Cloud Data Backup Auburn

What do you need to know about cloud data backup in Auburn?

Companies of all sizes, including SMBs, are waving goodbye to their tapes and turning to the cloud for regular backups as well as archives. It saves time and hassle and can save money (and the environment) as well. With that in mind, here is a brief guide to what you need to know about cloud data backup in Auburn.

Why We Need Cloud Data Backup?

1. The purpose of cloud data backup is to be able to recover data quickly

To some people, this may be stating the obvious, but cloud data backup often seems to get confused with other concepts such as cloud storage, cloud archiving, and cloud disaster recovery.

For clarity, a cloud data backup refers to taking a snapshot of your production data “as is” so that you can copy it back to your systems if anything happens to the original. You may take a copy of everything (full backup), everything which has changed since the last backup (incremental backup), or everything which has changed since the last full backup (differential backup). The key point, however, is that you are copying data in bulk, not selecting particular files.

Cloud storage and cloud archiving, by contrast, both relate to saving specific files for a specific purpose. In the case of cloud storage, that purpose may be user-defined. In the case of cloud-archiving, it’s generally on the grounds of a policy, which will typically relate to a compliance issue. The key point, however, is that only certain documents are saved.

Cloud disaster recovery does include cloud data backup, however, simply having your data backed up is not necessarily sufficient to recover from a disaster (although it’s certainly a good place to start). You also need to think about how users are going to be able to utilize this data. For example, what are they going to use for an operating system and applications?

If you’re working in the public cloud, then you should be good to go unless something happens to your public cloud platform. You’ll need to decide whether or not you feel you need a backup plan in case this happens (and if so what it should be). If, however, you’re working in the private cloud (or in a data center), then the responsibility for disaster recovery falls entirely on you.

2. You can back up data from and to both private and public clouds

If you’re already in a public cloud, then your data is (or should be) suitable for that environment and hence can reasonably be backed up to another public cloud. If you’re in a private cloud, then it may still be possible to back up your data to a public cloud because it can be encrypted on your own servers and kept encrypted through transport and into storage (and then on the return journey if it is needed). In fact, you can even back up to a cloud if you’re still using a data center.

It’s important to remember that although backing up to the cloud is both convenient and cost-effective over the long term, over the short term, you will need to set up and perfect the backup process and this can be more of a challenge than you might expect, especially if you are backing up to a public cloud. None of these challenges are insurmountable and a good cloud data backup partner can be invaluable, you just need to be aware of them.

3. Remember that the responsibility for data protection rests with you

In simple terms, if sensitive data is entrusted to you, then you are responsible for protecting it. This includes any sensitive data belonging to your employees. You can delegate actions, but you cannot delegate accountability in the eyes of the law, regulators, or data subjects. That means you need to write contracts that mandate that your IT services partners follow all applicable laws and adhere to the requirements of all applicable compliance programs. You also need to supervise them appropriately and be prepared to take action if necessary.

You will probably find this a whole lot easier if you use a cloud data backup partner in Auburn (or at least near Auburn), as opposed to a cloud data backup partner which offers services in Auburn, but which is actually located elsewhere. This will allow you to exercise maximum supervision (and on a pleasanter note will make it easier for you to interact with your cloud data backup partner) and will also ensure that any issues between you are resolved by your local regulators or courts.

If you’d like to speak to a reputable and experienced cloud data backup provider in Auburn, please click here now to contact Aperio. IT.

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