Data Backup: Protection against Data Loss
Local and cloud-based backup solutions for businesses
8 May, 2020 by
Data Backup: Protection against Data Loss
manaTec GmbH, Mathias Thieme
 

One topic that every company has to deal with is the storage or backup of data. Protection against data loss is not only in the company's own interest, but is even required by law for certain data. Depending on the business transaction, there are defined retention and archiving periods. Numerous backup strategies are available to protect against data loss. In today's blog, we look at various local and cloud-based backup solutions and present their advantages and disadvantages.

Which backup strategy is best for my company?
Which backup strategy is best for my company?

The most common reasons cited for data loss are hardware failure, power failure, and software failure. In these cases, data loss does not necessarily have to occur. Nevertheless, the probability is very high if a storage medium is defective, software crashes or the power supply is suddenly interrupted. Other reasons for data loss are also faulty user behavior and malware attacks.

Reasons for data loss.
Reasons for data loss.

If we imagine these scenarios in our company, it is absolutely necessary that we deal with the various backup solutions. In case of data loss, we can easily restore our data with them. This not only protects us from the actual loss of our data, but also saves us time and, in the worst case, loss of income and reputation.

Data protection using local backup solutions.
Data protection using local backup solutions.

Data Protection via CD, DVD or Blu-ray

Backing up data to CD, DVD or Blu-ray saves us the hassle of setting up a backup solution. At first glance, these storage media are also very inexpensive to purchase. However, if we consider the relatively small storage capacity, we need a lot of these storage media for large amounts of data. This can lead to the cost of acquisition skyrocketing. In addition, CD, DVD and Blu-Ray are very susceptible to damage and it takes a long time to transfer the data. Thus, they are only suitable, if at all, for companies with very small amounts of data.

Data Backup on an external hard drive

External hard drives are very cheap to buy nowadays. The price/performance ratio is very good, because we get a very high storage capacity for a relatively low cost. Compared to CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, external hard drives have a longer lifespan and the transfer rate is significantly higher. However, it applies to both storage media that we consider sensible documentation and storage so that we know which data can be found on which storage medium and where we store the storage medium itself.

Data Backup on magnetic tape

Magnetic tapes have been in use for backing up data for many years and are characterized above all by their longevity. Compared to the external hard drive, the costs per terabyte are low. However, the purchase of the corresponding drive is relatively expensive. In addition, setting up a backup solution is a complicated procedure.

Data Backup on RDX media

RDX media are similar to external hard disks, but are based on the technology of a removable data carrier in the form of cartridges, which can be exchanged within a drive. In addition to a good price/performance ratio, RDX storage media are very durable, shock-resistant and thus robust against external impact. Here, too, it is important to consider how we document the contents of the cassettes and how we store them.

Data Backup on an NAS system

An NAS system can be classified as both a local and a cloud-based solution. In purely physical terms, a NAS system consists of an enclosure with one or more hard disks. However, the storage is provided within our network. NAS systems are independent of the other devices in our network and are compatible with all end devices thanks to standardized services. When looking for a suitable NAS system, we notice that there are large differences in functionality between the manufacturers. We also have to keep in mind that regular updates are necessary.

In conclusion, all of the above-mentioned local backup strategies have advantages and disadvantages. Most systems are suitable for large amounts of data as well as for frequently changing data. Even if the Internet connection fails, the data is available and can be restored quickly. If there are security concerns, local systems have the clear advantage that the data is always available within the company, regardless of third-party providers.

Contrarily, however, there is the challenge that a corresponding IT infrastructure must be available in the respective company. We bear full responsibility for maintaining this hardware and software independently. Faulty behavior can quickly lead to data becoming inaccessible and unusable. Growth of the company and data volumes also leads to the need for new acquisitions and expansion of the IT infrastructure.

Data protection using a cloud based backup solution.
Data protection using a cloud based backup solution.

Data Backup in the "cloud"

In a cloud-based solution, our data is transferred to an external storage location, usually a third-party provider. They should always be trustworthy and offer a high level of security for our data. We do not need any hardware ourselves for the cloud, but a secure and stable Internet connection is mandatory in order to access the data. The cost of this solution is very scalable, but depends on the storage capacity. So, theoretically, we have unlimited storage available, which can, however, become very expensive for large amounts of data.

The great advantage of the cloud-based solution is that our data is available anytime and anywhere. Data recovery can be carried out quickly and both individual data and entire operating systems can be restored. The backup routine is set up in a user-friendly and fully automated way.

So which backup solution do we choose? Depending on the size of the company, this decision can become a real challenge. The most important aspect is the security of our data. Each company must decide for itself whether it wants to keep its data in-house or can trust a third-party provider.

For small companies with manageable data volumes, we recommend regular backups with external hard disks or the cloud solution. Here, the price/performance ratio is right and lost data can be restored quickly. Medium-sized and large companies should however look towards a local server/NAS system. With the right configuration, this offers a very high level of security and is the more cost-effective option in the long term.

Are you currently faced with the question of how to store and secure your data and need support in building a suitable IT infrastructure? Please feel free to contact us and we are a reliable partner at your side!


Quellen: www.exone.de, www.qitec.de, www.pcwelt.de, www.wikipedia.org

 
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