Three Quarters of German SMEs Do Not Regularly Test Their Backups
Although a large number of companies perform backups regularly, testing their actual functionality is often neglected.
These are the findings of a recent study by Data Reverse, which surveyed 285 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from various industries across Germany between January and February.
Specifically, while 77 percent of companies back up their data at least weekly, only 28 percent regularly—at least quarterly—check whether these backups would actually work in an emergency. A full 72 percent rarely or never test the recoverability of their backed-up data.
Majority Rely on Hybrid Backups
The study also reveals a clear trend toward hybrid backup solutions: 59 percent of SMEs use a combination of cloud and on-premises solutions. Twenty-nine percent rely exclusively on the cloud, while 12 percent depend solely on local solutions.
Jan Bindig, CEO of Data Reverse, commented: “Without regular testing, data backup remains a dangerous black box. In practice, we frequently encounter cases where supposedly backed-up data is not accessible when it’s needed. The risk of serious data loss and significant financial damage is greatly underestimated.”
