Cloud Backup Service – In this day and age, your data presents a challenge when it comes to its management strategy. For your personal data, the data stored on digital devices need to be preserved due to its sensitivity. For businesses, the value of data is represented by actual money.
If you’re running a business in today’s technological era, most of your organization sensitive data is preserved digitally. Suppose in case of an unwanted event, this data is lost. This can present a challenge to the existence of small to medium enterprises (SME’s) and can cause long term damage even to large enterprises.
In the end, no one can afford a data loss. This is why backing up your valuable data should be integrated into your business plan and a proper backup plan should always be prepared.
The Reliability of the Cloud
A number of methods exist to help you backup your data. You can choose to store your data in a physical storage device, such as flash drives (USBs), external hard drives, clones, or on a virtual platform like the cloud. A number of factors exist that prefers the option to backup your data on the cloud rather than the alternatives.
For one, local backup mediums such as external hard drives or clones are prone to damage. In case of any physical damage, all of the backed up data can be lost. Suppose your business choose to store old data on a hard drive and had it removed from all computer systems. In case of any damage to these devices, all of this data can be lost. Online backup services help keep your valuable data safe through a server backup. Since there’s no physical presence of the cloud, this issue is removed.
The reliability of the cloud is also increased because of its limitless storage space. While physical storage devices might be limited by storage space, a cloud backup service usually offers unlimited storage space. This helps businesses remove the barrier of worrying about less amount of storage space. In essence, cloud backup proves much more efficient and reliable than other alternatives present.
Factors to Consider while Choosing a Cloud Backup Service
A wide range of third-party services are available nowadays providing backup solutions. It’s important to keep the below-mentioned factors in mind while choosing a service for your business backups.
Before we proceed, it’s important to distinguish a cloud storage service from a cloud backup service. While cloud storage services are usually online platforms that provide limited storage space for personal use, cloud backup services cater to businesses. Cloud backup services are dedicated to backing up your data automatically with unlimited storage capacity.
Here are some factors businesses should consider while choosing a cloud backup service.
Cross-Platform Functionality
A good cloud backup service should provide users with the ability to use the software in a wide range of devices and operating systems. This means that whether you’re using a MAC, Windows or any other operating system, the software should perform equally well on all of these. This should matter to businesses as a number of computer systems being used in the workplace might differ in OS. They could also differ based on the nature of the digital device. Cloud backup services can also extend to mobile devices or mobile apps such as android and iOS. Businesses should be able to use a service that backs up the entire workplace data without having to worry about the platform being used.
Cost
Primarily, businesses will be most focused on the affordability of the service they’re using. Normally the costs involved with the cloud backup service being used depends upon usage. Businesses should first see their personal requirements and list viable options based on the ones they can afford. The final decision should be based on the performance of the software being used, but the cost will play a primary role.
Security
Your data backup on the online cloud platform will be exposed to a new kind of threat. While the data is always protected through encryption keys, it is still exposed to security threats. In case of any threat to the cloud storage platform, your data can be leaked. For businesses, this can mean a financial threat, as sensitive company data such as account information or employee information can be comprised. To avoid any such leak of data, the business should closely view how secure the cloud backup service is.
Ease of use
It’s important to consider how easy it is to use the cloud backup software for your business. If employees feel workflow is interrupted because of the backup protocols used by the cloud backup service, it could cost the company in time. The service should provide a centralized management system for the administrator’s ease. Businesses should consider ease of use in using the software when considering a cloud backup service.
Availability
Another important factor to consider when choosing a viable cloud backup service is the uptime. It’s important to keep a note on the quality of service being provided. Usually, cloud backup services can halt workflow by temporarily being down due to maintenance, or because of an internal issue. The availability of the cloud matters to businesses, as a temporary shutdown of service can cost any business a lot.
Performance
Cloud backup services should first and foremost be assessed based on performance. This means that the time it needs to backup your data matters. Mostly, businesses have to do routine backups through cloud backup software. Every time the data is being backed up on the cloud, work processes within the organization can slow down. This can be seen from the initial backup which can be very time-consuming. This is why it’s important to consider how well the service performs.
