In regulated industries, data backups are a legal requirement, not just an IT best practice. Regulatory frameworks mandate specific data retention periods, encryption standards and verifiable recovery capabilities. Failing to protect sensitive information and ensure that it’s recoverable can lead to legal penalties.
Many small to midsize enterprises (SMEs) are falling short of meeting these mandates. While many SME leaders believe their data protection is sufficient, studies reveal significant compliance gaps.
Resource constraints are a primary factor. Three-quarters of SMEs cite limited budget and resources as their primary bottleneck to protecting data.
Because compliance failures come with serious legal ramifications, the margin for error is razor-thin. This reality is forcing many SMEs to adopt enterprise-grade backup solutions managed by a managed services provider (MSP). The right MSP will implement robust technologies and provide a range of services that help ensure compliance.
Why Partner with an MSP
An MSP helps an SME bridge resource gaps. Qualified MSPs have a team of experts who take on the responsibility of backup management and regulatory compliance.
MSPs implement enterprise-grade backup strategies, set up secure cloud repositories, and deploy immutable storage that protects data from being deleted or altered by ransomware. They provide 24x7 monitoring of backup logs, immediately identifying and remediating failed jobs, corrupted files or connectivity issues.
The right MSP will also help SMEs classify their data so they only store critical files on high-cost, high-performance storage tiers. Data that must be retained long-term is moved to low-cost storage that still meets regulatory requirements.
Qualified MSPs will ensure that backups meet legal mandates, such as AES-256 encryption both in transit and at rest. They will sign legal agreements contractually binding them to protect regulated data.
How Datto Meets Regulatory Requirements
Datto products, when managed and deployed by an MSP, act as a unified shield that addresses the regulatory and technical hurdles SMEs face. Datto’s business continuity and disaster recovery ecosystem is built for the MSP delivery model, allowing small organizations to lease enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Regulatory frameworks mandate strict protection against data alteration or deletion. Datto uses the Zettabyte File System (ZFS), which automatically writes backups in a write-once-read-many format. It features Cloud Deletion Defense, ensuring that even if a cybercriminal gains local admin rights and deletes a backup agent, the cloud snapshots can be restored. Datto also runs machine learning algorithms on every backup to scan for anomalies and flag ransomware before it spreads.
Many regulations mandate that sensitive data must be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access. Datto enforces AES-256 encryption within their geographically distributed, secure private cloud data centers.
Complying with the Strictest Regulations
Regulators require documented proof that backups actually work. Datto eliminates backup uncertainty via AI-powered Screenshot Verification. Every day, the system automatically spins up the backup in an isolated sandbox environment. It boots the operating system, verifies that applications and services are running properly, takes a screenshot of the successful boot screen, and logs the result.
Different regulations dictate keeping historical data archives for three, six, or even seven or more years. Datto charges a flat, predictable fee based on time, regardless of data volume growth.
Strict mandates often penalize businesses if service outages paralyze operations or compromise public safety. Datto goes beyond backup into true business continuity. If an SME’s physical server fails, Datto can convert the latest backup into a live, functioning virtual server within minutes, either locally on the Datto appliance or in the Datto Cloud.
How Verteks Can Help
Verteks has a team of experts who can help SMEs architect a backup strategy that precisely meets their legal, compliance and business requirements. We are also a longtime Datto partner with experience implementing and managing the entire Datto product line. By layering our hands-on governance on top of Datto’s specialized features, we deliver a fully compliant, audit-ready data resilience strategy. Contact us to learn more.
