| Online data backup comes in many flavors, but the | | | | being used. |
| most usual architecture involves the transfer of | | | | - It does not matter what hardware or software the |
| knowledge across a WAN segment to the supplier | | | | service provider uses. Understanding what software |
| that then stores important computer data. There are | | | | and hardware the supplier uses is critical. There are |
| various misconceptions about online backup and | | | | many capabilities to look for in the software, |
| points to consider when deciding if online backup is | | | | however the hardware is equally critical. Should you |
| proper for the business. | | | | select storage hardware that efficiently stores data, |
| - I must have a enormous WAN connection to send | | | | is straightforward to manage and scales to quite high |
| all this data. The vast majority of online backup | | | | capacities, then the plumber can lower its costs and |
| solutions leverage data deduplication and compression | | | | pass those savings through to you. |
| and are also typically transmitting less that 1% on the | | | | Look for name tier one or tier two storage |
| total data set over the WAN. Therefore, the WAN | | | | manufactures. As the company may survive an |
| connection may be pretty modest. This deduplication | | | | economic downturn, you would like to be sure the |
| is tracked across sites, if personal files in site A | | | | storage platforms they've got selected will, too. Look |
| resembles a file in site B, after the file in site A is | | | | for advanced features like storage virtualization, thin |
| copied merely the unique parts of the file in site B | | | | provisioning and automated tiered storage (most |
| are delivered to the remote vault. Most of the | | | | likely through the software or perhaps the hardware). |
| aforementioned companies support this capability. | | | | Exactly why are these essential to you? |
| That said, most enterprise customers tend to use a | | | | Understanding the sort of hardware the supplier uses |
| preexisting DS3 or better to link to the supplier. The | | | | provides you with some indication as to whether or |
| supplier will be able to assist you to determine what | | | | not the service provider are going to be in a position |
| kind of communications link you'll require. | | | | to meet its SLA commitments. While a broken SLA |
| - Online data backup gets costlier over time. Ironically, | | | | gives you something a reason to initiate legal action, |
| the traditional tape vaulting services have this | | | | it doesn't get crucial computer data back. |
| problem a lot more than the electronic vaulting | | | | - It's difficult to begin with online data backup. It isn't |
| services. Despite the fact that the likelihood of | | | | difficult to get going with online backup; it can be |
| employing a tape which is 36 months old decreases | | | | pretty easy, especially with the solutions that happen |
| with each passing day, traditional tape vaults still | | | | to be agentless. The most beneficial practice would |
| charge the same rate to store it. Again, choice of the | | | | be to select a region in the enterprise that's been |
| software programs are critical but a service provider | | | | causing essentially the most challenges to the backup |
| with all the right software option can tier crucial | | | | process, determine if that works well with the online |
| computer data on different types of storage. Some | | | | backup approach, then while you build confidence |
| of the software in use by providers will allow for local | | | | within the solution, add more to it. |
| storage of most recent data (for extremely fast | | | | Initial backup may be handled in two ways. First, it is |
| recoveries and good for server rebuilds). Tiers of | | | | possible to simply start the backup and let it churn |
| storage may be put in place based on speed, | | | | through the process. Determined by your computer |
| capacity and cost within the remote vault. | | | | data and the size of your WAN connection, this could |
| Providers that support local caching of information | | | | take three days to four days to accomplish. This |
| and utilize a tier-pricing model include AmeriVault, | | | | process is especially viable with providers offering a |
| Digitiliti and DS3 Data Vaulting. While there are various | | | | local copy of the backup. Backups might be |
| variables and pricing really must be done with a | | | | protected locally and data can then "trickle" with the |
| case-by-case basis, the marketplace pricing for your | | | | service provider as time passes. One other method |
| "older" backup data should be approximately 30% of | | | | would be to have the company give you a local drive |
| the price of the younger/fresh backup data. | | | | that's then shipped to the main site and copied into |
| Typically, this type of pricing is offered when a | | | | the vault as the baseline backup. |
| customer signs a three year to five year storage | | | | Is online data backup right for the enterprise? As |
| deal, with an option to renew. So, if someone else is | | | | always, the reply is "perhaps." You will find several |
| paying $2 per GB monthly, they might be paying | | | | different ways to improve your satisfaction with the |
| under $.60 per GB per 30 days to keep that data for | | | | data protection process, and certainly online backup is |
| five years. Generally, the software that the supplier is | | | | worthy of consideration. |
| using may be billed depending on the storage tier | | | | |