Backup and Recovery Experts: Go Cloud, or Go Home!

Experts assert now more than ever, that cloud backup and recovery solutions are evolving to become as good, if not a better option than traditional on-premis data backup solutions. Comparing on-premise to cloud offerings is likely the first step in deciding which mechanism is right for your organization, and with these tips from the experts, you may begin changing your mind about cloud’s shaky reputation regarding security, and reliability.

Traditional,  on-premise backup, refers to the process of storing data locally, whether on hard drives, discs or servers. On-premise solutions are practical and well-known, and most view them as less prone to a security breach. However, on-premise backup solutions can have intimidating up-front costs due to the large volumes of disk space that a business must purchase, added, the continual software and hardware maintenance, electricity, and personnel to manage the systems are costs that never go away. This is where the cloud computing backup and recovery solutions are changing the landscape.

Whether an organization uploads everything to an online backup service, or creates a replication center in a despot location, a cloud solution typically involves the storing of data outside of the organization. Instead of storing data by yourself, someone else does it for you while charging you a monthly cost. Cloud options tend to be very cost effective and can also store large volumes of data.

Here’s what experts are saying about 2016’s cloud backup capabilities:

“Cloud Backup comes along with lots of benefits and the most worthy one is the data accessibility. The files stored in the cloud can be easily accessed at any time and from any place. Cloud backup gives secure accessibility, reliability and strong protection for the backed-up data. The major advantage behind backing-up your data on the cloud is cost-effectiveness. With an almost minimum amount, you can back-up your data on the cloud and also get a secure access 24/7.” – Ankit Pareek, ExpertsExchange.com

“In the wake of security threats and constantly evolving technology, all software needs to be upgraded from time to time. This is especially important for backup software because such software needs to keep up with the latest releases of the systems being backed up. Cloud solutions are far superior in keeping up with this need because their multitenant systems are upgraded on behalf of their users. This results in zero downtime. Even client software is more easily upgraded. With little to no user training or communication,  upgrades can be pushed to supported devices.” –Amnet.com, from the article, “5 times when cloud backup is better”.

A new study conducted by Clutch, a  B2B research firm out of Washington, DC, suggests that cloud data backup is considered a more secure option than traditional backup by majority of SMBs.

“We surveyed 304 SMBs in the US to measure the benefits and challenges of using online backup services, as well as behaviors regarding frequency of testing and backing up data. Nearly 3/4s of our respondents work for companies with 11+ employees, and almost half hold a Senior Manager position or higher. Our results dispel the myth that cloud-based backup is a less secure option for SMBs. Furthermore, they provide useful advice for businesses seeking to implement the solution in the future.” Read more about the clutch study findings.

Cloud storage solutions traditionally offer reduced downtime in the event of a loss, and allow for easier locating of data. Additionally, using the cloud as a backup tool can allow for increased scalability, as you have the ability to increase your storage at any time. Only pay for the data you use, and nothing more, standard best practice in meeting the needs of your growing businesses.