Field Note: Backups Aren't Just for Computers

What would you need if you couldn't get back into your office?

When someone says “backup,” most people think about documents and photographs.

But your business probably has a much larger digital footprint.

Think about:

• Your website.

• Your domain.

• Your email.

• Your customer information.

• Your accounting records.

• Your graphics and marketing materials.

• Your important documents.

• Your website content.

• Your social media accounts.

• Your booking system.

• Your payment system.

• Your cloud storage.

• And your account recovery information.

The important question isn't simply:

“Do I have a backup?”

It's:

“Could I actually recover my business from it?”

A backup sitting on a computer inside a building you can't access doesn't solve much in the middle of an emergency.

Neither does a backup you haven't tested or an account you can't remember how to access.

Take some time to document the important pieces of your digital business.

• Know what you have.

• Know where it lives.

• Know how to access it.
  

And know what would happen if your primary device or workplace suddenly wasn't available.

Digital Detective Jo's Note

A backup isn't really useful until you know you can access it when you need it.