by Cassy Silvestre
Even before the digital age, data has always been of extreme importance for businesses. Data can include anything from invoices and customer information to business permits and budget plans. And just as data is of vital interest to enterprises, so is data protection. Disaster can strike at any minute, and in this day and age, it’s important not to have just one copy of all files and data. Having a good contingency plan is a must for any business that aims to keep operating without difficulty regardless of the circumstances.
Most businesses use cloud storage or cloud applications for their work. These include Dropbox, Box.com, G-Suite, Salesforce.com, and others. Although these third-party vendors ensure uptime and constant access to data, they also have their own set of risks and shortcomings, thus necessitating the use of a cloud to cloud backup solution as part of your overall disaster recovery strategy.
If you have a business and plan to take extra precautions to secure your data, here are some reasons why you should consider going beyond what’s provided by your cloud vendors.
Minimizes the Impact of User Errors
If you work with a team, there might be instances when your colleague will accidentally delete important files inside the cloud storage or cloud application. Because cloud-based platforms automatically sync changes, the deleted data can no longer be accessed throughout the network. Using an enterprise cloud platform also means that your data is likely to undergo various modifications at the hands of multiple users.
A backup tool that allows one-click exports and offers unlimited visibility on version history can help team members easily access data in all its previous states.
Prevents Data Loss Due to Cyberattacks
We are all under the impression that cloud storage and cloud application vendors have enhanced security against cyberattacks. Yet, news about cyberattacks and ransomware hacks are still all over the news, sometimes with big tech names as victims. Rather than fully depending on the vendor’s security, a business should backup their cloud data to mitigate the risk if the vendor becomes a cybercrime target.
Streamlines Migration Efforts
Cloud migration is a popular practice among businesses nowadays, but it’s something that needs to be well-planned to work out seamlessly. Transferring data from on-premises infrastructure to a cloud platform poses data management risks, especially for businesses that need to ensure continuity 24/7.
Cloud backup solutions use multiple disks, servers, clusters, and locations to stay ready in case of unexpected situations and can handle large data migrations. A good cloud to cloud backup solution should give you the assurance that your data will remain safe and unbreachable even as you migrate your back-office processes to another platform.
Fills Gaps in Recovery Policies
Cloud storage services and cloud applications have policies on data loss, but these may not be enough to cover all recovery requirements. For instance, cloud to cloud backup solutions use end-to-end encryption to protect your data even if it is being replicated in multiple storage locations. Besides providing data protection when replicating data, this is a way of ensuring compliance with security standards and regulations on data privacy.
Certain compliance requirements also mandate the retention of financial information for businesses over a designated period. Having a cloud to cloud backup solution will help your business meet these requirements even during disasters and network downtimes with no fault on your part.
Flexible Pricing Options
Cloud to cloud backup providers usually offer flexible plans for customers, making it a cost-effective alternative to keeping on-premises storage solutions. This provides another option to buying hardware, which may require more time and resources to maintain.
Pricing for cloud backup solutions largely depends on a customer’s scalability requirements. You can avoid unnecessary costs by paying for only what you need. Compared to running an in-house storage facility, paying for third-party cloud backup services is likely the more economical option, especially for businesses that are just starting to scale up.
Accurate Reporting
Another nifty feature of cloud backup storage platforms is their capacity to provide automated reports. You can enjoy utmost transparency by requesting daily, monthly, or weekly reports that generate insights on data usage and backup activities. You can also set automatic alerts on storage space and network bandwidth issues, preventing problems before they occur.
Some tools also have granular reporting features which break down data usage for each user, department, or team. This allows businesses to accurately set budgets for storage and backup purposes.
Choose an Efficient and Affordable Cloud Backup Solution Today
Running a business means that there’s no room for data loss and security risks. Even if you might think that your data is stored safely in the cloud, you only have little control over circumstances that could have serious repercussions on your operations. By having a cloud to cloud backup option like what Quorum offers, you can have some peace of mind knowing that your business can keep running smoothly even with the unavoidable threats of a highly digitized world.
