Why you need onsite AND offsite backup.
According to research, 93% of businesses will file for bankruptcy before the end of the year after a serious data loss event, yet, 80% of all companies responded that they were confident they would survive a major data loss event themselves.
With such a frightening statistic, it is so important that organisations keep multiple backups.
When a business is deciding on what backup they want, it usually boils down to two options; onsite and offsite. Both of these options have their advantages and disadvantages, and although we are seeing a large uptake in cloud-based options, we recommend using both options to ensure you are protected.
Interested in finding out about cyber-security best practices?
Onsite Backup
If you choose to an onsite backup solution, your data will be stored at your office which makes it easily accessible when you require it. It can be done in a variety of ways such as through external hard drives or USB’s which are network-attached. Backing up your data will limit the load on your network. However, if a disaster were to occur, your data could be at risk.
One of the key benefits of using onsite backup is the ability to quickly access it. This has proven to be especially beneficial for organisations that need to get hold of their data quickly and don’t want to have to rely on third-party providers.
As onsite backup comes at a lower cost, many small businesses choose this option. Hard drives are cheap and very easy to install and manage. They can also be bought in bulk to ensure there is additional space if it is required.
Of course, with any onsite storage solution that is network-attached, it would be at risk of data theft and falling into the wrong hands. Moreover, as it is stored at your office, it will be susceptible to physical damage.
Offsite Backup
Offsite back up is when your data is backed up to a remote and secure server. Data centres in which servers are stored at highly secure and monitored 24/7, so there is a very low chance of data being lost due to power failures or disasters. Furthermore, when storing your data on a remote server, your security is improved as it is backup up throughout the day at regular intervals with sophisticated encryption tools in place.
Many modern offsite back-ups are done via the cloud, meaning that your data can be accessed from any location, on any device. Modern offsite backup is generally done through the cloud, which means that you and/or your employees can access the data from any location. If you are a business with a highly mobile workforce, this can be very helpful.
While it is true offsite backup can be more expensive than other methods, it is fully scalable, meaning you only pay for what you use. Therefore, it is not necessary to buy additional hardware or physical storage in case you suddenly need more.
If you don’t have a strong internet connection, the speed in which you access your data can be impacted.
Why you need both
In life, there are always going to be benefits and setbacks, which is why we recommend for organisations to incorporate both into their backup strategy. This is the most effective way of covering all areas to ensure your data is protected.
Why you might need help
Without the help of an external provider such as Serval IT Systems, the responsibility of managing and maintaining the backup solution rests on your shoulders. You would have to check daily to make sure everything is running properly among other elements. Would you have time to check DAILY yourself?
An external provider such as Serval IT Systems can monitor your backups, giving you peace of mind everything is taken care of. We will be able to remotely fix errors as they appear to keep everything up-to-date and running smoothly so that you can focus on your bottom line. This is called backup as-a-service (BaaS).
Please get in touch for more information.