60% of Respondents Utilize Backup Solution – Kroll Ontrack

According to a survey of its Ontrack Data Recovery customers, Kroll Ontrack Inc. found that while 60% of respondents had a backup solution in place at the time of data loss, the backup was not current or operating properly.

As we near World Backup Day on March 31, 2013, these findings provide key insight into the importance of diligently monitoring and verifying that a backup is successfully operating and capturing a current, accurate snapshot.

Additionally, survey results indicated that external HDD backup was still the most used and sought after approach to backing up both business and personal data. In fact, 60% of respondents utilized an external drive solution, while 15% leveraged the cloud and 15% backed up to tape.

Regardless of solution, several common scenarios
can lead to surprise data loss events:

• External drive only connected on an occasional basis; backup not automated and instead performed on emand
• Computer not on during scheduled backup and not configured to perform at a different time
• Backup software failed
• Backup ran out of destination space
• Backup profile did not cover all of the device requiring backup
• File lost before scheduled backup

"Leveraging a backup solution is critical for any business or individual protecting against data loss," said Abhik Mitra, data recovery product manager, Kroll Ontrack. "However, as our recent global survey results demonstrate, even a reputable cloud or external media solution does not always provide predictable results. An effective backup solution hinges on the user or IT administrator attentively validating that the solution is functioning as expected and verifying that the backup is complete."

Kroll Ontrack surveyed 600 recent Ontrack Data Recovery customers from North America (27%), Europe (58%) and AsiaPac (15%), with one third of respondents experiencing personal data loss, and two thirds having lost business data. After experiencing data loss, 87% of respondents indicated they are extremely likely or somewhat likely to seek a backup solution. Of those, nearly 60% are seeking an external HDD solution and roughly one fourth are looking to the cloud to protect their data. The remaining 13% of respondents who do not plan to seek a backup solution cited the time and expense associated with research and administration as the overwhelming barrier to consideration.

"While World Backup Day reminds us that employing, monitoring and validating an effective solution is the key component in the fight against data loss, our survey demonstrates that data loss still occurs," said Greg Olson, SVP of data and storage technologies, Kroll Ontrack. "Enlisting the assistance of a reputable and experienced data recovery provider when loss happens will provide organizations and individuals with the best possible chance of recovering their important data."

Tips for Backup Success

• Take the time to invest in a backup solution and set up a backup schedule
• Ensure backups are running regularly in accordance with the determined schedule
• Check backup reports for error indications or failure
• Test backups on a regular basis to ensure data has been accurately captured and files are intact