Few Considerations When Selecting the Cloud Backup Solution

Cloud backup, when properly executed and managed, can become an indispensable element of your DR strategy. The advent of cloud computing dramatically changed the data protection market. With cloud data backup, the data protection process is simplified, allowing companies to eliminate the need for costly on-site data protection. By migrating data to a hosted data storage environment, companies gain access to effective data protection at a fraction of the cost of traditional on-site solutions. However, not all cloud storage providers are created equal, so it’s important to carefully evaluate the options before choosing a cloud provider.

When choosing a cloud data backup service, there are several key considerations to keep in mind. The first step in evaluating cloud data protection is to consider your company’s data protection needs. A common mistake is to attempt to implement a complete cloud data backup solution without considering the end-users and how those end users will utilize your proposed solution. For example, will employees who access email through the cloud be willing to make manual backup copies? Will business customers who store large amounts of information on their laptops want to back up that information onto a separate local PC? Only after all of these questions are answered can you then begin to evaluate cloud backup pricing options.

Select the Right Solution:

When choosing a cloud storage system, remember that it is ultimately the customer’s responsibility to decide how much data they wish to store in the cloud and how often they wish to retrieve that data. This will dictate both the hardware requirements and the cloud backup infrastructure that must be utilized. Furthermore, the amount of cloud backup services that your company requires will be dictated not only by the nature of your businessresultscost-effective but also by the nature of your employees’ work. Only by addressing these issues can you truly understand your cloud backup needs and select the appropriate solutions.

Right for Your Company or Not:

Before choosing a cloud storage solution, it is important to consider whether or not the system is right for your company. For example, some cloud storage companies have moved away from employing physical security measures. The moves away from physical security also make it more likely that a business’ sensitive data will be compromised. Cloud storage companies also have the potential to run afoul of local and state laws, should they be discovered. In addition, cloud storage companies must face fierce competition from established companies that already have an existing foothold in the market.

Easy to Access the Information:

When selecting a cloud backup service, it is important to consider how easily information is moved between servers. It is also important to choose a cloud backup system that allows for off-site data protection. Many companies that use cloud storage find that their data protection needs are met almost entirely through remote access. This means that data is often stored remotely even where the company is physically located. Furthermore, a cloud backup service should provide excellent security.

Less Expensive:

A cloud backup system is often less expensive than a traditional storage system. This is primarily due to the lower cost of hardware and software, as well as lower operating costs. However, the higher performance and lower downtime that results from this type of storage system also add to the overall cost of the project. Therefore, if the budget of the project includes a high degree of production time, it may be more cost-effective to simply install and use a production site for copying data.