| Any business that handles data and stored | | | | automate the backup process in order to lower |
| information knows the costs for data backup. With | | | | operating costs and eliminate overhead in the form |
| the new global economy and digital age, retaining | | | | of support personnel and equipment maintenance and |
| years worth of client information, customer accounts, | | | | upgrades. |
| medical records, sales transactions, account histories, | | | | Utilizing remote services from IT focused technology |
| or any number of other mission critical pieces of | | | | firms also gives every client access to data storage |
| information carries a significant price tag. Lowering | | | | best practices. Any company can benefit from the |
| the cost of data storage confers a direct benefit to | | | | latest advances in hardware, software, and |
| the bottom line of any business. | | | | procedures automatically through subscription based |
| Today's best option for cost effective IT managed | | | | IT managed services, all focused on reducing storage |
| services and data storage is remote backup services. | | | | costs. |
| Utilizing remote storage facilities provides five major | | | | Securing Data |
| benefits to traditional on-site tape backups. First, | | | | Data security is paramount in today's business |
| remote storage systems are highly reliable by | | | | climate. Sensitive data is targeted by identity thieves |
| functioning as a central data hub that is easy to | | | | and can be susceptible to vandalism as well. The |
| access, maintain, and duplicate. Remote backup | | | | need for secure data has been punctuated by |
| services also utilize low-cost mass storage media and | | | | several high profile cases in the news. |
| automated IT managed services to reduce per-MB | | | | Data encryption during transmission and storage |
| storage costs. Stored data is secured through | | | | ensures privacy for sensitive data. There is no need |
| encryption and industry best practices for security | | | | for secure lockup of physical tapes. Just as cost |
| routines maintained by specialized IT firms. | | | | efficiencies can be disseminated through specialized |
| Information access becomes more flexible due to | | | | IT firms, so can the latest security procedures. |
| having a single access point without having to hunt | | | | Remote backup service firms take security methods |
| down tapes. Finally, data is compressed and duplicate | | | | as part of their primary business, meaning their clients |
| data is removed when files are placed on a single | | | | do not have to attempt to do so as well. |
| stored media, reducing bandwidth and storage | | | | Data Flexibility |
| footprint. | | | | Mission critical data, whether it is ten days or ten |
| Reliability | | | | years old, requires a high degree of accessibility in |
| Data systems are only as effective as they are | | | | order to offer the required flexibility to meet |
| reliable. Having data readily available when it is needed | | | | business opportunities. Remote backup services are |
| is paramount for seizing business opportunities. Lost | | | | accessed through a single point via an internet |
| data can cost companies dearly in missing income and | | | | connection. Rather than having to hunt down tapes, |
| extensive recovery costs or even government fees | | | | the data is ready for any end user to quickly |
| for federally mandated archival information. | | | | retrieve. Having data available at one's fingertips |
| Remote backup services operate automatically to | | | | allows every employee to focus their attention on |
| store data on a routine, scheduled basis, creating | | | | their objectives rather than technology or having to |
| comprehensive data images. Notifications are | | | | call for IT support. |
| automatically generated for failed backup sessions to | | | | Reducing File Size |
| draw attention from support staff. Recent images | | | | Another effective method for reducing data storage |
| are saved on disk for instant retrieval, and long-term | | | | costs is to reduce the size footprint of stored |
| archival data is routed through a single access point, | | | | information. Costs are typically metered per MB |
| guaranteeing that data can be found when it is | | | | regardless of whether local or remote services are |
| needed. | | | | used, so a cost savings potential exists. |
| Cost Structures | | | | Remote backup services consolidate data onto a |
| After reliability, reducing the storage costs for data | | | | single source, allowing for data compression and the |
| archival is essential to implementing effective backup | | | | removal of duplicate information. Rather than having |
| systems. In-house storage systems comprise a | | | | to simply save everything on a computer, server, or |
| significant cost for capital investment in hardware, | | | | exchange folder periodically, only new or updated files |
| storage space for servers and tapes, overhead for | | | | and emails are added to storage. This directly |
| maintenance equipment and personnel, and operating | | | | translates into lower costs and faster data recovery. |
| expenses for each time a new image is written to | | | | Remote backup services, ultimately, offer cost |
| tape. | | | | effective, secure, and reliable data storage options |
| Remote backup services remove the need for capital | | | | that any company can take advantage of without |
| outlays and physical space. Data backup routines | | | | long lead times and capital expenses. |