In the wake of the countless threats out there that can threaten your business, it’s more important than ever before to think about what your organization is doing to protect its data--and, by extension, its future. Depending on the current data backup solution your organization uses, it might be time to consider a change for the better.
While it might be tempting to stick it out with an easy and cheap data backup system like an external hard drive, we assure you that cloud-based backup is the better alternative by a wide margin. Unfortunate for many businesses, they see this option as out of their price range, prompting them to invest in something that is the inferior option in almost every single way. We’ll compare some of the classic options for data backup and disaster recovery to the modern cloud-based model that our Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) tool can provide.
Common Types of Data Backup
Some of the most popular methods of data backup over the years have nothing to do with the cloud at all. Some organizations still use tape backup, where data is stored on magnetic tape reels and restored manually as needed. The issue with this particular solution is that it relies too much on the user. They either set the backup properly, or they don’t, meaning that there is a much greater chance for error compared to automated solutions. After all, nobody is perfect, and we all have days where we might forget something important. That’s not even mentioning that tapes can be destroyed or corrupted if they are stored on-site, meaning that if your office is struck by a disaster or security breach, you could lose your backups too.
A similar scenario happens when data is stored on an external hard drive or flash drive. While it’s off your organization’s infrastructure, this comes with the risk of it being lost or stolen while out of the office. It’s the same as having a mobile device with sensitive data on it. If it looks valuable, thieves will target it, ultimately leading you to both replace the device and resolve data privacy issues that come from your losing the device.
The Best Solution
Cloud-based data backup is one of the best ways you can protect your business’ future, regardless of the size or scope of your operations. It’s largely considered the best solution on the market, especially if you’re on a budget. You can effectively eliminate many of the most common problems that businesses have regarding data backup. For example, you can automate the act of taking a backup, cutting out any possibility of user error.
However, the biggest reason to take advantage of cloud-based backup is so you can minimize costly downtime. Since your data is simply available for download from the cloud, you can have near-instant access to it, making a disaster little more than an inconvenience with the right preparation. If you have hardware that can act like a server--like our BDR device--you can temporarily restore operations until you find a more permanent solution to your hardware needs. Regardless, this type of cloud -based solution saves you money in the long run.
To find out how your organization can leverage cloud-based BDR, contact SMART Services at 586 258-0650 .
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