Top 2020 data backup tips target remote protection, cloud

In a year like 2020, it's important to learn as much as possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard across the globe, and organizations were forced to work differently. From an IT perspective, technologies made it possible for many to conduct business almost as usual.

The global pandemic moved some digital and IT infrastructure transformations along quicker than anticipated -- for example, many businesses made more use of cloud-based technologies. The year also made it clear how important certain processes in IT are -- data protection and backup being at the top of that list.

With so many employees working from home, cybersecurity was and still is a major issue. Systems became more vulnerable because home networks are typically less secure than business ones. In addition, attackers preyed on user weaknesses, hoping people would click on coronavirus-themed emails. This is where backup is mission-critical.

The following are five of the top data backup tips from a year like no other.

Make remote backup enhancements stick

As Evaluator Group analyst Krista Macomber wrote in her tip on improving remote backup and recovery, while some changes were temporary to help businesses deal with near-term emergency response, "others will be permanent and have lasting implications on enterprise IT." One key permanent change is, simply put, more data protection.

For example, employees may be doing work on personal computers -- and those devices need backup. According to an Evaluator Group study, many businesses said they were underprepared for the jump to a remote workforce. Hopefully, those businesses have improved their IT infrastructure and are ready for anything now.