Data loss or corruption can range from minor inconveniences to complete system shutdowns. Best practices require a proactive approach to prevent disaster. You want a “clean” copy of your system that you can recover from in the event of a malware infection, accidental deletion, software glitch, or other human error.
Backup options
The two main backup options are cloud backup (also known as online backup and remote backup) or onsite backup. Depending on your business area, resources, and specific needs, one or the other may be more suitable. However, some organizations prefer a hybrid approach that provides redundancy and significant security.
Let’s take a closer look at cloud backups and onsite backups. We provide a comprehensive breakdown and comparison of each solution, their key differences, use cases, and what to choose based on the nature of your business.
What is Onsite Backup?
On-site backup, also known as local backup or traditional backup, is a system in which data is backed up and stored locally, usually at your place of business. Onsite backup data typically includes critical information stored on local media such as tapes, hard drives, or mobile devices.
Automatic backup software may perform continuous or scheduled backups without manual input from the user. Unlike cloud servers, on-premises hardware does not have unlimited backup storage space. As your system files and data grow, you’ll need to purchase additional hardware.
Onsite/On-Premises Backup: pros and cons
Onsite backup (also called on-premises backup) is the process of backing up your system to a local disk, drive, or server. Depending on the data you need to protect, you can select the media type as the backup destination.
External drives are convenient, cheap, and can be backed up manually or continuously. Most operating systems can be arranged to computerize forms. However, in the event of a severe power surge or blackout, the backup can also be lost.
External drive, automatic backup
It is important to have a battery backup power supply (BBU) if you choose this method. The BBU provides temporary power to the system, giving the computer enough time to back up and safely shut down before data is lost.
However, power problems are not the only cause of system failure. A fire, flood, or other catastrophic damage to your facility can result in the loss of both your system and your backups.
If all your data and system can fit on a portable drive, that might be an option too. On the plus side, this is a very cheap way to enable backups. The downside is that you need to establish a backup routine and make sure the drive is stored in a safe place. Backup speed and automatic sync service should be included in the plan. Small portable drives can get lost or fall into the wrong hands. Storing files locally increases the risk of physical damage to the backup drive.
CDR and tape
Recordable media such as CDRs and cassettes are convenient, inexpensive, and easy to store. However, if you need to restore previous versions of files, it can be a more complicated and time-consuming task. File sync is generally not automated like cloud sync services. It’s easy to forget to save certain files to tape. Also, it’s very difficult to find individual files on external drives when you need them.
In addition, with today’s strict data protection laws, these types of local backup media do not easily allow access to and destruction of individual records. For example, under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), customers have the right to remove personally identifiable information (PII) from the company’s systems. It would be extremely difficult to do this with a CDR or tape. Basically, if you receive such a request, you will need to destroy the entire disk and all previous discs containing their information. If that sounds like a production nightmare, it is!
Pros of Onsite Backups
- Greater control over backup and archiving frequency
- Recover your data quickly and easily
- Reality
- Hand
- No ongoing subscription fees
Disadvantages of on-premises backup
- Recover or extract complex (or impossible) single files
- If your system crashes while you’re away, you may not have access to your backups
- You must purchase and maintain adequate backup storage media
- You are responsible for ensuring that your backups are viable and error-free
- If you lose your facility, you also risk losing your backups
- Backing up is more convenient and labor-intensive with this method
- Drives susceptible to damage, theft, or human error (eg, if an employee overwrites data by mistake)
- Server hardware, if required, is expensive to purchase and requires dedicated IT resources to maintain.
- Unlike online backup services, there is no option to use unlimited storage.
Who Should Use Onsite Backup?
Onsite backups are recommended as a disaster recovery and hybrid backup strategy. It’s also a great choice for individual entrepreneurs, consulting firms, freelancers, home businesses, and small businesses that don’t need to store large amounts of data.
Magnetic tapes and writable CDR backups are used by companies that produce media-rich content and by law firms that archive client documents for a period of time.
What is cloud backup?
Cloud backup sends a copy of your files or database to an offsite data backup in a Canada location to preserve your information in case of system failure or equipment damage. Lost files can be easily recovered and restored.
Usually, an external backup professional hosts the secondary server and data storage solution.
This specialist charges backup customers based on system resources (such as storage capacity) or number of users required. Storage charges may vary by provider.
Cloud backup is regularly considered a more secure and more helpful backup strategy than nearby backup since all records are synced to the cloud. Thanks to cloud scalability, you can store unlimited files and have unlimited backup capacity.
The best online backup services are very secure and use file encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect all your important files offsite.
The backup process runs seamlessly in the background or can be started manually via the mobile and desktop apps. You can back up multiple computers simultaneously. If you need to recover your files, you can securely download them using your private encryption key.
