Common Data Protection Mistakes Iraqi Companies Make

By:
Rami
Published on:
December 14, 2025

Data protection has become one of the most urgent challenges for businesses in Iraq. Cyber incidents, accidental deletions, ransomware, and system failures create serious risks for companies that operate without strong backup and recovery strategies.

At Osous Al Taqnia, we work with organizations across Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Najaf, and Mosul. We see the same patterns repeatedly, and many incidents could have been avoided with simple but essential improvements.

This blog highlights the most common mistakes Iraqi businesses make, supported by a real scenario and practical tips for building stronger protection.

Mistake 1: Relying Only on Local Backups

Many companies still store backups:

  • On the same server
  • On an external hard drive in the same room
  • On a NAS with no replication

This puts the business at risk because a single event, such as ransomware, hardware failure, or fire, can destroy all copies.

A Basra construction firm loses its archive

A construction company in Basra stored all project drawings, contracts, and financial files on a single server.

Problem:
A ransomware attack encrypted the server and the attached backup drive.

What Osous Al Taqnia did:

  • Rebuilt the environment
  • Implemented cloud backup with replication to two storage locations
  • Added immutable backup copies that ransomware cannot modify

Outcome:
The company returned to normal operations with better resilience and a documented disaster recovery plan.

Mistake 2: No Disaster Recovery Strategy

Many Iraqi businesses assume backups are enough. However, backup without a disaster recovery plan means you may not meet your required recovery time.

A solid disaster recovery plan defines:

  • RPO: How much data can you afford to lose
  • RTO: How quickly do systems need to be restored
  • Which applications get priority
  • Who performs recovery steps
  • What infrastructure is needed

Without this structure, even a small incident can lead to long downtime.

Mistake 3: Storing Sensitive Data Without Access Controls

Some companies place entire folders on shared drives without proper access rules. This increases the risk of:

  • Accidental deletion
  • Unauthorized copying
  • Malware spreading through shared directories

Solutions like DLP, IAM, and permission-based access help prevent these issues.

Mistake 4: No Offsite or Cloud Replication

Iraqi businesses often overlook the value of remote data replication. Without it, natural disasters, theft, or equipment loss can be devastating.

With modern cloud services, replication has become affordable and simple. Osous Al Taqnia frequently deploys:

Mistake 5: Not Testing Backup Restores

A backup that has never been tested is not a backup. This is one of the most dangerous mistakes we see in Iraq.

Some IT teams assume backup jobs run correctly because they see “completed” in the dashboard. The real test is whether you can restore:

  • A single email
  • A database
  • A full server
  • A virtual machine

Osous Al Taqnia performs scheduled restore tests for clients to ensure they are always ready for emergencies.

Mistake 6: Ignoring Cybersecurity When Planning Data Protection

Data protection and top cybersecurity go hand in hand. Without strong security, attackers can:

  • Delete or encrypt backups
  • Steal sensitive information
  • Manipulate files without detection

That is why we integrate:

  • MFA
  • Email security
  • Endpoint protection
  • Firewall policies
  • SOC monitoring

as part of every data protection strategy.

How Osous Al Taqnia Helps Iraqi Companies Protect Their Data

Our team provides complete solutions, including:

  • Cloud backup design and implementation
  • Replication and disaster recovery planning
  • DLP deployment and user access control
  • Backup testing and validation
  • Full data protection assessments

We combine local experience with global best practices to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable data protection frameworks.

Protect Your Business Before an Incident Happens

If you are concerned about backup reliability or data loss risk, now is the best time to act. Request a quote for a data protection assessment. Osous Al Taqnia is ready to build a strong, secure protection strategy for your business.

UAE

6th Floor, The Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai

IRAQ

Villa S 11/5, Atconz, Erbil
62nd St, Baghdad

Follow us
Developed by
Osous Technology
© 2026 Osous Al Taqnia. All rights reserved.