The warnings are everywhere: protect your data, back it up, choose the right software solution, pick the right vendor, make sure you can restore. But have you ever stopped to think what you're protecting your data from?

Data Threat #1: Network Security Breach Risk Level: Moderate

Cyber threats exist across the globe. Anyone connected to a network is at risk. Companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on sophisticated network security solutions to mitigate these risks, yet we can't seem to go one week without another Fortune 500 company making the headlines because of a breach. Just ask the clients of Ashley Madison about the impact of that security breach on their lives.

Network security breaches come in different shapes and sizes. Many businesses have experienced severe outages due to computer viruses, malicious malware, computer hackers, and actual physical location breaches where thieves broke in and stole hard drives with corporate data inside. So it's critical to ensure that your data is protected on multiple levels.

From a digital perspective, it's important to have your data backed up with a certified data encryption technology that ensures even if a thief can somehow steal the data, they have no way to access it. From a physical perspective, it's important that your data resides in a facility that can withstand a variety threats (e.g. cyber-attacks, power outages, physical attacks, connectivity interruptions).

Data Threat #2: Human Error Risk Level: High

In my 20+ years of experience in the technology industry, I've learned that the most frequent causes of data loss are based on human error. I've also found that human error can create the most severe problems. Indeed, slippery fingers on a keyboard have brought down entire companies. Data gets deleted every day by mistake, for a variety of reasons — from deleting a critical email, to wiping out entire data archives containing years of historical company data.

Choosing the right technology to protect your data is important, but it's equally important that you can trust the people handling your data on a day-to-day basis. Some people have ulterior motives, and giving the wrong people access to your data, or trusting your data with an organisation that does not employ sound processes and procedures, can devastate your company.

Investigate your company's data retention policies. Make sure these policies make sense to you and that they meet any regulatory compliance guidelines your firm is obligated to adhere to.

Also, remember that a backup provider is only as reliable as its people. So make sure that the team of support engineers who will be handling your data are experienced and have a proven track record. KeepItSafe is ISO-certified and has world-class facilities for guaranteed data protection.

Data Threat #3: Site Disaster Risk Level: Moderate

Your data center, office, and entire building are all possible points of failure — and maintaining all of your data exclusively within those four walls puts you at risk. If your business is like most, your corporate data sits on laptop computers, desktop computers, servers, and storage devices inside your office or in other facilities.

Fires, floods, cyclones and earthquakes are just some of the weapons in Mother Nature's arsenal and any of these disasters could be catastrophic for your data. They can wreak havoc on your building, potentially wiping out entire data centers and the IT infrastructures maintaining them.

Data Threat #4: IT System Failure Risk Level: High

Machines break all the time. Vehicles, home appliances, heavy equipment — and yes, even computer systems — are all subject to failure, from minor performance hits to flat-out shutdowns. Even with the proper preventative maintenance, these issues can't be avoided entirely.

When an IT system experiences a failure, data loss is a common side effect. When a computer hard drive crashes, all of the data it holds can potentially be lost forever. Most people can readily recall a situation in which they or someone they know had a system go down, resulting in some data loss.

Bottom line

By identifying the likeliest threats to your data, you can make better decisions on what solutions to deploy and who you should appoint to manage them.