Cloud backup services have become a must-have. Companies are developing robust IT infrastructure or outsourcing cloud backup services to a third party to support cloud computing. After the Covid-19 lockdown, accessing information securely from anywhere is instrumental in successfully running a business.

As a result, more companies are looking to integrate a variety of IT solutions to make sure another lockdown or any lack of access to their information doesn’t get in the way of their day-to-day operations.

In the last year, 2021, 61% of businesses were using cloud backup services to support remote or hybrid working environments. It is estimated that this number will grow to 87% by the end of 2022.

As the demand for cloud backup services increases, more and more companies seem to pop up. With so many options, it can be intimidating for business owners to select the right service for their needs. If you are confused about how to choose a cloud backup service, you’ve come to the right place.

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Introduction To Cloud Backup Services

A cloud backup service is an online, remote, and managed backup service. The service provides its customers with a place to store and easily recover the files in their computers, phones, and any other devices that can connect to the internet, to a remote server accessible via an app or website.

Cloud backup services provide an application or website with a control panel, you can put your data on these interfaces and access it from the app or website any time. You can also choose to do automatics backups of all or some of your data. Most cloud backup service providers charge for these services.

There are four major types of cloud backup services: backup service provider, cloud to cloud backing up assistance, backing up to public cloud service directly, and backing up from on-premises data to the cloud. A company can choose any cloud computing service depending on its requirements.

Sending the data to an off-site or secondary location has many benefits including convenience, increased security, unlimited storage capacity, and accessibility.

10 Points To Consider When Choosing a Cloud Backup Service

Does it offer security?

Security is one of the most important aspects to consider. Your data must be accessible to your team and safe from any third-party access. Cloud backup service providers work to consistently improve their security. The service provider must offer end-to-end data encryption, anti-hacking capability, credential management, and a number of backups per week to secure your data on the cloud.

Is the service reliable?

Your cloud backup service provider must ensure the reliability of backups. The basic points for evaluating the reliability of service providers include: receiving updates from manufacturers in hardware and software, checking backup logs and data integrity on a regular basis, testing and retesting the IT infrastructure. It is recommended to regularly check to avoid unfavorable circumstances.

What about efficiency?

Choosing an efficient service provider is a hard task. You cannot trust word-of-mouth recommendations, since one thing that worked for others might not be the best fit for you. As a general rule, a cloud backup service provider offering incremental backup is expected to offer efficient service. This allows for faster recovery of data and reduces unnecessary data growth by backing up data that has been altered after the previous backup.

What about accessibility?

You must consider the factor of accessibility as it impacts how quickly you can access your data. Offshore cloud backup service providers may offer more features at a more reasonable price when compared with local service providers, but the uploading and downloading speed can be severely impacted due to their location. Whereas local service providers may charge you a little more, but may offer easier accessibility to your data.

Is there any geographical coverage issues?

The location of the secondary data storage center and the areas in which the provider offers services greatly impact the performance and efficiency of the cloud backup service. Compliance with the local rules, speed of the internet, and many other factors that contribute to the overall working of cloud backup services also play a vital role in the quality of local services.

How much do cloud backup services cost?

Pricing may have a greater impact on your final decision. After comparing offered features, a more budget-friendly cloud backup service will likely be the most attractive option.

The service providers may charge you for a complete package or on used storage capacity calculated for each gigabyte. They could also add additional charges for sharing data outside the cloud and offer different storage tiers.

Are there any legal and compliance factors to consider?

Data protection requirements greatly differ from industry to industry and the physical location of the customer. Some industries require more customized, niche-specific solutions than others. Government regulations also vary from place to place. Always check SAS70/SSAE 16 Type II compliance of your cloud backup service provider to ensure legal compliance with your industry and country’s regulations.

Cloud backup services are important for your business; they offer services to secure your data in case of any disturbance. Most companies lack IT infrastructure and choose to outsource to cloud backup service providers. Choosing a service provider wisely is crucial and you need to consider several factors that have a direct impact on the services you receive.