How to Calculate Backup Requirements

Backup of a critical data is a task that's importance often isn’t appreciated until data loss has been experienced. Fortunately, a wide range of solutions on the market today make this job as painless as possible.

But backup needs are a personal affair, with future requirements dependent upon the unique environment. When it comes time for budget planning, you’re going to need concrete numbers. You will want to allow for data growth, enough bandwidth to get the job done quickly, replacement of aging equipment, and more.

The path to clear answers

IT administrator must be both versed in many areas – and also surround themselves with experts in various fields. We're only as good as the team we are part of.

Backup Vendor Responsibilities

Software isn't enough. Every organization's backup solution must include:

• Access to local US-based backup engineers, experienced with networks of every configuration.
• A future-needs consultation as a complimentary inclusion. Not some tacked-on afterthought.
• Access to free tools for self-service, such as NovaBACKUP’s Backup Calculator tool.

Factors in Calculating Backup Requirements

Backup Storage

To visualize how much storage you'll need in the coming years, you must know how much data resides on each server, how much it is changing, and how much is being added monthly.

Example: Requirements of 3 Servers with 20GB backup data each,
and 200MB new data per week

Backup Window

How long will my backup take? It's tough to estimate. But based on the average speeds of devices such as USB drives, Tape drives, GBIT Networks, and bandwidth to the cloud, you can get a rough idea of what to expect.

Backup Cost

Will your data growth allow you to continue using the same storage solution, or will new technologies be required? Based on your storage media (hard drive, tape, NAS, etc) you can determine some average costs for expansion.

Backup Strategy

Variables including network availability, data set and importance will determine the frequency of backup jobs. The number of virtual machines and business applications in your environment all play a part in your unique plan. Your unique backup strategy will consider the various backup types including full, differential, incremental and system image.

To calculate your own backup requirements, NovaBACKUP Corporation recommends first analyzing the type and amount of data you have, and documenting your existing IT resources and limitations. First get a general idea of your future needs using the Backup Calculator, and then consult with a backup expert for the clearest possible picture.