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Data is the lifeblood of any successful business in the digital era. However, being an invaluable business asset, your business data attracts all sorts of interested parties. The sad part is that some of these entities are drawn to your data with malicious intents.
Therefore, since you may not instantly know who to trust with your precious data or where it ends up at the close of business, you cannot divorce from contemplating data protection.
Critically thinking about your business data safety is what sets you up for eventual success by optimizing all your key business operations accordingly.
So, What is Data Protection?
Think of it as a tamperproof way to safeguard your business information privacy. In other words, keeping crucial business information from compromise, corruption, or loss.
A solid data protection strategy is integral in preventing the devastating effects of unexpected data loss. Moreover, it helps in expediting the process of data recovery to keep your business running optimally.
That, therefore, means your business is as safe as the safety of your data!
Why do you need data protection?
This question is best answered by picturing what could go wrong when you fail to secure your business data. The more the picture takes shape, the more you find yourself formulating a backup plan.
When thinking about postponing data backup implementation in your business, take a minute to imagine what identity theft, for instance, would do to your employees’ and customers’ trust.
On the one hand, you would lose your most prized asset because your employees are essentially your chief brand ambassadors. On the other hand, you would end up eroding your bottom line by losing the backbone of your business existence (your customers).
Ultimately, the greatest casualty of business data loss is your brand’s reputation. When the reputation is finally hit, it can potentially bring the entire business tumbling down.
Therefore, the best way to secure your critical files and achieve seamless disaster recovery is to safely back them up. Backup data retains its integrity to keep your business’s soundness intact.
That said, there are many ways to back up your crucial business data including cloud backup. Cloud backups are anchored on dynamic online cloud storage platforms to keep your data far from the reach of intrusive snoopers.
Whether you opt for a managed service provider (MSP) or a cloud provider, cloud backup solutions are increasingly becoming a must-have for modern businesses.
In this piece, Kennected discusses in detail the pros of cloud backup for modern businesses, the cons if any, and why the time is ripe for cloud backups.
What are the Cloud Data Backup Advantages?
Before migrating all your business information to cloud backup, it is paramount to base that decision on a vivid understanding of what you are dealing with.
In the simplest sense, cloud backup means just that; backing up your data in the “cloud” or “cloud storage”. In other words, cloud backup refers to a remote backup or online backup that houses a copy of your database (physical or virtual business files) in an off-site data center.
The primary goal of cloud backups is to preserve your business information in case of a natural disaster or a hardware failure or loss. The off-site server housing your data is typically hosted by a third-party cloud provider at an agreeable fee.
In essence, therefore, cloud backups help you recover data faster to prevent a costly business crisis.
Having understood what a cloud backup is, how can it work to the advantage of your business? Here below we take an in-depth look at some of the benefits of backing up your data in the cloud.
1. Inexpensive
Parting with a monthly or yearly subscription fee for cloud backup is way cheaper than storing your data on-premise. Why?
An on-premises backup system comes with both the initial purchase and setup costs as well as ongoing maintenance costs. On the flip side, a cloud backup system eliminates the hassle of purchasing and maintaining hardware and software by transferring that responsibility to the cloud service.
2. Convenient
Cloud backups are easily accessible from anywhere in the world, as long as your device has an internet connection. This makes the accessibility of your files seamless both for your employees and customers.
What’s more, if your business cannot afford the highly capital-intensive disaster recovery infrastructure, cloud backup platforms are a cheaper alternative. Nonetheless, even if your business is equipped with a solid disaster recovery system, cloud backups still provide greater efficiency and money savings in the long run.
The cloud is therefore a surefire way to provide an extra layer of insurance for your business should an expansive disaster strike say your entire region or state.
3. Guaranteed data protection
Every business whether big or small is prone to life-threatening cyberattacks. In case a malicious cybercriminal strikes your on-premises backup system, you are at their mercy. Not only are they likely to corrupt or destroy all your business data, but they may as well erase all the backup data in your local storage.
With a cloud backup, however, all your data is kept safe in an off-site data center away from the reach of all manner of cybercriminals. Moreover, if your business cannot afford to hire an in-house cyber security expert, cloud backups may be a more viable option for better data security.
4. Scalable
Cloud backups are highly scalable and that comes with plenty of capital savings. When you find a reliable cloud provider, they take care of all your storage needs along with any associated costs.
That means with cloud backup, you don’t have to worry about purchasing additional storage hardware or software to scale your business operations. You also don’t have to worry about running low on capacity as scaling in a cloud platform happens on-demand.
Being that easy, cloud backups allow you to store as little or as much information as you need. Besides, you only pay for the space you use up.
5. Automated
Talk about making your work easier and that’s exactly what a cloud backup affords your business. In case you are swamped with work or away from the office, cloud backup takes the weight off your shoulders by automating the data backup process.
Instead of manually backing up your data daily, you can schedule automatic backups in the cloud. The platform gives you the option of selecting the data you want to back up and when you want the backup to run. Once you set your options, the cloud handles the rest.
6. Reliable
With an up and running cloud backup, little maintenance effort is required. The automatic scheduling of your backups takes care of ensuring your stored data stays current.
Without the worry of infrastructure maintenance, you can run your business with ultimate peace of mind with the full assurance that copies of your critical business information are securely stored off-site.
What are the Cloud Backup Disadvantages?
While the cloud is a great data storage option for your business, it is not entirely flawless. A major drawback with cloud backup is the prolonged time it takes to download your entire backup.
Depending on your data volume and the strength of your internet connection, downloading all your backup may stretch from a few hours to a few days. If your data needs are a matter of urgency, some or all of your business operations may be affected by that delay.
Another challenge with cloud backups lies in the fine print of subscription contracts. Contract cancellations can cause expensive delays in backup transfers or even result in data loss in the worst cases.
Additionally, when you decide to switch to a different cloud provider, cloud-to-cloud migrations may be hectic when dealing with enormous data volumes.
That said, the pros of cloud backup still outweigh the cons. Therefore, you should take time to properly understand your business needs before deciding whether a few cloud setbacks are worth sacrificing the long-term benefits.
As you think about that, remember also that the rate of cyberattacks is skyrocketing hence the need to arm your business with as many security layers as possible. Should your business network be ransomed or hacked, you can rest easy knowing a secure cloud backup has got your back!
Are Cloud Backups Worth It?
In addition to the benefits highlighted above, cloud backups do so much more. If you are an eco-conscious business, cloud backups can help you significantly minimize your carbon footprint.
How? Cloud storage is eco-friendlier than physical storage devices that almost always end up in landfills. Moreover, by eliminating the power-intensive storage hardware, you end up saving more on your power bills.
Looking at all the pros of cloud backups, therefore, it is safe to state that secure cloud storage solutions are a worthy option for any business that cares about scaling its operations and staying ahead of the competition.
Not only is the cloud a viable option to cut back on overheads but also a faster way to recover from an unexpected business disaster.
Furthermore, backup data ensures your lead generation efforts don’t go to waste by securing your prospects’ information safely. What a way to maintain all your prospects in your marketing funnel!
The post What Are The Pros To A Cloud Backup? appeared first on LinkedIn Automation, Messaging & Outreach Tool - Kennected.
source https://kennected.org/benefits-cloud-backup/
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