Many of our customers are small-medium businesses (SMBs) who lack the resources of larger companies when it comes to IT functions. As a result, many of them outsource their backup and recovery operations. While there are a number of reputable vendors out there, your data is your company’s lifeblood and steps to properly secure it should never be taken lightly.

Dave Hallmen, our VP of worldwide sales and marketing, recently wrote an article for CRN outlining 10 steps SMBs should take to make sure their data is secured properly. In case you missed it, here’s a quick recap of the most important takeaways:

Protect Mobile Devices

Despite an increasingly mobile workforce, companies are still failing to adequately protect the critical company data that lives on mobile devices (here’s a study conducted by the Ponemon Institute). Smart phones, tablets and laptops need to be protected just like on-site devices, so SMBs should select a single vendor whose coverage extends to mobile technologies.

Disaster-Proof Your Data

With a slew of recent hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, businesses have become more aware of their data’s vulnerability to natural disasters. To protect your data against the unexpected, back up to a remote, off-site data center.

Make Sure Your Data is Recoverable

Though SMBs manage a lot of important information that needs to be recovered 24/7, they often take a simplified approach to backup and recovery. Avoid all recovery issues by making sure your backup approach is failsafe and reliable.

Ensure Your Backups are Secure and Compliant

Understand regulations like SSAE 16, SOX, GLBA, HIPPA. They’re important and choosing a vendor who conforms to them is critical.

Pick a Reputable Vendor

Take the same approach to your vendor selection process as you would for buying a car. Talk to vendors and ask to speak to some of their customers. Talk to fellow IT managers and ask for recommendations. If you have no idea where to start, the Internet is flooded with great third-party resources that provide solid recommendations and guidance, like CRN and ESG.