The Verse - Volume 14
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Tech Tips - Is Remote Backup for You?

Online backup of computer data has recently been gaining mainstream acceptance among small businesses.  As a supplement to or replacement for tape backups, quality online backup solutions can have a data availability rate of 99%.  The systems are typically priced by the amount of data that is getting backed up, so if cost is a concern, just the most vital data can be backed up in the online format as a backup to the tape backup.

The widespread availability of broadband Internet service is what has helped remote data backup finally come into its own.  The value of computer data is higher today than ever before and the need for affordable, reliable online backup systems is now clear.  Natural disasters, terrorism, and power-grid failures have helped terms like “disaster recovery” and “business continuity” become a part of the small business vocabulary.  Given these trends, remote backup looks more attractive than ever.

The online backup process is highly monitored and automated service.  The client initially defines the file sets and data that are most important and that would be most difficult to replace in the event of a PC or Server loss.  These directories and files are then routinely backed up over the Internet on a daily basis. 

In the event you need to recover your data, the online backup service either sends it back to you over the Internet or delivers it overnight on a high capacity laptop or external hard drive. This device is then connected directly to your network and the service restores your data.

When businesses decide to add remote backup to their data management or disaster recovery plans, the decision on who will provide services is critical.  “Like we’ve seen happen with web hosting, there are low-cost, low-quality, low-service solutions popping up every day.  Businesses should be very careful about who they trust with their important data,” says Doug Boyson of Storage Solutions Group (www.storsolgroup.com), a company offering an online backup solution called Delphi Backup.  Storage Solutions Group stores client data in a $70 million state-of-the art data center in Omaha, NE.