Choosing an Online Backup Solution
Your Guide to online backup services
No one readily admits to liking insurance, especially paying for it. However, when something goes wrong everyone is thankful they have it. The same can be said about online backup, which is the process of copying files over the Internet and storing it remotely in another location.
When a computer crashes, a fire or theft occurs or equipment is damaged after a disaster, everyone rejoices that important files were safely backed up and available for use in short order.
You may be thinking that your backup and storage requirements are being met by periodically copying your important files or folders to CD, DVD or alternate hard drives. That’s an important first step. But where do you keep the CDS, DVDs or hard drives? Many keep them right where their computers are or somewhere in the same vicinity. That’s not helpful when a fire or flood hits home.
Others will argue that their IT departments routinely employ tape cartridges or software backups to handle storage requirements. Again, unless copies are sent offsite, that’s not very useful in a disaster recovery scenario. Plus, it takes some serious knowledge and experience to configure, maintain, backup and restore information. Many small businesses do not have this expertise in house.
Consider the main causes for Data Loss:
* 44% Hardware Failure: Most hard drive manufacturers have reduced their warranties from 36 to 12 months
* 30% Human Error: Accidental file overwrites and deletions
* 12% Software Corruption: Programming errors, improper application terminations
* 7% PC Virus: Inferior anti-virus software, updated signature files.
* 7% Theft, fire, flood or other natural disaster
The Online Backup Advantage
A simple solution requiring the least amount of company resources is generally what businesses seek out. By simply downloading software, installing it on your PC or Mac and connecting to the online backup provider’s server, you can administer a secure online backup strategy. What’s more is this can be an automated procedure being conducted at regular intervals while your computer is still on.
What’s simpler than sending your encrypted, password-protected data to another computer over the Internet? If the data is lost or stolen, you contact the online backup provider and retrieve the information.
To reiterate, online backup services allows you to:
• Easily manage your backup strategy without IT personnel
• Eliminate the hassle of copying/storing tapes, CDS, DVDS• Retrieve files 24/7 from an offsite location regardless of the impending emergency
Like all things in life there are a few issues to be considered.
Security: You’re sending your valuable information to another source and you’re concerned about the security measures especially during transfer.
Speed: Dial up Internet connections will obviously take more time in the transfer and retrieval process. This can be overcome somewhat by scheduling overnight backups. Also, the first backup will take longer to complete depending on the amount of data transferred. It gets faster as you continue to use the service as only new or updated files are uploaded.
What to backup ?
Basically, you must establish what you need to back up. This is impacted by the number of workstations you have and what you establish as crucial information to your business. Backing up your sales and billing information daily may be a considerable amount of data in some organizations. Even various components of your operating system or application files, if so desired, may fall under the realm of vital in terms of storage.
Choosing the right supplier is vital : CompuSage with its Online Backup partner provides a robust backup service that is secure, fast, reliable, uses the latest technology and an established partner with years of experience.