Why Every Business Needs a Remote Data Backup

What Is Remote Data Backup?

Online data backup (remote data backup) is a type of off-site storage that allows data to regularly be backed up over a network on a remote server. The server is typically hosted by a third-party service provider. 

Think of remote backup as storing your data in the “cloud.” It’s a great way to be sure you have access to your data 24/7 even if something happens to your local data storage.

Remote data backup is essentially a way to store data in a centralized location so you can access it from multiple devices and by multiple approved users simultaneously as needed. Every business should invest in remote data backup, especially today as cybersecurity risks are on the rise and workforces are distributed geographically across multiple devices with different operating systems. Ensuring your data is securely stored and remotely accessible will help keep your business in the clear no matter what happens to your office’s network.

How Does Remote Data Backup Work?

Remote data backup is the modern digitized version of physical tapes or external hard drives. It allows for the backup of both personal and enterprise-level data and helps to ensure critical data can survive any network disruptions or disastrous events. Remote backup is a key feature of efficient disaster recovery planning and is critical to cyberattack security strategy.

Remote backup involves regular data backups over the network on protected remote servers operated by third parties. The most common remote backup system is a public cloud-based system, but as data breaches become more common, especially with the introduction of the 5G network and outdated hardware, remote backup is also being performed on secure network systems on a remote, private cloud server that only allows data to be available with the proper credentials.

Cloud Data Backup

Today, the most common remote data backup is cloud-based, although an offline backup is generally more secure (but more difficult to manage). The setup usually works with a client who would like to back up their data working with a third party on a subscription basis based on the functions of size, bandwidth needed, capacity requirements, and backup frequency. 

Cloud data backup can be an alternative to disaster recovery (DR) external hard drives or servers and puts the responsibility for maintaining and protecting your data in the hands of a third party. While involving a third-party service provider could make your data slightly more vulnerable, there are some pros to cloud data backup. 

For example, the service provider is responsible for any back-end support or application maintenance, and your data is usually available 24/7 at your convenience.

Manual Data Backup

Manual data backup is just what it sounds like – you manually backup your data when you make adjustments to your website or dataset, as opposed to having an automatic backup system. Sometimes manual backup systems also require the user to manually download all of their data, which can take up a lot of time and space on backup servers. 

However, manual data backup gives you full control over when to back up your data, where your data is stored, and who has access to your data. With automatic backup systems, you usually need to be connected to a network, which may open your data up to the possibility of being hacked.

Reasons Your Business Needs a Remote Data Backup

Despite the perceived security that manually backing your data up to a physical location may provide, remote data backup is convenient, affordable, and secure. There are so many options to choose from, so just a little research, or speaking with an expert can help you choose the most effective remote data backup solution for your needs. 

Here are some of the perks of opting for remote data backup:

Service-Based

Remote data backup systems that have data stored in the cloud are considered backup-as-a-service and provide users with backup and recovery options based on their specific needs. The service-based aspect of companies that work in remote data backup means that they cater to their customer's needs, and can ensure accessibility as needed. 

There is no single standard when it comes to data storage, so these companies are able to work with each client to determine the best system for backup and restoration of data, what the interface should look like on the user end, and backend management and maintenance.

The interface should be designed so the customer’s user experience is optimal and they are able to choose what data to protect or recover, when data should be collected and stored, and when it should be destroyed, if ever. 

Remote data backup is an active process since customer needs are always changing, and working with professional service providers can make managing your data backup needs easier. Leave data storage to the professionals so you can focus on your core competencies and business goals.

Scalability

In that same line, remote data backup is scalable. The elasticity of the cloud means that remote data backup service providers can allocate unlimited storage capacity as needed. Scalability can contribute to data storage security as well. Organizations can increase their data storage capacity using a single data repository instead of spreading it across multiple servers. That means they only have to worry about a single repository entry point requiring enhanced protection.

Security

Remote data backup is secured using full-stack native cloud multi tenant platforms, meaning it engages every form of security and encryption to ensure data is protected. The existence of multiple remote data backup service providers also means you maintain total control over your data. 

Data can be moved from space to space securely so you don’t have to be locked into any single service provider over time. Additionally, service providers do not have access to your data. They facilitate the storage and retrieval of data in a blind manner.

Remote data backups also help harden organizations against certain kinds of cyberattacks. For example, ransomware attacks, which corrupt data by encrypting it, can easily be thwarted by using a remote data backup. Once the ransomware strikes, the organization can reformat their storage drives and redownload their information from the remote backup instead of having to pay the ransom.

Data Redundancy

A single point of failure is any system or resource that, if it fails, would bring down your network. Remote data backups help to create data redundancy so that your IT infrastructure is more resilient against potential failures. 

With a remote backup system in place, you can eliminate the single point of failure that comes from only having a single server with all of your data.

Pay as You Go

When you contract a remote data backup service provider, you only pay for the service. The cost of the service is dependent on the amount of data you’ll need to store and for how long, but these aspects may change over time, so the cost of the service adjusts. You can also align your data’s value with the cost you are willing to pay. Prices tend to depend on the type of data you want to store. 

For example, banking information that needs incredible encryption and constant monitoring will be more expensive to store than data from a simple website. 

It’s better to spend a predictable flat-rate amount on service as opposed to an outright purchase, hiring your own staff, or taking a gamble on the pay-by-the-hour repairman. By working with a professional service provider that charges clear rates based on your needs, you can easily budget your data storage, and know you are working with dedicated data storage experts.

Enterprise Class

Using that same banking example, remote data backup service providers tend to have enterprise-class options for multinational companies or government agencies with massive amounts of data that need constant monitoring. An international bank will need to pay big bucks for the convenience of having customer data in the cloud securely. However, this allows them to retrieve the necessary data how and when they need it, a service that is well worth the cost. 

There are so many options when it comes to setting up your data backup system. From a local hard disk drive, backup, disaster appliances, or secure cloud solutions, to public, private, or hybrid cloud storage, it can be helpful to speak with a tech expert before investing in your data storage. 

Set Up Your Backup Now!

Need help getting a remote data backup solution in place for your organization or need other important IT services? Contact IT Proactive today to get started!