Data Loss

Hardware/System malfunctions

• Regular maintenance and updates can help prevent data loss
• Incorrect data transfer
• Burned or broken hardware

Human error

• Not saving files, saving over another file, or deleting the wrong file
• Isn't intentional
• Training is a way to avoid this
• Having backup files/system is another prevention method
• Interview or observe employees to identify frequent errors and automate solutions

Software corruption

• Not a frequent cause of data corruption
• Caused by interrupted data transmission, leading to incomplete data
• Parity check and checksum are ways to prevent using corrupted data

Malware

• Firewall helps prevent malware
• Anti-virus software is another protection method
• System updates help as well

Natural disasters

• Can be big or small (e.g., rain damaging hardware)
• Can harm the hardware where the data is stored

Sabotage

• Malicious activity may come from employees or intruders
• Intentional data loss method
• Data can be accessed and changed (e.g., hacking a bank can result in leaked information and loss of assets)

Methods that can be used to prevent data loss

• Failover system
• Redundancy
• Removable media
• Offsite/online storage

Failover system

• Automatically switches to a backup system in case of failure
• Can be operated in a redundant or standby mode

Redundancy

• Data redundancy occurs when the same data is stored in two separate places
• This could mean different fields in one database or different platforms
• Data redundancy helps prevent data loss by storing copies

Removable media

• Any type of storage device that can be removed while the system is running
• Examples include DVDs, CDs, and USB drives
• Removable media allows data to be easily transferred between computers

Offsite storage

• Backup process that stores data outside the organization’s core infrastructure
• Avoids local problems like hardware malfunction or natural disasters

Online storage (Cloud)

• Cloud computing resources are used to back up data remotely over the internet
• Also called online backup or remote backup