Do You Know That March 31 Is World Backup Day?

This Year’s Theme Is ‘Save Digital Memories’

March 31st marks the annual observance of World Backup Day, a global initiative that reminds individuals and organisations worldwide to prioritise safeguarding their critical data and information.

This year’s theme, ‘Save Digital Memories,’ resonates deeply in our increasingly digital-centric world, emphasising the collective responsibility to preserve invaluable digital assets.

With the exponential growth of digital content creation, annual data volume surpasses 1.8 zettabytes, necessitating robust data protection measures.

Alarmingly, approximately 30% of individuals have yet to implement a backup strategy, leaving their valuable data vulnerable to loss due to hardware failures or other unforeseen events.

World Backup Day every year is a timely reminder for individuals and businesses to prioritise data integrity by adopting automated backup solutions.

The campaign aims to mitigate the risks associated with data loss incidents, such as those experienced by renowned companies like Microsoft and Pixar, by advocating for local and offsite data storage options.

Since 2011

Initiated in 2011, World Backup Day stemmed from a Reddit post recounting a personal data loss incident, igniting a call to action led by digital strategist Ismail Jadun.

Since its inception, the event has gained momentum across social media platforms and online communities, galvanising widespread participation in raising awareness about data backup and protection.

World Backup Day holds profound relevance amid escalating cyber threats and the growing significance of digital data. It serves as a poignant reminder to individuals and organisations alike to:

• Raise Awareness: Highlighting the critical importance of data backup, World Backup Day underscores the potential risks of data loss and the necessity of implementing robust backup strategies.
• Enhance Cybersecurity Posture: In an era plagued by ransomware attacks and cyber threats, regular backups form a cornerstone of comprehensive cybersecurity measures, facilitating swift recovery and minimising disruptions.
• Protect Valuable Data: With digital assets ranging from cherished personal memories to essential business operations, World Backup Day underscores the imperative of safeguarding valuable data against diverse threats.
• Backup Data: Dedicate time to back up critical files across devices, employing diverse storage options such as external drives, cloud services, or network-attached storage.
• Spread Awareness: Educate peers about the significance of data backup, sharing insights, tips, and resources to foster a culture of proactive data protection.
• Review Backup Strategies: Continuously refine backup strategies to ensure alignment with evolving storage needs and disaster recovery plans.
• Multiple Backup Copies: Create redundant copies stored in diverse locations to mitigate risks associated with single-point failures.
• Automated Backup Solutions: Implement automated backup systems to streamline processes and minimise human error.
• Encryption: Employ robust encryption measures to safeguard backup data from unauthorised access.
• Verification and Documentation: Regularly verify backup integrity and document backup procedures to facilitate swift recovery in emergencies.

Given World Backup Day this year, Andreas Hassellöf, CEO of Ombori, an IT services and IT consultancy based in Freienbach, Switzerland, stressed the significance of fortifying backup protocols to shield critical data from potential threats like hardware failures, accidental deletions, and cyber security risks.

Hassellöf recommends the following five strategies for robust data backup:

1. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: Retain three data duplicates on two separate storage mediums, with one stored offsite to ensure redundancy.

2. Employ automated backups for reliable and convenient data preservation.

3. Conduct routine backup tests to guarantee functionality and smooth data retrieval in crises.

4. Secure sensitive data backups through encryption to thwart unauthorised access.

5. Utilise a blend of local and cloud backups for enhanced security and resilience.

Following these practices ensures data safety and expedites recovery in case of loss incidents, Hassellöf noted. He also stressed that it is crucial to note that accidental deletions on cloud storage can affect all devices, underscoring the importance of maintaining physical backups of cloud data.

World Backup Day founder Ismail Jadun added: “I am thrilled with the response to World Backup Day, and I hope it has made a difference in people’s lives. We all know someone who has lost critical data, whether from their videos, photos, music, book reports, or personal stuff.

“Hopefully, this day will make everyone think about their situation, learn about the various options and get their files backed up. I hope that World Backup Day sparks conversations about the enormous task of saving our digital heritage for future generations,” Jadun concluded.

Featured image: Hack Arena perspective at Intersec – the world’s leading event for the safety, security and fire protection sectors – held from January 16-18, 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Credit: Arnold Pinto