Should You Use An On- Or Off-Site Backup Solution?
Folks who are trying to protect or archive their data often confront issues about whether to implement managed backup solutions on- or off-site. Likewise, there are advantages to hybrid solutions. If you're trying to figure out which way to go with your managed data backup needs, here are 6 things you may want to consider.
Availability
Some organizations need to have their backups available ASAP, while others largely need to just know that the data is being archived. Those who need instant availability might want to look at on-site solutions or hybrid ones. If you can bear potential periods where availability is limited, you might be able to save some expenses by using a purely off-site system.
Redundancy
Off-site and hybrid managed data backup solutions almost always provide the best levels of redundancy. You'll have your existing copies on your computers and devices, and you'll also benefit from the data sitting elsewhere. Especially with the advent of cloud and cluster server systems, you should have access to a highly redundant backup solution.
It's possible to achieve a similar level of redundancy on-site, but expect to pay for it. You'll also likely need to commit a large amount of physical space to servers to accommodate the on-site system.
Batch Sizes
Another concern is just how much data you need to backup in any single batch. Pushing huge batches of data to an off-site system can pose problems, especially if connectivity at your location isn't perfect.
Scalability
Using an off-site system tends to provide dramatically better scalability. If the solution is cloud-based, the scaling process should be automatic and seamless. Conversely, on-site backup systems will require hands-on work to scale, even if you're using a cluster of servers designed with scalability in mind.
Cost
Typically, using off-site managed data backup is more cost-effective. Providers can usually achieve significant economies of scale, and that allows them to offer their services at a much lower price. Installing on-site managed data backup requires a lot of work, and any long-term maintenance issues will incur additional costs, too.
Security and Control
It might seem like keeping everything at your site would provide greater security and control. However, that's only possible with a dramatic commitment to protecting your network and preserving your data. Off-site solutions that are professionally managed offer robust security. Likewise, they can be tightly configured to limit access to only those users who you prefer.