Cloud backup: pros and cons
Cloud backup is the recommended solution for organizations from small businesses to large enterprises. Small businesses use cloud backup for convenience and security. Larger organizations, by contrast, use them as part of a broader hybrid backup and disaster recovery strategy.
Pros of Cloud Backups
Cost Efficiency
You can pay for cloud backup through a monthly subscription. Pay only for what you use. With predictable costs and no need to outsource IT expertise, it’s easy to stay within budget.
Safety
Cloud Backup uses state-of-the-art cyber security and access control features. Additionally, data is encrypted in transit, reducing or eliminating the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks. Rest assured that your data is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
Automation
Cloud backup is fully automated and configured exactly to your needs. Daily, hourly, or continuous backups are possible. The latter option is ideal for e-commerce shops, platforms, and websites that generate large amounts of customer data.
User-friendly and accessible
Cloud backup is fully managed and available on demand. What’s more, recovery is so easy that no special IT skills are required.
Supports multiple users
Cloud backup enables team collaboration, file sharing, and role-based multi-user access. In a world where remote work is the norm, not the exception, access to important files is essential. Cloud backup ensures your employees have everything they need to succeed.
Real-time access anytime
Your data is stored in the cloud, so you and your team can always access it. Your data is synced to the cloud as soon as you log in, so your employees have access to the latest versions of their files. So you can have a high degree of collaboration wherever you are in the world and on any device.
Worry-free comfort
Automatic cloud backups take care of this important job so you can focus on other things. In case your commerce develops suddenly, you do not have to be stressed about keeping up with outside drives or running out of space on them.
Employees don’t need special expertise to access the system, so you don’t have to worry about training or managing complex workflows. After configuring cloud backup on your system, you probably won’t even notice it’s there. But if you ever need to restore it, it’ll be happy to be there.
Scalable with your needs
It’s not uncommon for companies to grow rapidly these days. When that happens, it’s important to be prepared. If your store or website crashes, that opportunity may never come again. Cloud storage is flexible and scalable for any need.
For example, the Rewind eCommerce plan price depends on the number of transactions per month. As your business grows or shrinks, you can instantly scale capacity to meet your changing data storage needs.
Enable disaster recovery
Cloud backup is important for a comprehensive disaster recovery (DRP) plan. Suppose you lose not only your facility but also your onsite servers, computers, and backup drives. In that case, you need a remote backup to get you up and running quickly.
Without ready-to-use backups, system downtime can be prolonged, resulting in lost revenue and the potential for customers to switch to competitors. Cloud backup allows you to quickly restore your system to a new device, ensuring business continuity.
Disadvantages of cloud backup
Requires a fast and reliable internet connection
Cloud backup relies on the internet, so lack of connectivity can be a problem. An unstable internet connection can also cause files to get corrupted during transfer and take a long time to restore.
Fee
All cloud backup services often have a monthly fee based on usage. Month-to-month plans extend from a couple of dollars per month for specialists and little groups to hundreds, or indeed thousands of dollars per month for huge undertaking users.
Regulations
Some customers in highly regulated industries such as government, the military, and finance are subject to strict security regulations. These regulations do not allow storing some of our most sensitive documents in the cloud.
Who Should Use Cloud Backup?
Small businesses prefer cloud backup for its convenience, ease of use, and security. The ability to quickly and efficiently restore individual assets or entire systems with just a few clicks is very attractive. Cloud backup does not require any special expertise or additional administrative effort. As a result, small businesses no longer need to hire and manage expensive in-house IT staff.
Cloud backup is also ideal for e-commerce stores and financial services. Provides continuous data protection and the most robust security protection available. Cloud backup providers can offer unlimited storage on unlimited devices, so you can upload files as your business grows and never worry about running out of storage. Cloud backup provides an extra layer of security for your business, ensuring business continuity no matter what happens.
Cloud backup should also be the cornerstone of any contingency plan for small business owners who cannot afford even one second of downtime. Whether you have one computer or a skyscraper full of computers, you need a backup plan in the cloud and instant access to your files when disaster strikes. Cloud backup software offers just that.
Cloud or onsite: Just back up this data
It doesn’t matter which backup service you choose. Regardless of whether you choose an on-premises or cloud backup solution, backing up your data is an important part of your daily routine. When you need to recover your data, perform incremental backups to protect your business and feel good about recovering lost or deleted files.
Enterprises today need reliable, redundant, predictable, and easy-to-use solutions to keep their business running. If your goal is to be more agile and efficient, cloud backup provider Rewind keeps costs down while offering the highest levels of service and security.
Conclusion
This is all about the difference between onsite and offsite data backups in Canada backups. Both have advantages and disadvantages. What should I choose? Different situations make different choices. If you have any other ideas, feel free to post them in the comments section below.
