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    5 Levels of Data Protection SMBs Should Consider

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    Data Loss Prevention: 5 Reasons You Need to Step Up Your Game

    As if to reiterate recent reports on small to midsize business (SMB) security issues, CompTIA recently released findings from its latest report, which found that in the digital age, security has become a huge concern.

    Not surprising is the fact that SMBs have recognized the need to find new, technology-based ways to reach their customer bases. Along with embracing new technology, though, have come troubling issues with a lack of budget and staff to back up the new tech with a strong security plan. As CompTIA’s VP of Member Communities, Jim Hamilton, told ARN, SMBs are seeking ways to gain technology and implement security on the cheap:

    “Without an abundance of capital to invest in technology initiatives, many firms seek the best value or the lowest cost option. [They are] choosing to handle technology issues internally using employees who may be tech savvy but actually hold other jobs such as sales or accounting.”

    Instead of giving the CFO new IT security job requirements, Hamilton suggests that a better option would be to seek out third-party service providers that can provide the necessary technology services along with experts to help manage them.

    Even better, those service providers should offer several layers of data protection for SMBs, according to BetaNews. The post offers a list of five layers that can provide the ultimate levels of protection against data breaches and other catastrophes.

    1. Ensure that data is written “across multiple drives” to benefit from RAID (redundant array of independent disks) in the event of hardware failure.
    2. Protect data at the bit level against corruption or slow deterioration of data on storage media.
    3. Employ snapshot technology to protect data daily and allow for recovery to a specific point in time when files are damaged, accidentally deleted or otherwise corrupted in some way.
    4. Secure data in real time from malware, viruses and other malicious attacks through firewalls, security software and on the storage device where data is saved.
    5. Utilize offsite data backup and recovery solutions such as cloud backups or tape or USB drives stored not on company property.

    Though most SMBs are just unaware of such levels of data security, most service providers offer solutions that cover many, if not all, of the five listed here. And these solutions are now being tailored to fit SMB scale and budgets.

    Kim Mays has been editing and writing about IT since 1999. She currently tackles the topics of small to midsize business technology and introducing new tools for IT. Follow Kim on Google+ or Twitter.

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