If you don’t own your data, you don’t own your business

Not owning your data is fine.. until it's not ! You might not think of it this way, but your data is your business.

The documents, client info, orders, invoices, content, emails, it’s all stored somewhere.
But the real question is: Do you actually own it? Do you know where it is saved and can you get it back if things go wrong?

If the answer is no, then you're building on borrowed ground.

My wake-up call for you

One of my long time apps was hosted on Heroku. Last week I logged in. Gone. Unfortunately, they were warning emails I havn't noticed so but they showed no mercy.

Turns out, Heroku had deleted it as the last payment didn’t got through.

The entire backend and database were wiped and whend I logged back I thought maybe I'm crazy: "didn't I have my app right here ??" I panicked !

I was lucky because thI built thhe app in code (Node.js + React + Strapi), so I could redeploy it in minutes.
But that didn’t save my content. If I hadn’t backed up my data elsewhere, everything like the platform, the logic, the work, would’ve been lost FOREVER.

And that’s when it hit me:

Data loss isn’t just a tech problem. It’s a business risk.

Entrepreneurs, listen up:

If you run a business, online or offline, you’re already using platforms like:

• Website builders (Wix, Shopify, Webflow)
• Booking tools
• CRMs
• Cloud drives
• Payment apps

They’re amazing tools. But none of them guarantee your data is protected if something breaks or disappears.

That means:

• You could lose customer records overnight
• You might have no backup of past orders or client interactions
• Your whole online presence could crash if one app goes down

And if you’re not prepared for that? You’re gambling with your business.

Remember the OVHcloud fire ?

In March 2021, a devastating fire engulfed OVHcloud's Strasbourg data center, one of Europe's largest cloud service providers. The blaze completely destroyed the SBG2 facility and partially damaged others, leading to widespread data loss for numerous businesses.

What Went Wrong ?

Affected companies believed their data was safe, trusting OVHcloud's infrastructure. However, it was revealed that both primary data and backups were stored in the same physical location. Consequently, when the fire occurred, both were lost. This oversight highlighted a significant lapse in disaster recovery planning.

The Aftermath

The consequences were severe:

• Legal actions: Over 140 customers filed a class-action lawsuit against OVHcloud, seeking more than €10 million in damages.

• Court rulings: French courts ordered OVHcloud to pay substantial damages to affected clients, citing contractual breaches in data protection and backup provisions.

• Business disruptions: Companies like Bati Courtage lost critical data, including client information and operational systems, severely impacting their operations.

It’s your responsibility (even if you’re not “techy”), I mean it

You don’t have to be an engineer to do this right.
You just need to own your setup and give (or do) instructions.

Here's how:

1. Map out your key tools

Know what tools you rely on and what type of data each one stores. Make a simple list of:

• The platforms you use (Notion, Stripe, Calendly, Webflow, etc.)
• What kind of data is stored in each (invoices, customer info, content, booking history)
• Who has access (just you? your assistant? your clients?) 📌 This gives you visibility and shows you what would hurt most if it vanished.

2. Set up regular backups (yes, even manually)

Whether it’s a manual export every month or an automated sync to Google Drive, do it. Start now. Not all platforms back up your data by default and many make recovery your problem. What to do:

• Check if the tool allows exporting data (CSV, JSON, PDF, etc.)
• Schedule monthly reminders to download your data
• Use a folder in Google Drive or Dropbox to store it clearly by date
• Automate where possible (Zapier, Make.com, or native syncs)

📌 For website content, blog posts, and customer records, a simple spreadsheet backup can save you weeks of stress later.

3. Use platforms that let you control your data

Can you download your info ? Move to another platform if needed ? That flexibility matters. Before you commit to any tool ask yourself:

• Can I export everything if I leave?
• Is the data in a readable format?
• Can I self-host or migrate later if needed?

📌 Avoid tools that lock you in or make you dependent, because flexibility = security.

4. Write things down

Keep a simple document that explains how your business systems work. If someone had to help you tomorrow, could they? Write a short “business system cheat sheet”:

• Where your tools live
• What each tool does
• Where to find passwords (ideally in a secure manager like 1Password or Bitwarden)
• How to restore things if needed

📌 If you couldn’t answer client emails tomorrow, could someone step in and figure it out?

Don’t wait for disaster

Too many entrepreneurs wait until they lose something to take data seriously.

But if you don’t own your data, you don’t own your business.

You’re one locked account, one deleted app, one missed email away from starting over.

Protect what you’re building.

And if you need help ? That’s what I do. I can help you find a configuration, set it up and automate it for you.