One of the biggest pitfalls that a business can fall into is the idea that a simple USB stick suffices as a backup procedure. Don’t get me wrong – I think USB sticks are a great technology, and they absolutely serve a purpose in the information age. But relying on them to protect sensitive data is a major error.
I recently came across an article that revealed that in the past year alone, the number of USB sticks that were left at dry cleaners jumped 400%. Consider how dangerous that is. If the device isn’t discovered before the clothes are treated, the device will be destroyed. And even if it is discovered, the data may have been compromised. Healthcare providers and financial services managers are under strict regulations that might require them to divulge if they were ever not in possession of customer information. Can you imagine saying to your clients, “sorry about that, your data might have been compromised cause I forgot to check my pockets”?
Online backup can eliminate that risk by taking the human factor out of it. We’re all occasionally absent-minded; it’s just the way humanity works. But protecting against humanity is part of the appeal of an online backup solution. Send the data online where it is securely stored, and you won’t have to worry about whether you’ve left that missing stick in a briefcase, a hotel room, or a shirt at the dry cleaners.
USB sticks definitely serve a purpose, but they can’t be counted on as a primary means of data protection. But as long as you’re being cautious about it, check your pockets when you go to the dry cleaner.