The Pros and Cons of Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery

Recent statistics show that an hour of downtime costs a small business around $8,000. If disaster strikes, you need to be prepared. It’s no wonder why cloud backup has become the next big thing. After all, business data can be lost quickly, and it can cost you everything.

It seems that 51% of small businesses still use local hardware-based backup solutions for their data. That makes them vulnerable to data loss due to certain disasters (fire or floods, for instance).

Another recent survey found out that 44% of data loss is caused by accidental deletion, system crash or software corruption. These are unintentional mistakes that can happen to anyone. But true professionals do their best to avoid it.

An increased number of small and mid-sized businesses started to treat data backup more seriously. However, 54% of SMBs that suffered from data loss in the past say they can’t find the time for efficient data backup.

Could this happen because they don’t understand cloud backup yet?

In the following lines, you’ll get useful information regarding the backup of data in the cloud. Read on to find more about the pros and cons of using this service.

What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Cloud backup is not a new technology. It’s been around for a while. It involves sending a copy of your data to an off-site vendor. Usually called cloud providers, they keep your data secure and available in exchange for a small fee.

With cloud backup solutions, your sensitive data is stored in a special facility. These data centers are specifically designed for storing data and have state-of-the-art security systems. We all understand how vital security is for businesses.

When it comes to companies, securing your data is even more important. That is because it doesn’t involve just you or your employees, but your clients as well. By performing regular backups, you ensure that sensitive information can be recovered. Especially in the case of a disaster.

Disaster recovery represents tech systems that support critical business functions. That means you are offered protection against natural and man-made disasters. Hurricanes, floods, fires or IT bugs – they all fall into this category.

Hopefully, you now understand why cloud backup and disaster recovery are so important. It is time to go over the pros and cons of using these solutions for your business.

The Pros

1. Your Data Is Accessible from Anywhere at Anytime

Having your valuable data in the cloud makes it available anytime as long as you have an Internet connection. The device you’re using doesn’t really matter – it can be accessed from your mobile, laptop or desktop.

You can also grant different levels of access to your employees. This way, you’ll increase the security of valuable data and lower the chances of inconvenience.

2. Superior Efficiency and Reliability

The best cloud backup solutions providers use state-of-the-art facilities. They utilize the latest innovations in hardware and software.

That is an important aspect. By outsourcing this service, you will no longer have to worry about the following:

• Hardware upgrades – it’s the provider’s responsibility
• Software upgrades – the provider must always update the software
• Maintenance costs – electricity and cooling costs, to be exact

It’s the vendor’s responsibility to enhance their services – not yours. If something goes wrong, it’s their job to fix it. They do that by using state-of-the-art technology.

The latest innovations in hardware and software offer you increased efficiency. They also simplify complex processes and are tailored to offer improved user experience.

3. All-Around Security

When you give your valuable data to a specialized cloud backup company, security is a vital aspect. And it has to be an all-around aspect.

That is why the best companies use data centers. Some of them are housed on multiple power grids. They even have 24/7 on-site armed security. When it comes to your corporate data, no security method is “too much.”

If you’re looking for a cloud backup provider, ask about encryption. A few specialized data centers use military-grade data encryption for enhanced security purposes.

These facilities used by some cloud solutions providers are built to stand the test of time and nature. They have specific protocols for dealing with fires, for example. They are constructed using the best materials so they can face a Category 5 hurricane.

4. Convenience for You and Your Team

Backing up your data in the cloud makes things easier for you and your team. You no longer need to hire people to take care of your backup infrastructure. You can even automate the backup process.

This lets you and your team focus on the most important aspects of your business.

Cloud backup is also straightforward and user-friendly. It usually involves a browser window through which you can manage all your data. In case something is off, you just need to call customer support.

Professional providers have a team of experts in place. These are people that know their job very well. Your business will no longer require hiring an IT specialist. Any problems that may occur can be solved fast and easy.

A cloud solution will also help keep costs down. You no longer need to invest large sums of money. You simply pay a monthly fee and enjoy the efficient services.

The Cons of Cloud Backup

As with any service, there might be some problems. Here are the most significant cons of backing up your data in the cloud:

• You can’t access your data if you don’t have Internet access.
• Bandwidth issues – You need the right amount of bandwidth to back up large chunks of data.
• Full data recovery could take some time – It is fast and easy to recover small quantities of data. But full recoveries could eat up some time and stress the local systems.

However, if you’re working with a professional cloud hosting company, the last two cons will not be too noticeable.

Conclusions

As you can very well see, the pros outnumber the cons. Cloud backup may arguably be considered a necessity for an eCommerce website. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a must for other types of businesses.

Backing up data in the cloud can also be used as a competitive advantage. You let your customers know that their personal information is safe.

Granted, making the switch to cloud backup is a big decision. Take your time and assess the situation with care. Plan ahead and make sure you consider disaster recovery as well.

Applied Innovations is a team of Windows hosting experts. With over 15 years of experience, our cloud infrastructure offers more than you’d think.

It enables you to scale resources on demand. You also get high availability automatic recovery in the event of hardware failure.

If you have any questions about cloud backup, or you’re looking for a trusted partner, please get in touch with us.