Exploring Backup Strategies in the Enterprise

• Privacy and Security - Like the tape drive, the External USB is a device that is kept on-site within the enterprise using the backup solution, and it is typically held responsible by trusted members of the company. External USB's basically have all of the perks regarding privacy and security as tape drives. The differences come into play when considering recovery time and accessibility.

• Recovery Time - Unlike the tape drive, data is not stored linearly or sequentially. Let's consider the backup containing the 26 letters of the English alphabet (as mentioned above). The need for letters E, J, and P can quickly be recovered simply by selecting those specific characters from the device. There is no need to restore 10 unnecessary letters.

• Accessibility - USB drives can come in different storage formats, depending on the OS that it is interacting with and they are typically quick to use and highly portable. The devices themselves do not allow for mobile access, so the concept of any time, any device, anywhere does not apply to USB Drives.

• Offsite Storage - Similar to the tape drive, the USB drive requires a good amount of manual work in order to bring the backup to an offsite location for safe storage. The same risks apply when it comes to the availability of the individual who is in charge of managing USB drive backup.

• Cost - Depending on the storage size of the device, USB drives can cost anywhere from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars. Older computers were once manufactured with floppy disk drives, which basically had the same functionality as the USB drive, but they were unable to contain nearly as much data, and their transfer speeds failed in comparison. More recently, computers have become completely compatible with USB drives via built-in USB ports for easy access to these external drives (among other purposes), so there is usually no need for extra converters. The initial cost for this type of backup includes the USB drive itself, and there is typically no ongoing cost aside from physical maintenance of the device.

• The Downside - Limited remote and mobile access; OS compatibility (depends on device format); every machine that needs to be backed up will need a USB port.

• Privacy and Security - While most service providers include a tightly-knit Privacy Policy upon the agreement of using their services, an enterprise business may feel a bit uneasy with having a "middle-man" between their important (and most-likely confidential) data and their storage location. Perhaps it is not the in-flight process of transferring data that may cause one to worry, but rather the actual destination where the data is stored. As with tape drives and USB drives, the question remains: who will be responsible for the data? In this case, responsibility falls primarily on the service provider and an enterprise has very limited control over any unintentional data leaks that can occur at the off-site location.

• Recovery Time - There are several ways to recover data from an offsite location. One way is to download the required data over the internet, which may take quite some time, especially if the dataset is large. Another method, which depends on whether or not the service provider offers such a feature, is to burn the data onto a disk or external drive and then physically ship the disk/device to the enterprise. This method not only takes time to burn the data, but must also consider the shipping speed, which may take several days.

• Accessibility - Unlike tape drives and USB drives, OS compatibility is usually not an issue as there is no need for USB converters or USB ports on the physical machine to view the backed-up data. Access to the internet is the only requirement for this type of backup. The concept of any time, any device, anywhere is absolutely relevant for public cloud backups. Depending on what the service provider offers, data can be accessed via internet browsers, mobile devices, and various software applications. Also, data is typically transferred securely via supportive technologies such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and AES-encryption.

• Offsite Storage - All backed-up data is stored on the service provider's storage servers, and there is no need to rely on the availability of an individual (as with tape drive and USB drive backups). This is beneficial for an enterprise that is looking to save on local virtual storage space or for one that is limited to such resources. Data is transferred via an internet connection.

• Cost - Depending on the service provider, the cost per month can vary both in price as well as in available feature sets. Some might charge a flat monthly fee, and others may charge depending on how much disk space the enterprise requires on the service provider's storage servers. This all depends on the particular business model that the service provider is looking to market. Additionally, when it comes to a public cloud backup plan, an enterprise must consider the type of support that is available from the service provider, as well as the feature-set that their backed up data needs (such as, encryption, file versions, reporting, etc). For most public cloud backup solutions, the initial cost also becomes the ongoing cost in the form of recurring fees.

• The Downside - Possible data leaks at offsite location; monthly/annual subscription fees; data usage fees; possible recovery fees.

• Privacy and Security - Unlike public cloud storage, the Privacy Policy for a private cloud solution is maintained entirely within the enterprise (as is the data being backed up). The enterprise controls any risk of data leaks itself and no "middle-man" company stands between the enterprise and its data. Much like tape drives and USB drives, responsibility for the backed up data is kept indoors, perhaps with the IT Department.

• Recovery Time - Typically, the storage server (or data center) where the backed up data is saved is located within the network of the Enterprise. So the transfer speeds for backing up and/or recovering data are usually fast and reliable since no information is actually sent out on the internet. If the data center is outside of the network, then transfer speeds may vary depending on the network connection. In any case, the enterprise has full control of how data is recovered, whether they prefer network downloads or burning data onto a disk/device.

• Accessibility - Similar to public cloud backups, the concept of any time, any device, anywhere applies to private cloud backups as well. Data is readily accessible via an internet browser, software application, or mobile device via a network or internet connection.

• Offsite Storage - Data is generally stored within the enterprise; however, the option to keep the storage location offsite is also available. In either case, it is the responsibility of the enterprise to provide enough storage space that is sufficient to hold all backed-up data.

• Cost - Since this type of backup service is not administered by an offsite service provider, it does not require any ongoing monthly or annual expenses. In fact, it can be considered more of a product than a service, and the enterprise has full control over the product after it has been purchased. The initial cost for this type of backup includes the software and the storage device(s). The only ongoing cost would be the maintenance of the storage device(s).

• The Downside - The enterprise is responsible for the size of the storage device(s).

LEAVE A COMMENT

Your email address will not be published.

Comments:

Post Comment