Protecting your company’s data is all that stands between you and disaster, and the decision of where to back up your data is possibly the most important one you’ll ever make.
There are two different ways to store your data: online and offline. Currently, the most popular type is online cloud storage because if someone steals your data (offline) or there is some kind of physical catastrophe like a fire or flood, then having your data backed up in the cloud will save you.
But what do you look for in a cloud storage service? Here are some things to consider when shopping for one.
Storage Capacity and Cost
How much storage space do you need? Cloud backup services charge by the amount of storage you need and offer different plans ranging from one gig to unlimited storage. Be sure to read their plans carefully because sometimes the plan looks cheaper than it is. Top 10 Cloud Storage explains that the least expensive option does not always equate with the best value for your money. They rate cloud storage companies on their services, features, storage space and reliability and then weigh that against their cost to determine their value.
So what does it cost to get a reliable cloud backup service? Should you get unlimited storage or should you get exact-amount pricing? Consider this:
- Zipcloud charges $4.95 per month for 250 GB.
- Symform charges $83.83 per month for 1 TB.
- JustCloud charges $3.95 per month for unlimited storage.
- Apple charges a little over $8.00 per month ($100.00 per year) for 55 GB.
There are a lot of companies that supply online cloud storage, so analyze your needs so that you don’t overpay for storage.
Security
Signing up for a plan with an online cloud service that does not value security is not an option. Even if every other feature meets your needs, a top security policy is crucial.
Usually cloud storage is available with 128-bit SSL encryption, which is an industry standard. However, 256-bit SSL encryption is better and 448-bit Blowfish encryption is great—it’s actually better than your bank. If you can’t find how the company implements its security in the plan, make sure you ask before choosing them.
Company History
It’s just like any business, if they’ve been in business for years and have great reviews by real customers, then you’re probably a lot safer than going with a fledgling company, if only for your personal state of mind. If the company goes out of business while you’re using them…enough said.
Data Deduplication
One very cost-effective piece that many companies have is the use of data deduplication. Data deduplication is a compression technique that prevents any data from being saved twice. If you are on a per gig storage plan, this could be critical so as not to waste space.
Rapid Restoration
Check on the length of time it will take to restore your data from the cloud if everything fails on the ground. Most companies have an instant restore feature, which gives you the peace of mind that there is no down time. You can customize settings like recovery point and time objectives that fit your particular business needs.
If you have made the decision to back up your business using a cloud online storage service, you have made a very wise choice. The statistics are in: 60 percent of companies that lose their data will shut down within 6 months of the disaster. Don’t let your business be one of them.
