Buyer’s Guide: Online Enterprise Backup Solutions

Let's face it, backups are hard work. You've probably tried multiple everything: multiple backup technologies (e.g., tape, disk), multiple employees tocreate and monitor backups, and multiple enterprise software tools. But despite personnel, hardware, and software changes, backup and restore operationsdon't always succeed. The stakes are high to get it right. As a fellow systems administrator once confided, "No backup, and I might as well not come towork tomorrow." Given the heightened importance of corporate data, considering new methods to back up and store data is appropriate.

Over the past few years, cloud-based backups have made major inroads into the consumer market. As online consumer backups have gained acceptance, a varietyof offerings have popped up in the online enterprise backup space. Although some of these offerings are from startup companies, others are from companieswith which you might already be doing business.

With promises of unlimited backups and low prices, cloud backups might seem appealing, especially if you're currently using onsite removable storage suchas tape. However, before you jump into the cloud, you need to take a look at your currentbackup and restore requirements and assess your data portfolio from a security and volume perspective at the very least. Only then should you beginevaluating the various online enterprise backup solutions.

Pricing

When it comes to online enterprise backup solutions, the way that the service is charged varies widely, making it hard to compare prices. For example, someproviders charge per gigabyte based on usage, whereas other providers charge in gigabyte ranges. Pay special attention to hidden costs, such as the costper device backed up, licensing cost per device, and the minimum fees per month to retain an account.

With that said, it's important to note that price is probably not the best qualifier to narrow down the list of online enterprise backup solutions toconsider. The backup and restore features should really drive your evaluation of which solution is best for your company.

Backup Features to Consider

When evaluating cloud backup solutions, it's important that the features meet your needs. Features to consider include:

Restore Features to Consider

No matter whether you need to restore a file or file system, the ability to easily and quickly restore data is paramount. Thus, you need to consider therestore features when evaluating online backup solutions. Common restore features include:

Check Out the Buyer's Guide Table

Whether you're looking to replace your current backup system, bolster your disaster recovery capability with offsite storage, increase the reliability ofbackups, or just dip your toe into the online enterprise backup arena, the Online Enterprise Backup Solutions Buyer's Guide table will help you sortthrough the options. Approaches vary widely, so research the online enterprise backup solutions carefully. Trying out the solution is one of the best waysto see whether it'll meet your needs, so the Buyer's Guide table includes whether the various providers offer free trials.

Remember that your backups are only as good as your last restore, so regularly test your restore strategy to ensure the integrity of your backups. Beprepared so that come tomorrow, you'll want to come back to work.