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Many UK businesses are flirting with IT disaster, with fewer than 20 per cent of SMEs backing up data remotely, according to new research from telecoms giant BT and the Institute of Directors.

Despite 82 per cent of the 394 firms polled stating that they could not function in the event of a data failure, only 11 per cent cited back-up as one of their main IT priorities.

The majority use either tape- or CD-based systems to support their requirements and yet, crucially, many fail to store these archives off-site, placing vital data at risk in the instance of fire, flooding or other disaster. This problem can be overcome, however, by either storing back-up tapes/discs at a separate location or choosing a broadband-based service that automatically dials in and stores information on a remote server.

‘With businesses increasingly dependent on information in their day-to-day operations it is crucial that companies store their critical business data off-site,’ ventures BT’s Mick Hegarty. ‘Broadband allows the essential data held by companies to be quickly and cost-effectively stored on secure remote servers and easily retrieved should disaster strike.’

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