Organizations largely rely on their files and information to conduct daily tasks and serve their customers. If your system is compromised, hardware malfunctions or data isn't retrievable, do you have a plan in place to quickly restore activities? Regular backups are used as a solid foundation for business continuity and disaster recovery strategies, and there are a number of options to choose from. Cloud-based data backup makes sense for a few major reasons:
1. Non-intrusive
One of the biggest problems with tape backups is that they take a significant amount of time to execute. Organizations might need to run tape backups during the workday, which gets in the way of other operations and might not finish until days later. Tape must also be stored within the right conditions to protect against degradation and secure in case of floods or fires.
Cloud-based backups are much less intrusive than tape. The backup is performed in the background, capturing each change made to information. This will ensure that if the data must be restored, the most recent version is readily available. Dobson Technologies noted that you'll only want to back up new and changed data daily to improve efficiency. You should also do a full system backup on a scheduled basis, like every other month. If you have numerous sensitive database files, these should be recorded more often than some other documents.
Cloud backups run in the background and don't intrude on operations.2. Less costly
Tape is also becoming more costly to maintain. While tape has traditionally been eight to 10 times less expensive than other options, this doesn't take cloud efficiencies into account, TechTarget contributor Russ Fellows wrote. With cloud-based data, your information is stored offsite in hardware provided by a vendor. The vendor maintains, repairs and provisions these machines, significantly lowering your operational costs. You won't have to staff, train and assign employees, leaving your employees with more time to focus on critical tasks.
A capable managed service provider will also have security measures in place to effectively protect your sensitive data from being breached. Choose an MSP that understands your particular industry and can configure your cloud environment to meet compliance requirements. Your MSP should also be easily accessible for support during critical times when you need it most, resolving issues quickly and minimizing potential damages.
"How can you quickly deliver tape backup?"
3. More flexible access
Tape and disk backups can be damaged, lost or otherwise inaccessible. If one of your business locations is in a crisis, how can you deliver the tape backup to them quickly? The distance between facilities may not be feasible to travel and will be slow to restore operations. Even if you only have one office, what if it's unreachable due to weather, fire or floods? Tapes cannot survive in these types of conditions and may result in lost information.
Cloud-based backups are far more accessible, providing multiple copies of data at diverse locations. Employees can view important information using virtually any device with an internet connection. This means that if the office isn't open, you can still operate from home or another location. If data is lost on a machine due to a malfunction or an outage, you can easily search the cloud archive and restore what you need, according to ComputerWeekly. Services can also be scaled up or down as required, allowing organizations to quickly gain necessary functionality.
Cloud-based backup services have significantly evolved over the years to better suit business needs and provide the security that sensitive data requires. When compared with tape and disk backup, cloud solutions just make sense due to their cost savings, flexible access and non-intrusive nature. The best backup plans should leverage three backup copies, stored across two different media, with one stored offsite. For more information on how to take advantage of the cloud for your backup needs, contact ISG today.