A Terrifying Thought – Losing Access to Your Data
As business owners we know the power of our data. Our data is the lifeblood of our businesses. From customer details to employee records, log-ins and passwords, financial data to sales and order data – there are numerous data points that we require to enable our businesses to function. The thought of losing data will send shivers down the spine of any business owner. Quite simply, data loss is more than an inconvenience – it’s a real-life living nightmare that will haunt you and your organisation long after Halloween.
Join us (if you dare!) as we dive into the spine-chilling world of data loss and recovery gone wrong. We’ll also provide some top tips on how you can protect your business from such frightful fates…
Why Data Loss Feels So Terrifying
We’ve all had that sinking feeling when we think we’ve accidentally deleted something, misplaced a file or didn’t hit save when we should have. The emotional toll of data loss shouldn’t be underestimated – the realisation that something so valuable to your business is effectively gone creates an overwhelming sense of doom. Furthermore, the real-life business implications are huge. Downtime, lost revenue and a potential breakdown of customer trust are just some of the impacts to your business. Lastly, for those handling sensitive data there can be severe regulatory consequence and financial penalties.
The Nightmare Tales of Data Recovery Gone Wrong
We’re all familiar with sharing ghost stories, folklore and mysterious happenings at Halloween. However, data loss and recovery live beyond Halloween and the scariest part is that it could strike at any time, for any business or individual. Here are some recent examples of real-life data disasters with chilling consequences that highlight why every business needs to have measures and plans to ward off the nightmare of lost data.
A Campus Haunting: The Wandering USB Stick and Close Calls with Cyber Spooks
In 2018, leading university NUI Galway*, experienced the frightening experience of a potential data breach that affected its student population. A USB stick which contained confidential information of around 900 students, including names, registration details and exam results mysteriously vanished. At the time, the college commented saying, “the device was mislaid and is now presumed lost.” Following the incident the university notified the incident to their Supervisory Authority, the Data Protection Commission, and engaged in a full review of its processes to ensure this would not happen again.
However, this was not the end of NUI Galway’s cyber misfortunes**. In 2021, the university was the victim of an attempted cyber-attack which saw its delivery of online lectures and internal communication impacted. Whilst no data was compromised, the university disconnected its computer systems from the internet as a precautionary measure creating some disruption for staff and students alike.
This true story, shared in relatively recent times, highlights the importance of constant vigilance and awareness when it comes to your organisation’s digital information and the internal processes that protect it.
The Vanishing Data: When a University’s Data Disappeared into the Darkness
NUI Galway was not alone its horrifying experience of tech terrors. In 2021, Kyoto University*** in Japan lost 77TB of research data because of a backup error. Over the course of two days, over 34 million files from 14 research groups were wiped from the system. In a horrifying moment, the university realised that nothing could be recovered. Little details were shared of the exact nature of the research, but it can be safe to assume that a huge amount of work had been lost and the impact would have been severely felt throughout the university. The aftermath resulted in the university removing the existing system entirely and replacing and reintroducing a new one several months later.
This incident highlights the need for strategies and processes to manage data backup. Read on for some our own top tips on keeping your data safe.
Avoiding Data Loss Horrors: Tips to Keep Your Data Safe
- Set Up a Robust Backup Strategy
– Ensure backups are automated and happen at regular intervals.
– Keep multiple backup copies, ideally with one stored offsite or in the cloud.
- Regularly Test Your Backups
– Schedule regular tests to ensure backups are complete and accessible.
– Verify data integrity to confirm backups are uncorrupted.
- Align with Reliable Data Recovery Providers
– Vet data recovery providers for compatibility with your systems.
– Have a pre-arranged agreement with a provider to speed up the response time if recovery is needed.
- Educate Your Team on Data Safety Protocols
– Conduct regular training on preventing accidental deletion or data mismanagement.
– Implement access controls to restrict who can delete or modify critical data.
- Implement a Comprehensive Disaster Recovery Plan
– Map out specific steps for different scenarios, from accidental deletions to full-scale cyberattacks.
– Assign roles so everyone knows who to contact and what steps to take in an emergency.
Don’t Let Data Loss Become Your Horror Story
As these data loss horror stories show, it only takes one frightful moment for data to disappear. Don’t let your business become the next spooky tale! Guard your data with a solid recovery plan and put those fears to rest.
Sources:
Source*: Farrell, Rachel. “University at centre of potential data breach after USB stick ‘goes missing’” Irish Independent, 19th November 2018,
Source**: O’Brien, Carl. “Attempted cyberattack causes disruption at NUI Galway” Irish Times, 30th September 2021,
Source***: Toulas, Bill. “University loses 77TB of research data due to backup error” Bleeping Computer, 30th December 2021.