QA warns on over-reliance on technology by UK firms on World Backup Day
'True data protection, and true data security, starts with training your people' says QA Technical Director. Many backup vendors have been touting their wares ahead of World Backup Day (March 31, 2016). In response, the UK’s largest training provider, QA, is warning firms not to try and solve the problem by simply buying more technology. Instead, QA is counselling a more holistic approach to backup and data protection – one that gives training and education of staff equal billing to technology investment.
According to Bill Walker, Technical Director at QA: “It is widely accepted that human error is the leading cause of data loss amongst companies1. Throwing more software might offer some peace of mind, but it fails to address the root cause.” The data backup problem is growing rapidly. People now create and generate over 1.8 zettabytes of data per year2, so securing it is of utmost importance.
According to the founders of World Backup Day, the original intent is for it to be a ‘day for people to learn about the increasing role of data in our lives and the importance of regular backups.’3
Yet, according to Walker: “It seems that the original intent of World Backup Day risks being swamped by a tsunami of backup vendor pitches to buy more software. In reality, the approach should be multi-faceted and with much more emphasis on training employees about how to get smart about data”.
Walker claims that the inherent risks and complexities in protecting corporate data have grown in recent years. Traditional backup used to be a relatively simple process in a physical-only world. But protecting data held across virtual and cloud-based environments has become increasingly complex, with over 84% of UK businesses now using cloud4.
Walker said: “Add to this the growing concerns over cyber security and you can quickly understand why UK firms face a quagmire when it comes to protecting and securing their data. However, teach your staff about protection and security and you mitigate the long-term problems that these staff could potentially cause.”
Where QA is fully aligned with backup vendors, is the need for firms of all sizes to have a robust backup strategy to protect their data. This needs to also be part of a broader data security strategy, since the two go hand in hand.
Bill Walker added: “The news headlines have been full of stories about data being lost by staff or stolen by the bad guys. Technology plays just one part – while teaching staff about the value of the bits and bytes that they use to do their jobs.
If training and technology is deployed in equal measure to solve the data backup problem, you create a company mindset that understands the value of the company’s own data. Once everyone in the company understands the value of the data, their behaviour towards that will change.”
“True data protection, and true data security, starts and ends with training your people,” concludes Walker.
Sources
1 Technology Users believe human error is the leading causeof data loss
2 ‘Digital Universe’ to add 1.8 Zettabytes in 2011
4Cloud adoption climbs to 84% in the UK
About QA
QA is one of the largest learning services organisations in the UK, developing skills and capabilities for everyone from apprentices to business leaders. With training centres throughout the UK QA delivers an exceptionally broad training curriculum to meet the needs of individuals and corporate businesses.
With a client base covering 80% of the FTSE 250, and employing over 300 instructors, subject matter experts and learning professionals across a portfolio of 1,500 courses, QA is currently the number one provider of technical and business training in the UK.
QA offers a range of leading-vendor courses in: Backup and Recovery, Information Availability and Information Intelligence as well as in depth training in related Cyber Security Certifications and in reducing the likelihood of cyber security breaches due to human carelessness, deliberate intervention or unintended consequence.
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