How effective is your cloud backup provider? It doesn’t matter if you already have one or you’re looking for a new one, it’s important to make sure that your new cloud service provider is going to offer you the security and capabilities that you need in order to get the biggest bang for your buck. Know what you’re looking for in a provider by looking at a few of these things.
Support
How often have you had an Internet company that’s offered you a great price, but just really fell short when it came to service? (We’ve all been there.) When you bring a cloud backup provider into your business, it’s important to be able to get in touch with them and get what you need without jumping through hoops—because in the case of an emergency, you’ll have enough on your mind. Know and understand the process for disaster recovery, and learn what the process involves for each cloud backup provider you’re looking into.
Services
Like in most business relationships, there will inevitably be some cloud backup provider that will best fit your needs. Ask about additional services that your backup provider offers in addition to the basic backup. Some extra options may include things like deduplication, storing across multiple geographic locations, continuous or once-a-day backup, disaster recovery and restoration, among others.
Security
Because nothing is more important than making sure your data is secure, ask your providers about their minimum security requirements. There are varying levels, meaning some are more secure than others. Echopath’s solution, for example, offers AES 256 bit encryption, which is military grade and used by most government agencies. Your data should be encrypted as early as possible (ideally before it leaves your computers), and monitored at all times for backup or recovery failures to make sure the problem is taken care of quickly.
Cost
Cloud backup isn’t a service to scrimp on, but there’s no need to be taken advantage of. Ask your providers about their cost structure to determine the cost associated with different services. Find the one that meets the needs of your company, and combine that with the topics we covered above. Find a good place and ensure that you aren’t overpaying for basic services, or paying too little for incomplete services and no support.
A good cloud backup provider should make your life less stressful, so there’s no point in stressing when you pick. Find the provider that offers you the best fit, and start implementing your backup and disaster recovery plans today.