Things to Consider in Choosing Providers of Cloud Data Backup in Blaine
Having an online backup helps prepare businesses for the inevitability of a natural disaster that could bring your system down. It also helps you prepare for an accidental spill that could damage the computer or a hacker that could steal your data or ruin your network. All these incidents only serve to emphasize the value of investing in a cloud data backup in Blaine. You might not be able to prevent disasters, but you can minimize their impact on your business.
Through cloud backup services, you can update your backup in real-time, reduce the time needed to restore your data, and save money by not suffering through a prolonged downtime due to data loss. But how do you select which cloud backup service provider will secure your data online and let you retrieve it whenever you need it? Here are a things to take into account:
1. Storage Space
How much storage are your files, programs, and systems going to need? Cloud backup services usually come with 1GB of space, while some plans provide more up to unlimited storage space. Think about your budget, too, because the cost of your cloud data backup in Blaine will increase along with the increase in your preferred storage space.
2. Uptime
The ultimate goal of paying for cloud backup services is to make your data available and accessible whenever you need it. Look for backup service providers that can guarantee close to a 100% availability, along with features such as data protection and redundancy. To ensure uptime, you’re going to need backups to your backups. You will also need to protect data by choosing to save them in servers stored in temperature-controlled and power-backed rooms to minimize the risk of downtime.
Your cloud data backup in Blaine must have an availability of at least 99.95% if you don’t want a problem with your scheduled backups. It would be nerve-wracking to know that your scheduled data backup failed because your server suddenly went offline.
3. Scalability
No matter how hard you calculate how much backup storage you’re going to need, several factors may cause this to change. It could be due to the change in the number of computers used or the employees using them, business transactions, or the volume of data coming in. It will help if your cloud backup services allow you to buy more space if you need it instead of being limited by your first choice when you signed the contract. This is critical if your business involves seasons when you have to take on large-scale projects, which will require more backup.
4. Backup Frequency
When comparing providers of cloud data backup in Blaine, make sure to ask them about how frequently they will back up your data online and what type of backup they will do for your business. Some cloud backup services might offer monthly, daily, or hourly backups, while others might be more flexible by letting you determine your own backup schedule.
5. Disaster Recovery Plan
There might be severe disasters and incidents that could take your entire network online, such as a DDoS attack, severe thunderstorms, and other cyberattacks. If you have a cloud backup service, at least you can use it for an effective disaster recovery plan, allowing you to get back online at the soonest time possible.
6. Data Compliance
Regardless of how small your business is, you should protect your customers’ privacy. One way to ensure that is to follow data protection regulations and other industry-specific regulations. For instance, if you are in the medical field, your cloud data backup in Blaine should observe the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
7. Security
If you entrust your data to the provider of your cloud backup services, how confident are you about data security? This is why you should look for data encryption during transit and when it is at rest, off-site and local storage, and Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Protection (TLS), among others. Your cloud backup service provider should also assure you that their data centers are protected with security staff, access control, and CCTV.
8. Tech Support
While recovering from a disaster, your cloud backup services provider should do more than hand over the data from their backup server. They should also help you deal with technical issues that came with the downtime or the server crash. A good cloud data backup in Blaine should come with 24/7 tech support.
9. Pricing
Pinpoint the different offers, features, and prices of the backup service providers that you are eyeing. Examine them beyond simply looking at the prices by checking at what each package contains. You might find yourself the best deal there is with this level of diligence.
10. Terms and Conditions
Go over the terms and conditions offered along with your cloud backup services. Look for the contract terms, service limits, and lock-in requirements, which will stop you from switching to a different provider if you don’t like the service anymore.
11. Customer Reviews
If you’ve gone through all ten factors above, don’t forget to read customer reviews. These usually offer an insight into how the provider does business and supports its clients.
Call Network Medics
Network Medics provides cloud data backup service, among other managed IT services. We can give you peace of mind knowing that your data are safe in the cloud and easy to restore when needed. If you want to talk to an IT specialist, call us today at 612.315.1900
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