If you’ve accidentally deleted a single file or folder, you can recover it thanks to data backup. This type of backup can take place within your school or to an external cloud storage platform.

However, we now live in a world of encryption and ransom, where data can be made inaccessible or unusable through criminal activity. Schools need a form of protection beyond normal file the school can’t be corrupted by such criminal activity.

The loss of some data, even for a short time, can have a significant impact on teaching and learning. System loss is catastrophic and recovery in hours, days or weeks can make a huge difference. It’s therefore essential that you back up your entire system, not just your most important data. Then you have a recovery plan should there be a system failure or site-wide encryption.

On-premise backups can be relatively safe but they’re always susceptible to the same encryption as the live data if they can be accessed by increasingly clever viruses. On-premise backup can be part of your strategy but nowadays should not be all you have.

Cloud backup is safer as it’s copied away from the school and with the right products, you have a locked copy that cannot be accessed by encryption viruses. We use Securing your system in the cloud provides both types of backup and recovery for you in one place and avoids the use of separate hardware on-site.

A secure data backup should not be underestimated in modern times and it’s become crucial for many organisations. They can feel reassured they are protected should disaster strike. Alongside your backup and DR strategy, you should also regularly review your protection against these encryption technologies. That’s where antivirus comes in.