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