To ensure effective data backups, businesses should follow these best practices: - Automate Backups: Set up automatic backups to avoid human error and ensure consistency. - Use Off-Site Storage: Store backups in a different location to protect against local disasters. - Encrypt Data: To safeguard sensitive information, encrypt backup data both in transit and at rest. - Regularly Test Restores: Conduct periodic tests to ensure that backups can be restored successfully. - Maintain Multiple Versions: Keep several versions of backups to protect against data corruption.