How many times have you worked on a document for hours, only for it to crash and you end up losing all of it?<\/p>\n
We know the feeling. We\u2019ve all been there.\u00a0Online backups\u00a0and\u00a0cloud storage are some of the best ways to protect your data and business from unexpected disasters like that.\u00a0So today, we\u2019re going to be looking at those two cloud computing terms:<\/p>\n
Online backup vs cloud storage<\/strong><\/p>\n An\u00a0online backup,\u00a0cloud backup or remote backup is the process of using the Internet to transfer a copy of a virtual file or database to an alternative, off-site server for safeguarding in case of equipment failure.\u00a0Basically:<\/p>\n The alternative server is usually hosted by a\u00a0third-party service provider.\u00a0Most online backup services are\u00a0subscription-based.<\/p>\n Pricing can depend on:<\/p>\n Quick Tip\u00a0<\/strong>\ud83d\udca1<\/strong>\u00a0Make sure you know how the charges are calculated before signing up to anything.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Online backups are a highly efficient alternative to\u00a0traditional backup strategies.\u00a0You may remember some of those (or not, if you\u2019re under 30!):<\/p>\n But enough of those halcyon days.\u00a0Let\u2019s focus on some of the\u00a0benefits of online backups\u00a0for business:<\/p>\n Cost savings<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Online backups can offer considerable cost savings for SMEs.\u00a0Running your own onsite equipment can be extremely expensive and difficult to maintain.\u00a0Switching to a cloud solution can help your business save on these costs. Now you can invest in other areas of your business!<\/p>\n Security<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Protect your business from certain types of cyber threats like ransomware.\u00a0With access to your\u00a0online backups, you are mitigating against onsite data breaches.\u00a0Many providers offer 24\/7:<\/p>\n They should also provide encryption for your data during transfer.\u00a0Even if your data is intercepted, it should remain secure.\u00a0Ideal for\u00a0contingency planning\u00a0and\u00a0disaster recovery.<\/p>\n Scalability<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Online backups are scalable.\u00a0In fact, it\u2019s one if their main advantages.\u00a0But what does it mean?<\/p>\n In a nutshell, it means:<\/p>\n The hardware scales with your data requirements.<\/p>\n Cloud storage\u00a0is a\u00a0cloud computing model that allows businesses and consumers to save data securely online so that it can be accessed anytime, anywhere.\u00a0Cloud storage usually spans across multiple servers (sometimes in multiple locations).\u00a0The facilities that house\u00a0cloud storage systems\u00a0are called\u00a0data centres.<\/p>\n It’s important to store the same information on multiple machines, as computers occasionally require maintenance or repair.\u00a0This is known as\u00a0redundancy.<\/p>\n Without redundancy, a cloud storage provider can\u2019t guarantee that data can be accessed anytime, anywhere.\u00a0Cloud storage has enabled contingency planning and\u00a0disaster recovery\u00a0to be\u00a0far more\u00a0robust.<\/p>\n Cloud storage delivers a\u00a0scalable,\u00a0cost-effective solution to storing files in the traditional way via on-premise hard drives or storage networks.\u00a0Computer hard drives can only store a finite amount of data.\u00a0But with cloud storage, we can\u00a0scale capacity\u00a0as data volumes increase or decrease.<\/p>\n So, what other benefits does cloud storage bring?\u00a0Backing up your data.\u00a0We\u2019ve touched on this already, but backing up your data is ideal for:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not backing up your data yet, you should be!<\/p>\n Remote working<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Since the pandemic, it seems every man and his dog wants to work from home.\u00a0With cloud storage, your staff can\u00a0work from anywhere, at any time.\u00a0An ideal way to offer\u00a0flexible working.<\/p>\n Collaboration<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n With centralised data that\u2019s accessible at all times, teams can now work collaboratively, no matter where they are.\u00a0(Just make sure they have an Internet connection).<\/p>\n No more external hard drives!\u00a0No more worrying about limited space, portability or your device breaking.\u00a0Get rid of those external hard drives.\u00a0Cloud storage is here to stay.<\/p>\n As you may have noticed, these two terms somewhat\u00a0complement each other.\u00a0But it\u2019s important not to conflate the two.\u00a0Yes, the infrastructure is the same.<\/p>\n Both\u00a0cloud storage\u00a0and\u00a0online backup host files in the cloud.\u00a0They also both allow you to access your files from devices via the Internet.\u00a0Where they differ is in the\u00a0purpose\u00a0of each:<\/p>\n Cloud storage is designed to complement flexible working, so your staff can work from anywhere, at any time.\u00a0A great option for\u00a0remote working\u00a0and\u00a0collaboration.\u00a0Online backups are created to restore files in the event of data loss.\u00a0An ideal solution for\u00a0business continuity planning.<\/p>\n Erm, now!\u00a0Honestly, if you\u2019re not backing up your data by the end of this article, you really should be!<\/p>\n We\u2019ve lost count of the amount of businesses who wished they had backed up their data off-site after a\u00a0cyber security \u201cincident\u201d.\u00a039% of businesses in the UK\u00a0report having cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months (UK Gov<\/a>).<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be a statistic,\u00a0backup your data.\u00a0It\u2019s worth it!<\/p>\n You should choose\u00a0cloud storage<\/strong>\u00a0when you need any of the following:<\/p>\nWhat are online backups?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Why should I use online backups?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What is cloud storage?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Why should I use cloud storage?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What is the difference between cloud storage and online backup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
When should I choose online backups?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
When should I choose cloud storage?<\/strong><\/h3>\n