Protect Your Data in 2024

The year 2024 is marked by an​ expected increase in solar activity, which means an increased risk of solar storms. The data we store on our computers and servers is actually stored on physical components, such as hard disks and solid-state drives (SSDs). These components are sensitive to external influences, including solar storms.

These natural phenomena can have devastating effects on electronic components, including hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Faced with this threat, it's crucial to ensure that our data is protected by a robust backup strategy.

The impact of solar storms on electronic components

Solar storms can have several devastating effects on electronic components, jeopardizing the security of stored data.

• Bit errors and data corruption: Radiation from solar storms can alter the state of bits in SSD and HDD memory, leading to data corruptions and potential losses. Although error correction mechanisms are in place, an excessive number of errors can cause irreversible losses. This is particularly critical for external hard drives used occasionally, where unexpected corruption can affect precious files such as videos or wedding photos.
• Direct damage to electronic components: High-energy charged particles from solar storms can penetrate electronic components, causing physical damage. This damage includes unwanted charge transfers, induced currents and voltage surges that degrade transistors, leading to malfunctions or complete hardware failure. In extreme cases, the equipment simply stops working.
• Electromagnetic interference: Solar storms generate electromagnetic interference that can cause signal errors and temporary malfunctions of SSDs and HDDs. Although these disturbances may cause the computer to crash or slow down, they generally do not cause permanent damage. Restarting the computer can often resolve these temporary problems.
  

Backup strategies to protect your data

To minimize risks, it's essential to implement an effective backup strategy. The 3-2-1 backup strategy is one of the best practices for ensuring data security:

• 3 copies of your data: Always have three copies of your data, the original and two backups.
• 2 different types of storage media: Use two different types of storage media, such as an external hard drive and cloud storage.
• 1 off-site backup: Keep an off-site backup to protect your data against local disasters.

How Minarca can help secure your data​

Minarca is our open-source backup solution designed to offer robust, affordable protection. Here are just some of the benefits of Minarca:

• Turnkey service: We take care of everything. From initial configuration to ongoing management, we take care of the entire backup process for your company.
• Personalized service: Every company is unique, and we are committed to providing a personalized service that meets your specific needs.​

• Backing up your cloud applications: We can back up your cloud applications, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Zoho CRM and many others.
  

Conclusion

In the year 2024, with a predicted increase in solar activity, protecting your data becomes a top priority. Electronic components are vulnerable to the effects of solar storms, underscoring the crucial importance of a robust backup strategy.

To effectively secure your data against these threats, take a proactive approach with Minarca. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your backup system and find out how we can help you ensure the security and continuity of your critical information.