Cloud backup solutions are services that store your data safely on remote servers that you can access over the internet. They offer many benefits for businesses of all sizes and industries, especially in Australia, where natural disasters, cyberattacks, and data regulations pose significant challenges. In this blog post, we will explore why cloud backup solutions are important for your business today and how Microsoft SharePoint can help you leverage them effectively.
In this blog post, we will answer these questions by covering the following:
How does cloud backup work?
Cloud backup is a method of storing copies of your data, documents, or files in an offsite location, preserving them in case of an incident or emergency. Cloud backup works by replicating your data on cloud-based servers that are owned and maintained by a cloud backup provider.
There are different ways to back up your data to the cloud, but they generally involve these steps:
- Installation: You install the cloud backup software on the device or devices that you want to back up.
- Backup: The software for cloud backup makes copies of your files and stores them on remote servers. You can choose how often and when to back up your data.
- Encryption: Your information is encrypted before it is sent over the internet so that no one else can see it. Usually, either you or your cloud backup provider stores the encryption key.
- Storage: Your data is kept on multiple servers in different places to make sure it is safe and always available. You can access your data from any device with an internet connection.
- Recovery: If you need to restore your data, you can use the cloud backup software or web interface to select the files or folders that you want to recover. You can also restore your data to a different device if needed.
8 Benefits of Cloud Backup Solutions
According to a survey by Deloitte, 91% of organisations use cloud-based services for data storage and analytics. This is not surprising considering the advantages that cloud backup solutions offer over traditional on-premise methods.
Here's why cloud backup solutions are essential for any business:
- Reliable and effortless: Once your cloud backup is set up, it requires little to no effort to maintain. You can automate backups and restore data easily with a few clicks. You don’t need to worry about managing hardware, software, or personnel for your backup operations. You also don’t need to worry about running out of storage space or losing data due to physical damage or theft.
- Cost savings: For small to midsized organisations without a lot of data, cloud backups can offer considerable cost savings. You don’t need to invest in expensive hardware or software licences. You only pay for what you use, and you scale up or down as needed. You also save on energy costs and maintenance fees associated with traditional backup methods.
- Secure: By storing your data off-site on a separate network, you can protect your business from certain types of cyber threats, like ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom for their decryption. If you have a cloud backup, you can easily restore your files without paying the ransom or losing any data Cloud providers use state-of-the-art technology such as encryption, firewalls, and authentication to ensure data security.
- Scalable: Cloud backups can grow with your business without requiring additional infrastructure or resources. You can store unlimited amounts of data on the cloud and access it anytime from anywhere. You can also adjust your storage capacity and features according to your changing needs. For example, if you need more storage space for a seasonal peak, you can easily upgrade your plan without any hassle
- Accessibility: A cloud backup can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. This is especially helpful for people who work from home or on the go. You can also share files and collaborate with others easily on the cloud. For example, if you need to work on a project with your team members who are located in different places, you can use a cloud backup service that allows you to sync and edit files online.
- Efficiency: Cloud providers use disk-based backup, data deduplication, and compression to optimise storage space and performance. Disk-based backup means that your data is stored on hard drives rather than tapes or optical discs, which are slower and more prone to errors. Data deduplication means that only the unique data blocks are stored, which reduces the amount of redundant data and saves bandwidth. Compression means that your data is reduced in size by removing unnecessary bits, which also saves storage space and bandwidth.
- Strict Compliance: Cloud backups can help you meet data protection and privacy regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and others. Cloud providers follow strict rules and audits to make sure they follow best practises in the industry. They also come with features like encryption at rest and in transit, options for who owns the data, and retention policies that can help you follow certain rules.
- Convenience: You can store data on portable devices like flash drives and external hard drives, but they need manual handling. Cloud backup is better, as you can access your data from anywhere at any time with an internet connection. You also don’t need to worry about losing or damaging your devices or forgetting to back up your data regularly.
Microsoft SharePoint: The Solution for Your Business Backups
Microsoft SharePoint is a platform that runs in the cloud and lets you create, share, and manage content for your whole organisation. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products such as Microsoft 365, Teams, OneDrive, Power BI, etc. It also offers a range of features that make it an ideal solution for cloud backup:
- SharePoint Online: This is the cloud version of SharePoint that runs on Microsoft’s servers. It offers unlimited storage space for your files and documents, with automatic backups every 12 hours. You can also restore deleted items within 93 days using the recycle bin feature.
- SharePoint Hybrid: This is a combination of SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server (the on-premise version). It allows you to keep some of your data on your own servers while storing some of it in the cloud. This way, you can benefit from both worlds: control over sensitive data and the scalability of cloud storage.
- SharePoint Backup Service: This is a service that backs up your entire SharePoint environment, including sites, lists, libraries, permissions, etc. It runs daily or weekly, depending on your preference. You can restore any item within 30 days using the restore feature.
With these features, Microsoft SharePoint helps you take advantage of cloud backup solutions without compromising on performance, collaboration, or security.
In Conclusion
Cloud backup solutions are critical for businesses in 2023, particularly in Australia, where natural disasters, cyberattacks, and data regulations pose significant challenges. Cloud backup works by replicating your data on cloud-based servers that are owned and maintained by a cloud backup provider. Cloud backup offers many benefits, including reliability, cost savings, security, scalability, accessibility, efficiency, strict compliance, and convenience. Microsoft SharePoint is an ideal solution for cloud backup because it offers a range of features and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products. By leveraging cloud backup solutions and Microsoft SharePoint, businesses can protect their data and ensure business continuity in the event of an incident or emergency.
