| The most valuable assets of any business | | | | can be performed at any time with a single click or |
| organization regardless of it size is its data! Operator | | | | be set for hassle-free daily backup. |
| can make mistakes, a hard disk failure, a virus, natural | | | | Security is provided through secure-sockets |
| disasters, theft or loss of a laptop - can all too easily | | | | connections to the data centers, 128-bit encryption |
| put this data and therefore the business at risk. | | | | and account passwords. Data Compression ensures |
| Storing backup data offsite is a secure, simple and | | | | regular backups are very efficient and non-intrusive. |
| affordable alternative to a traditional tape backup | | | | Who uses offsite backup? |
| solution. | | | | Offsite Backup is used by most industries throughout |
| Tape backup can offer a possible solution, but it also | | | | the world including: law firms, accountants, |
| comes with many draw backs. They need upfront | | | | consultants, financial intermediaries, manufacturers, |
| investment, maintenance, and internal staff to | | | | education and research, retail outlets, distributors, and |
| maintain and operate them. All these come at a cost. | | | | not-for-profit organizations. Organizations of all sizes |
| Tape backups can be a hassle - especially during a | | | | with an internet connection can benefit. |
| crisis when key data is to be recovered without | | | | What are the limitations of offsite backup? |
| delay. | | | | Offsite Backup needs an internet connection to work. |
| Keeping backups offsite with a trusted third party is | | | | This can be traditional dial-up or ISDN for smaller data |
| a modern proven solution to this critical process. | | | | volumes, or ideally a broadband connection such as |
| Offsite Backups - The Benefits | | | | ADSL, Cable, DSL and Leased Line. These have the |
| Offsite backup is cost effective, efficient and more | | | | advantage of faster transmission rates, no usage call |
| reliable process than tape backup. | | | | charges and the ability to handle large volumes of |
| Cost Effective | | | | data. |
| * No capital outlay, you usually just pay a fixed | | | | The initial backup process can take some time |
| monthly fee | | | | because a full copy of the data must be encrypted, |
| * No setup fees | | | | compressed and copied to the data centers. |
| * No operating costs | | | | Additional daily backups are significantly faster |
| * No tape storage costs | | | | because file changes only are transmitted. These |
| Efficient | | | | changes are typically at a 'block' level within a file i.e. if |
| * Installation is complete within minutes - even for | | | | a change is made to a previously backed up |
| non-technical staff | | | | document, only the change to that document is sent, |
| * No waiting to find the right tape | | | | not the whole document. |
| * No waiting for someone to recover lost data | | | | Is offsite backup secure? |
| Reliability | | | | Offsite backup is secure. Only secure socket |
| * Automated daily backup provides comprehensive | | | | connections are made to the offsite data centers |
| protection and zero hassle | | | | and data is encrypted. Data never travels |
| * Take as many backups as you need, ensuring | | | | un-encrypted, including during a restore process. |
| protection | | | | A password, an account number and an encryption |
| * Less down-time and reduced lost productivity - files | | | | key all ensure that only the authorized user has |
| can be recovered instantly | | | | access to the data. |
| * Web access to backed up files for when travelling | | | | How much does offsite backup cost? |
| or at home | | | | Offsite backup is charged on a per computer per |
| * Works with individual PCs / laptops and file servers | | | | month basis, although companies with multiple |
| network shares | | | | computers can probably negotiate a fixed fee with |
| * Secure technology | | | | their provider. |
| The Offsite Backup Process | | | | There is not usually a setup fee and no software |
| Software installed on the computer helps select the | | | | license fee, nor are there additional charges for data |
| data to be backed up, manages the connection to | | | | transfer and recovery. |
| the internet and the encryption / compression of the | | | | For detailed pricing it is best to speak directly to your |
| data - prior to transferring it to the data centers. | | | | supplier. A general rule is the more space you need, |
| Data can be accessed via the software agent at any | | | | the higher the price; although the price increase is |
| time. | | | | generally not in proportion to the size increase, you |
| Backups can be scheduled or started manually and | | | | can benefit from economies of scale. |