Cloud backups - is it all up in the air?

So you've embraced technology, you've decided that backing up your data is a good idea!

Ok so now the hard decision, do you do physical back up or trust those tecchies and let it waft upward into the mystery we call, cloud?

The old workhorse called the backup tape drive in the server is what most of us use. The very action of taking a tape out of the machine, viewing the event log to show that it's worked is very reassuring. Well it is as long as you protect that tape and either give it to us at Safebox to archive or at the very least take it home so it is "off site"

The spiel from the salesman was good and so now you are looking a cloud backup. Ok before you get too carried away here are some things to consider.

Where is your data going?
How often will your data be backed up?
Is the data centre in the UK, USA or Eastern Europe?
How quickly can you get your data back?
What charge is there for the return of your data?
Can you recall your data 24/7/365?
How secure is the system?
Is the host system compatible with yours?
Where does the supplier back up their data?

Cheap or free data backups are to be avoided at all costs. Let's be honest cheap and free is cheap and free for a reason!  For example, if a data company is storing in the US, that data can be held under US law and the release has to be sought through the US legal system. More often than not data that is stored in a country not of origin, can have more right to that data than the creator should there be an issue.

The above questions need answering before your data goes anywhere. Cloud computing is becoming very popular and the majority of suppliers are doing it right but think of this; would you be so ready to hand over pictures of your wedding, children, family etc to just anyone before you checked exactly what you were getting into?

No, neither would I.

Your data whatever it may be, is essential to your business continuity and whatever you do with it you must ensure that you adhere to the data protection act and keep it safe and secure.

Safebox are the regions experts in physical data storage, talk to us first.