t Let a Data Disaster Impact Your Business<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Secure Your Backups<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Performing backups is clearly important. But securing those backups should be on your list, too!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can add an extra security layer to your backups by encrypting them during transmission and storage. Also, you might implement strong access controls to restrict who can view or modify the backups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additionally, regular data audits are key. Update your security protocols as often as possible to stay ahead of potential threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/security-gaps-exist-heres-how-to-fix-them\/\"><b>Security Gaps Exist \u2014 Here\u2019s How To Fix Them<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6. Test Your Backup and Recovery Procedures<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now that you know the importance of backups and securing backups, you should regularly test your backup and recovery procedures. Think about it: If a backup is faulty, it won\u2019t help you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Consider creating (or requesting) a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guru99.com\/test-environment-software-testing.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">test environment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> where you can simulate data loss scenarios and practice restoring your backups. This proactive approach helps identify any weaknesses in your backup system. Then, you can address them sooner rather than later \u2014 or most importantly, before a real crisis occurs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/safeguarding-your-business-with-it-disaster-preparedness\/\"><b>Safeguarding Your Business With IT Disaster Preparedness<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">7. Educate Your Staff on Data Backup Protocols<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People often set aside this best practice, but it\u2019s no less important than the others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human error is a common cause of data loss because no one\u2019s perfect. But it\u2019s important to educate your team on why data backups are essential, along with the procedures they need to follow closely to perform them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To that end, offer training sessions so team members can familiarize themselves with their roles in the backup process. The more well-informed they are, the better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>[Related: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/blog\/cyberthreats-are-changing-is-your-protection-keeping-up\/\"><b>Cyberthreats Are Changing. Is Your Protection Keeping Up?<\/b><\/a><b>]<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contact CMIT Solutions of Bothell for Reliable IT Backup Services\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Data backup isn\u2019t just a technical requirement \u2014 it&#8217;s critical for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/5-applications-nonprofits-should-be-using-today\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">your nonprofit\u2019s <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">success. With these seven best practices in place, your nonprofit can safeguard valuable data and focus on your mission to better your community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you need assistance getting your data backup strategy in place, contact <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CMIT Solutions of Bothell<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. We have years of experience in a variety of industries, so we can help you meet your nonprofit\u2019s unique IT needs and goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Get in touch with us today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to see how our cybersecurity services help your nonprofit thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Featured image via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/man-wearing-black-dress-shirt-AxAPuIRWHGk\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unsplash<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Data is an essential part of nearly every organization, including nonprofits. From&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-it"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}