Why your organization needs cloud-based Backup as a Service

Protecting data is critical for survival, no matter the type or size of your business – and the problems presented by legacy archive systems are quite evident. That’s why 48% of companies are currently investing heavily in cloud solutions to address data protection challenges including hacking, phishing, identity theft, and more.

How does cloud data backup work?

Backup is when a copy of your data is taken off-site and stored for safekeeping. It’s important to note that backup is not the same thing as replication, which copies data from one location to another. Data backup is when an exact copy of the data is taken off-site.

To set up a cloud backup system, any organization must partner with a cloud backup provider and integrate their solutions with their existing IT. Users can then choose the files and applications that will be backed up at all times. Cloud environments are completely elastic and can be defined based on the needs of the customer. The provider enables users to set up a backup schedule and pathway, then assign bandwidth to add new files.

How do backups impact data security and accessibility?

Backup and data protection are critical steps to achieve data integrity, data security, and compliance. Backup prevents data loss and ensures data continuity. Backups can be implemented through various means such as hard drives, tape, cloud storage, and others. Ensuring backup is regularly done will ensure data integrity and compliance. Backups are a critical part of data recovery and retention – if data is lost, a backup ensures the restoration of data to ensure business continuity.

Data backups do not replace the need for regular data integrity checks and business continuity planning, however. Data backups only protect data from accidental deletion or modification. Any backup solution or process will fail if there is no human oversight to confirm that data is being backed up and retained as intended. The accessibility and security of data backups depend on the physical, technical, and organizational controls that are in place to ensure data integrity.

The rising need for data protection

Unfortunately, data breaches continue to be a top-of-mind topic for companies of all sizes. Right now, breaches are happening at a faster rate than ever before. This is due to an increase in the number of connected devices and a growing reliance on technology. Especially with the recent shift to remote and hybrid work environments, the need for data protection strategies is at an all-time high.

Cloud providers are responsible for keeping their data secure, and when their security is compromised, the security risks can spread to all of their customers. Cloud platforms are often based on remote hosting and are not located in the same physical location as the customer. This can cause issues with data transfer, as well as issues with security and compliance. Data hosted in the cloud can be hacked, or it can be shut down if it is discovered that the data poses a threat. Cloud providers often have policies that prevent data from being re-hosted or reused, which can cause issues with compliance with privacy regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Implementing data protection strategies can provide a consistent user experience, allow for the development of secure applications and services, optimize cost and performance, aid in disaster recovery, simplify legacy infrastructure, and help ensure the smooth and efficient operation of an organization.

Overcoming challenges with cloud-based Backup as a Service

There are multiple challenges when it comes to data backup and storage. With global reach and competition accelerating, companies today can’t risk even a short period of downtime or data loss. Not moving to the cloud can expose vulnerabilities - and cloud breaches can create not only short-term costs but also long-term reputational damage. That’s why companies need a cost-effective, enterprise-scale backup and restore solution to keep their data secure and accessible.
Unfortunately, there are several barriers to achieving that goal:

• Establishing a stable and secure network infrastructure
• Introducing encryption layers in the system, and keeping a log of each user login to maintain accountability
• Actively running system diagnostics at all times to identify any loose ends
• Creating customized solutions to optimize cloud space

All of this is where cloud-based Backup as a Service comes in. Cloud backup is more scalable than the alternatives, can be accessed at any time and from any location, and helps ensure regulatory compliance. Moreover, it doesn’t require any maintenance, consumes very few resources, and saves your IT team precious time.

Cloud backup is:

• Accessible from anywhere. You can always access your files, no matter what device or operating system you’re using.
• Easy to use. The UX is completely user-friendly.
• Cost-effective. It's affordable and takes less time than traditional methods of backing up data.
• Secure. You can encrypt sensitive information using secure protocols such as secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS).

Devising an effective cloud backup strategy

Choosing the right cloud service can save you time and money. With cloud backup, you can back up data from your own servers or external drives to a remote location. You can choose between on-demand cloud backup or self-managed cloud backup.

With help from the experts at Zones, you can draw up a backup strategy that prioritizes:

• Data loss prevention (DLP): Introduce a set of tools and preventive measures to secure data from theft, loss, and unauthorized access.
• Data recovery strategy: Draw up a plan based on your business’ internal infrastructure, including both software and hardware.
• Budget optimization: Predict and manage your overall costs when moving data out of the cloud and storing that data over time.
• Scalability: Choose a service provider that supports capacity-based pricing with limitless scalability. Cloud solutions should provide business continuity and provide full data management flexibility.

If you’re ready to draw up a cloud backup framework that gets results for your business, the team at Zones is ready to walk you through it. Connect with us today and find out for yourself.

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