It’s no secret that having a data backup strategy is more important than ever before, especially in the wake of increasing security threats online. However, one of the greatest challenges people and businesses face when developing a data backup strategy is simply knowing where their information is being stored.
Enter data mapping. By having a solid understanding of what data mapping entails and how it can be used to improve your backup strategy, you can take the steps necessary to keep your information safe.
What Is Data Mapping?
Data mapping is a process that involves carefully identifying what information you have stored and where these files are located. Data mapping also refers to how long files and data may be held on certain systems before being moved elsewhere or deleted.
Often, the process of mapping data involves sitting down with other members of your organization and listing out different types of data that you work with regularly. From there, documenting where this data is stored (whether on a local server, a remote server, or a flash drive) and how long it is held is key.
Why Data Mapping Is Important
Because there are so many options for storing data these days, data mapping has become more critical than ever. No longer are people and businesses storing all of their data on a single device. Instead, files may be scattered across different servers.
Data mapping is key to developing a solid backup strategy because you cannot back up your data if you don’t know where it’s located to begin with. For many organizations, then, creating a data map will be among the first steps to building a reliable security strategy.
How to Get Started with Data Mapping
So, where should you begin when it comes to data mapping? The process can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by sitting down and documenting basic data systems within your organization; this can include:
- Shared drives
- Financial systems
- Servers
From there, you may need to dig even deeper to identify other data sources within your business. This could include anything from documents saved on individual employees’ hard drives to enterprise-side systems. If you run into challenges, you might consider consulting with any IT professionals within your business for help.
Once you have a general map of the types of data you work with and where it’s stored, you can begin developing a backup and disaster recovery strategy that suits your needs.
A Dedicated Hosting Plan Can Help
Taking the time to map your organization’s data can make your backup strategy more effective and reliable. Likewise, utilizing a dedicated server backup can improve security even more.
ReliableSite is proud to offer dedicated server backup solutions with our dedicated hosting plans. Contact us today to learn more. We’d love to set you up with a server that suits your organization’s unique needs and budget!