How to Keep Your Business Data Safe Data is the lifeblood of any business, so keeping it safe and accessible should be a top priority for even the smallest startup. Keeping your data safe can seem like a daunting process, but this checklist will help you get started. Make sure your data is recoverable: Making backups of existing data has long been determined as a critical task for any business, and only foolish administrators would argue otherwise. Determine how long is too long without your data: Identifying how quickly you need your data back will go a long way toward helping your business determine its recovery time objective (RTO). Ensure that your backups are secure and compliant: Backup copies should be properly secured and kept at locations that are in accordance with any regulations you may face. Protect mobile devices: Not typically considered part of the backup regime, the BYOD phenomenon and the increasing access and storage of important business data on smartphones and tablets may soon force the hand of information technology (IT) departments around the world. Adapted from Ten Steps to Safeguard Your Small Business Data at IT Business Edge.