IT and business leaders understand that backing up data is essential, but they often overlook the need to include offsite backup in their recovery plans. Offsite backup isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s vital for delivering the recoverability and redundancy that every organization needs to ensure critical files are always available, even when disaster strikes.
That’s why offsite backup is a key requirement in many data protection and retention regulations, such as HIPAA in the US and §75 SGB V in Germany. But offsite backup is about more than ticking compliance boxes. It’s a highly effective way to ensure you can recover your data if your local storage is hit by a ransomware attack, infected with malware, or taken out of action by a flood or fire.
There are several options for offsite backup, but for most businesses, cloud backup is the most convenient and cost-effective option. Backing up data to the cloud means backups can be automated, rather than uploading data to tapes and then physically moving them somewhere else. The cloud also separates backup data from the local network, which is a great way to protect it from ransomware and malware. Local backup storage offers faster access to lost files, but cloud backup offers invaluable peace of mind.
Using the cloud for your offsite backup brings many advantages and allows you to:
When you’re planning a robust backup strategy to protect your business and your customers, there are five things you should keep in mind.
There are several common misconceptions about cloud backup, including that it’s not really “offsite” because it’s connected to the local network. Cloud backup software keeps backup data separate from local networks, unlike cloud storage solutions, where a local deletion will also delete the cloud copy. Cloud backup will also allow you to recover older versions of your files so you can restore to a specific point in time.
The cloud isn’t an alternative to local backup; it’s a convenient way to help you follow the 3-2-1 backup rule (three copies of data, on two types of media, with one copy kept offsite). A hybrid backup approach is important to recover from different types of data loss. For example, if you need to restore an entire system rather than a handful of files, local backups will be faster. But if your local storage is incapacitated, a cloud backup will help you return to productivity quickly.
To make backup management as simple as possible, it’s important to have a single solution that supports all your backup activities, whether local or offsite. When everything’s connected, it’s much easier for administrators to manage. And if direct access to expert support is only a phone call away, it’s easier still.
Regulations in many jurisdictions have strict data sovereignty guidelines and insist that all sensitive data must remain in-country. When you’re considering cloud backup providers, it’s essential to consider where your data will be stored. Geo-location could also have an impact on connectivity and data accessibility, so you may need to decide if you want to use cloud backup for large quantities of data or just your most important files.
Your cloud backup software should keep data encrypted in transit and rest, so it’s never accessible to anyone (including your backup provider) other than you. End-to-end encryption doesn’t just enhance data protection, it also removes the effort and expense of setting up a VPN for your backup jobs.
If you’d like to discuss your backup challenges and explore the right backup strategy for your business, we’d love to hear from you. Book a 30-minute consultation with one of our backup experts to get practical advice on the best options for your unique needs.