CNWR Blog

Backup Solutions That Include People, Not Just Servers

Written by Brett Chittum | Sep 17, 2025 6:00:00 PM

Does your company regularly encounter outages? You’re not alone. On average, businesses experience 86 outages a year caused either by unprecedented system crashes, power failures, or cyberattacks. 

Usually, companies set up server backups and think they’re prepared. But that’s rarely the case. Outages don’t just impact data. They stall operations, disrupt workflows, and delay recovery. So, without backup solutions that include both systems and key personnel, getting back online can be slow and costly.

But don’t worry. In this blog, we’ll explore how to build company backup solutions that cover both your tech and your team. Ready to bounce back faster every time? Read now!

Key Takeaways

  • Companies in 2025 face fragmented data environments, making it crucial to unify backup solutions across cloud and on-prem setups
  • While automation helps, only human oversight can ensure backups are aligned with business priorities and respond to failures in real time
  • Maintain multiple copies, use diverse storage types, lock one offsite, and test regularly to ensure error-free recovery
  • Store critical data on fast-access storage and archive older backups to cheaper options for cost-effective scalability
  • Clearly assign roles and keep teams updated so they can act quickly and confidently when data loss hits

What Are Some Common Backup Challenges Companies Face in 2025?

The average cost of downtime is between $5,600-$9,000 per minute. Despite this, most companies fail to restore their systems in time.

Wondering why? Well, here are a few reasons:

Rising data volumes

These days, companies have to deal with large volumes of structured and unstructured data spread across departments. This not only makes the backup process time-consuming but also slows down its recovery. 

Ransomware targeting backups

Ransomware attacks have become common. It is estimated that over 2,500 such attacks occurred in the first half of 2024. Moreover, they are now capable of directly attacking backup systems.

So, unless businesses use immutable backup solutions and employ strict access control, their important data can easily be encrypted or deleted. 

Hybrid cloud complexity

From hardware failures to cyberattacks, businesses are constantly exposed to several types of data threats. To overcome these, they often use various on-premises servers, public clouds, and private clouds.

However, efficiently tracking and managing these systems can be difficult. 

Why Do You Need Backup Solutions That Include Both People and Servers?

The term “backup” is usually associated with servers. But here’s the thing: server backups alone aren’t enough. Here’s why:

Servers can’t make decisions

Servers can automate repetitive backup tasks, like copying files and storing data, to minimize human errors. However, they can’t understand their context. They can’t decide which data is critical and needs urgent recovery. That’s a gap only human experience can fill.

People align backups with business goals

Every organization has different backup priorities: whether it’s customer databases, financial records, or legal documents. Humans play a critical role in prioritizing them to ensure timely backup and recovery.

Human oversight prevents failures at an early stage

Even with high-level automation, backup failures can happen because of software bugs, misconfiguration, or lapsed storage credentials. That's only preventable if you've got a team that's always watching logs and system activity for anomaly signals before they magnify.

Backups also need testing and refinement

A successful backup is only as good as its ability to restore data when needed. Human-led testing ensures that restoration works as intended. 

7 Comprehensive Backup Solutions That Guarantee Unparalleled Resilience 

Now, let’s come to the crux of the topic. Here are seven robust backup solutions that prioritize both servers and people:

1. Follow the 3-2-1-1-0 backup rule

Per the 3-2-1-1-0 backup rule, you should keep at least three copies of your data. There are two different types of storage (like a hard drive and the cloud): one stored offsite and one that’s locked. Additionally, manually verify your backups regularly to ensure zero errors. This will give you a strong foundation for recovery.

2. Schedule full, incremental, and differential backups

A full backup backs up everything, but incremental and differential backups only record changes. Using a combination will save you time and space while guaranteeing that all data will be recoverable without leaving anything behind.

3. Automate, but with human intervention

Automation helps schedule backups and reduces errors from manual work. However, someone still needs to monitor the system, review backup logs, and act quickly if something fails. So, please don’t treat it as a set-it-and-forget-it solution.

4. Use multi-layered security

Protect your backups with encryption, strong passwords, access restrictions, and ransomware detection tools. Remember, even backup copies can be targeted. So, they need the same level of protection as your main systems.

5. Use tiered storage solutions

Keep recent or important backups on fast-access storage for quick recovery. Move older or rarely used data to lower-cost storage. This way, you get the speed when needed and save money where possible.

6. Regularly test and validate backups

Testing helps you find issues before a real emergency. So, regularly run tests to make sure your backups work when you need them. 

7. Assign clear roles and conduct training

Make sure specific people are responsible for backup tasks, monitoring, and recovery. Provide regular training so they’re up to date with tools, threats, and processes. In a crisis, a prepared team makes all the difference.

Ensure Maximum Threat Protection with CNWR

Backup isn’t just a technical checkbox: it’s a critical safeguard for your entire business. If backup solutions are generic and server-focused, your team struggles with complexity, security gaps, and slow recoveries when threats strike.

But when backup is tailored to include both technology and people, you gain resilience: fewer errors, faster responses, and streamlined processes that everyone can trust.

With CNWR, your organization moves beyond basic data backup. We empower your people with the right tools, clear processes, and ongoing support so your data is protected from every angle.

Ready to strengthen your backup strategy? Let’s talk!

FAQs

1. What are the three basic types of backup solutions?

The three basic types of backup solutions include full, incremental, and differential backups. Full backup involves copying all data. Incremental backup means backing up data that has changed since the last backup. Lastly, differential backup means backing up data that has changed since the previous full backup.

2. What is a mirror backup?

A mirror backup is a type of data backup where an identical, real-time copy of the source data is created. This ensures that any update to the source data is immediately reflected in the backup data automatically.

3. How often should a company back up its data?

The frequency of data backup varies from company to company. Generally, it is determined by how often the company’s data changes and how important the changed data is. However, on average, it is advised that companies should back up their data daily.