No cybersecurity plan is complete without one key ingredient: a reliable data backup strategy. Having this effectively keeps your valuable information safe from potential loss or corruption, even if your primary data source is compromised. Below, we dive into the three main types of backups: cloud, local, and hybrid, and explore how each can benefit your business in its own unique way.
Backing up your data to the cloud
Creating a cloud-based data backup strategy offers a myriad of benefits. For one, there would be less maintenance to handle on your end with automatic systems and round-the-clock support in place. Backups will often be scheduled during periods least disruptive to your operations, such as off-peak hours or outside of business hours.
A quality cloud service provider will also tailor their solutions to your unique requirements and is capable of adapting and growing alongside your evolving company needs. On top of that, not only is your data easily accessible online for any authorized user with an internet connection, but you’ll also rest assured that it’s safe from hardware failures or on-site disasters.
Relying solely on a cloud backup strategy may present a few challenges, however. Storing your data exclusively online can offer greater security, but it would also require a strong, stable, and reliable internet connection. Anything less may lead to delays in the backup process, or worse, significant data loss.
Additionally, placing your data in the hands of a third-party provider may limit your privacy controls, depending on who you partner with. It’s important to have a transparent discussion with your current or potential provider around security standards, expectations, and the options they provide their clients, especially if you’re in an industry handling sensitive information.
What are the benefits of local storage?
While cloud-based data storage has grown in massive popularity over the years, on-site storage still yields many advantages. You’ve got greater control of your data security, with every resource and backup safe in the confines of your own on-premises environment.
The fact they’re available locally also means that your backups are easily recoverable when necessary, helping your business bounce back faster in times of disruption. No internet connection is necessary, either, making this backup option a highly convenient one for those who primarily work on site.
However, these very same benefits are also its pitfalls. An exclusively local backup strategy may offer you full control over your data, but you’ll also be wholly responsible for the entire backup process. Backing up your data and managing your backups also consumes an excessive amount of time and productivity in the long run.
A lack of online access also strictly limits your employees to on-premises resources, making remote work a challenge, if not impossible altogether. Plus, natural disasters, physical damage, or equipment theft can easily render the speedy recovery process ineffective when they impact your local storage devices.
The best of both worlds: A hybrid data backup strategy
A successful data backup plan can be a tough balancing act, which is why many opt for a hybrid between cloud-based and local backup storage. This allows you to reap the benefits of both solutions, helping you fall back on the strengths of one backup if something goes wrong with the other.
For example, you could rely on cloud-based backups for the flexibility and scalability they provide, while banking on the fast accessibility of local storage. This way, whether your workplace encounters issues with internet connectivity or damage to on-site equipment, your data is safe and recoverable either way.
One of the best ways of striking this balance is to adopt the 3-2-1 backup approach. This method recommends keeping three copies of your data: two on different local devices (i.e., a computer and an external drive), and one off site, either stored in the cloud or in a remote location. It’s a method that ensures there’s no single point of data failure while drawing on the strengths of both cloud and local backup solutions.
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