The Value of On and Off-Site Backups: How A Managed Backup Plan Can Keep Your Business Safe

Data loss can be devastating for any business, especially small businesses. You don’t want to risk losing important files, customer records and other critical information due to an IT disaster. But how do you ensure that your data is safe and secure? In this article, we’ll discuss the value of on and off-site backups and how a managed backup plan can help keep your business secure.

Introduction

The internet has a lot of advantages. It helps us stay connected with friends and family, access information quickly, and conduct business more efficiently. However, the internet is also full of dangers. Viruses, malware, and hackers are always looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in our systems. That’s why it’s important to have a robust backup plan in place to protect your data.

There are two main types of backups: on-site and off-site. On-site backups are stored locally, while off-site backups are stored remotely. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

On-site backups are convenient because they’re always available when you need them. However, they’re also vulnerable to disasters like fires, floods, and theft. Off-site backups are less vulnerable to these disasters, but they can be harder to access when you need them.

A managed backup plan combines the best of both worlds. Your data is backed up locally and remotely, so you can be sure it’s always available when you need it. And if one location is lost or damaged, you can rest assured that your data is safe and sound in another location.

What is an On and Off-Site Backup?

An on-site backup is a copy of your data that is stored locally, either on an external hard drive or a network attached storage (NAS) device. An off-site backup is a copy of your data that is stored at a location that is separate from your primary data center.

Off-site backups are important because they provide protection against disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. On-site backups are important because they provide protection against data loss due to hardware failures, software corruption, and user error.

A managed backup plan can keep your business safe by providing both on-site and off-site backups. On-site backups can be used for quick recovery in the event of data loss, while off-site backups can be used for long-term storage and disaster recovery.

Benefits of an On and Off-Site Backup Plan

There are many benefits of an on and off-site backup plan. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it helps to keep your data safe in the event of a disaster. If your computer system crashes or is destroyed in a fire, for example, having an off-site backup can help you to quickly and easily recover your data.

Another benefit of an on and off-site backup plan is that it can help to improve the security of your data. If all of your data is stored in one location, it is more vulnerable to theft or hacking. By storing your backups off-site, you can reduce the risk of losing important data if something happens to your primary storage location.

Lastly, an on and off-site backup plan can also help to improve the efficiency of your business operations. If you know that you have a reliable backup system in place, you can feel confident that you will be able to quickly recover from any unexpected disruptions. This can help to minimize downtime and keep your business running smoothly.

Steps to Setting Up a Managed Backup Plan

A managed backup plan can keep your business safe by providing regular, reliable backups of your data. Here are the steps to setting up a managed backup plan:

1. Decide what data you need to back up. This may include important documents, financial records, customer data, and more.

2. Choose a backup method. There are many options available, including on-site backups (storing backups onsite at your business premises) and off-site backups (storing backups at a secure location away from your business premises).

3. Select a backup provider. There are many companies that offer managed backup services. Do some research to find a reputable provider that offers the features you need at a price you can afford.

4. Set up your backup schedule. Managed backup plans typically involve backing up data on a daily or weekly basis. Make sure you choose a schedule that fits with your business needs and budget.

5. Test your backups regularly. It’s important to make sure that your backups are working properly and that you can access them when you need to. Regular testing will help ensure that your data is always safe and available when you need it.

Common Mistakes When Creating a Managed Backup Plan

There are a number of common mistakes that business owners make when creating a managed backup plan. One of the most common mistakes is failing to properly assess their data backup needs. This can lead to either over- or under-investing in backup storage and resources, which can be costly.

Another common mistake is failing to create a comprehensive backup plan. This often happens because business owners only think about backing up their most important data, such as financial records. However, it is essential to have a complete backup plan that covers all aspects of the business, including email, customer data, website files, and more.

Finally, many businesses make the mistake of not regularly testing their backups. This is a critical step to ensure that the backups are working properly and that they can be restored in the event of a disaster. Without regular testing, there is no way to know for sure that the backups will be successful when needed most.

Considerations for Selecting the Right Provider

The value of backups has been made clear time and time again. In the event of a natural disaster, cyber attack, or even just a power outage, having a backup can mean the difference between being able to continue business as usual or facing significant downtime and financial loss.

Here are some questions to ask when selecting a managed backup provider or solution.
1) Do you managed and monitor on and off-site backups?
2) Do you encrypt the data in transit and in storage?
3) Do you retain at least 30 days of backups and at least 3 revisions of every file?
4) Do you perform manual restore tests at least monthly to ensure backups are working?

The answer to all those questions is YES! with iSAFE Complete Managed Services. If you are concerned about your backup plan, or you just need help setting one up, give us a call at: 859-200-0428 or contact us using the web form below.

Conclusion

Backup solutions are essential for businesses of all sizes to ensure that data is secure and safe from potential threats. By taking advantage of on-site and off-site backups, you can have peace of mind knowing that your system is backed up in multiple locations, allowing for easy recovery if a disaster strikes. Investing in a managed backup plan will help you stay one step ahead and save time, money and resources down the line.