UK BT WARNS ABOUT DATA THEFT ISSUESic Birmingham - BT warns over lack of data back-up
Apr 27 2004
By Steve Pain, Birmingham Post


Business managers in the West Midlands are more likely to lose sleep over replacing office furniture than they are over losing crucial computer files - despite the fact that it could put them out of business.

New figures from BT show that one in five firms (20 per cent) across the West Midlands have protected their data, yet almost twice that number (39 per cent) have cover for their office furniture.

And many firms take the security of their data completely for granted. The study showed that one quarter of firms (23 per cent) never back up their data in any shape or form.

Mick Hegarty, ICT general manager at BT, said: "Just because computer files are out of sight, doesn't mean they should be out of mind.

"If a desk breaks it is pretty easy to replace, but losing your computer files could cost you your business. Having broadband is the most effective way of protecting your data. This is its hidden secret. It can save your business from going under."

Seven out of ten firms that suffer a data loss go out of businesses within two years according to analyst firm IDC, and the risk is high according to BT's report with one in two West Midlandsbased firms reporting that they had experienced a data loss (49 per cent).

BT says that many managers think they are adequately protected if they back up their data. But the telecoms giant warns that many data back up systems are not foolproof and do not always work.

According to the group, almost one third (31 per cent) of firms that have had to restore their computer files found that the process is too complicated and does not go smoothly. Common reasons for having to retrieve data include virus infection, computer theft or loss.