13 January 2011
Businesses handle such a volume of data that storage of it incurs considerable expense and labour. Yet backing up data is a necessity for businesses. Just consider the medical records of hospitals, account histories of financial institutions and sales transactions or customer support for business enterprises and you will realize the need for efficient and secure data storage.
There are two major kinds of data storage available. The traditional way of data storage is on-site tape backup. The newer way is by remote storage.
Remote storage is usually done online and off-site and is thus also called online backup service, managed backup service or remote data storage. Online backup systems are third-party backup service providers which collect, compress, encrypt and transfer their client’s data to a remote service or off-site hardware.
Most remote backup services use a 128-448 bit encryption to send data over secured links.
Online backup system typically employs a software program which runs once a day, usually at night when computers are not being used. There are now many such backup service providers with costs varying according to differing features, types of encryption and levels of service. High-end LAN-based backup providers offer convenient features such as client remote control, active directory and open-file backups while basic backup systems offer fewer live support options.
There are many advantages of remote backup over traditional on-site tape backup. Here is a summary:
- Remote backups are stored in a location distant to the original data. As such, these are protected in cases of on-site disasters such as floods, earthquakes and fires.
- Because transfer of data is done online, there is less risk of incurring mechanical damage on data due to manual transfers as in the traditional way.
- There is unlimited data retention as backup providers specialise on bulk data storage.
- Remote storage does not require user intervention and minimizes human error. In the traditional backup systems, a person must label CD’s and do many manual tasks.
- Remote backups are done automatically by software. In on-site data storage, there is the risk of forgetting to backup data.
- In remote backup, there is continuous backing up of data, backing up files even if they are changed. In traditional storage, some critical files may be missed out.
- Remote storage keeps multiple versions of files at different stages of business development so that restoration of lost data to a point in time is facilitated.
- Most remote backup services use a 128-448 bit encryption to send data over secured links.
- Remote backup providers are bound by the law to protect their clients’ privacy, disclosure and legal discovery.
- Some backup providers go the extra mile by providing proactive monitoring, personal visits or telephone support.
- Remote storage offer redundant copies or multiple copies at different locations called mirrored data centres.
- The cost of remote storage is reasonable when you take into account the time and labour saved and the accessibility, security and volume of data being stored.
Remote storage can be summed up as a more reliable, cost-effective and secure data storage which any business should invest in.
For help or advice with remote backups, or any other data related issues - contact the data recovery experts at Kingdom Data Recovery.
