Undoubtedly Online Backup has a lot of advocates, yet there are many still unconvinced by its benefits. There are some common misconceptions about Online or Cloud Backup that often push customers away from using it.
Here are some of the most common fictitious theories:
All Online Backup vendors are the same
It may seem obvious that this statement is not true but there are plenty of circumstances of FAQs to demonstrate that a large percentage of people do not realise that there is a difference in the services offered by different Online Backup providers. Backup Technology recently experienced this itself when one of its blogs received a huge response. Several subscribers misinterpreted the article and therefore the difference between enterprise level backup solutions (provided by Backup Technology) and consumer level backup solutions.
Choosing a cloud backup vendor can be a critical decision for you whether it is for personal or commercial usage. Undeniably there is an abundance of Online Backup solutions available and the features that they offer can vary considerably. Some provide the bare minimum while others provide a huge range of features to enhance the service that they provide. These features may include the amount of storage, security, data restoration and technical support. Thus it is essential that every customer investing in Cloud Backup carefully considers what they want from a solution and a provider when making a decision in order to find the best solution to meet their specific requirements.
Data restoration and recovery takes weeks
This varies from provider to provider. There is an element of truth to this statement if you pick the wrong backup provider. Conversely, with top quality Online Backup and Disaster Recovery solutions, data can be restored and recovered within hours.
Once again it is imperative that the proper research is conducted to find out which solution best caters to your needs. For enterprises, quick recovery times are imperative for their normal operating procedures to continue. This alongside an adequate DR plan minimises downtime even further in the event of a disaster.
Online backup is expensive
Online backup is expensive
As it has already been stated, the Online Backup market is wide and varying, hence the price of different solutions differs greatly depending upon the features that each provider offers. Providers will also structure their pricing differently. For example, some will base it on amount of data backed up, whilst some will base it on the number of machines on which the software is installed.
Some other features that affect pricing are;
- The number of generations of each file that are kept.
- Data retention and archiving period options.
- Managed backups vs. unmanaged backups.
- The level of support available, e.g. 24/7 or normal office hours.
Investment in a good Online Backup solution can have enormous long-term financial benefits for enterprises by significantly lowering costs in the following ways:
- Most providers have a pay-as-you-go pricing model so the customer only pays for the amount of data that it wishes to store.
- Cloud resources can quickly be added with the fine granularity and have costs that scale smoothly without requiring large upfront investments.
- Online eliminates expenditures for backup tapes, disks, external drives and other backup equipment.
- The cloud platform manages and maintains the DR servers and storage devices, lowering IT costs and the need for manual intervention.
Furthermore, according to Symantec’s Disaster Preparedness Survey, the median cost of downtime for an SMB following a disaster is $12, 500 per day. The implementation of an effective Online Backup and Disaster Recovery plan can reduce this cost drastically by minimising downtime.
Online Backup is enough
Online backup is a foundational technology but for many customers, it is no longer enough. In an ideal world, data should be backed up in more than one location in order to minimise risk of data loss in the event of a disaster. It is always a good idea to keep a local copy as well as an off-site copy in the form of Online Backup to add an extra level of protection to your business.
Choosing your Online Backup provider
It is important to be wise when choosing your Online Backup provider. Secure backup and reliable restoration are foundational to your business’ success. Investigate your options critically. Be sure that your provider fulfills your specific requirements, whether you are looking for a consumer or enterprise level solution.
