Benefits of Cloud Backup: Why Businesses Are Making the Switch

By By Andrea Susic March 26, 2024 / In

Have you ever lost important files when your computer crashed? Now think about that happening to your whole business. Pretty scary, right? That’s why more businesses choose cloud backup every day. Cloud backup keeps your data safe on remote servers. You can access it anytime—even if disaster strikes your office.

What Is Cloud Backup and How It Works

Cloud backup means your business data gets copied to remote servers. These servers are in secure data centers run by experts. Your files travel through a safe, encrypted connection. They stay there until you need them.

Cloud backup comes in a few types:

  • Automatic backups work in the background while you do other things
  • Scheduled backups run at times you pick
  • Backup as a Service (BaaS) means experts handle everything for you
  • Hybrid solutions use both local and cloud storage for extra safety

Most cloud backup systems work quietly. You won’t notice them until you need to get something back.

Top Benefits of Cloud Backup for Businesses

Scalability That Grows With Your Business

Your business won’t stay the same size forever. Old backup methods make you guess how much storage you’ll need later. Cloud backup fixes this problem.

Need more storage? You can add it right away. Your business grew faster than you thought? No problem—the cloud grows with you. You pay only for what you use now, not what you might need someday.

Cost Savings Add Up Quickly

Old backup systems need costly hardware that sits in your office. This equipment needs upkeep, takes space, and gets outdated.

Cloud backup turns these big expenses into small monthly costs. You don’t need to buy servers or storage devices. You’ll also save on IT staff time, power bills, and office space.

A small business might save thousands of dollars each year by switching to cloud backup. These savings keep coming year after year.

Access Your Data From Anywhere

Remember when you had to be in the office to access your files? Those days are gone with cloud backup.

Your team can get backed-up data from anywhere with internet. This helps:

  • Workers who need files from home
  • Staff traveling for business
  • Multiple offices that need the same files
  • Times when you can’t get to your office

This makes your business more flexible.

Automatic Backups Fix Human Error

People forget things. Even your best employee might skip a backup now and then. Automatic cloud backups remove this risk.

Once set up, your cloud backup system copies data on schedule. No one needs to remember to start it or swap out storage. This means your backups always have your latest work.

Many businesses learn the hard way that manual backups fail when needed most. Automation fixes this problem.

Data Security That Never Sleeps

Your data faces many threats: hackers, viruses, angry ex-employees, and simple mistakes. Cloud backup providers know these dangers. They build strong protections into their systems.

Most cloud backup services include:

  • Strong encryption for data moving and at rest
  • Strict access controls so only allowed people can get files
  • Regular security updates
  • Physical guards at data centers

These safeguards are often better than what small businesses could set up alone. Your data stays safer in the cloud than on a hard drive in your office.

Disaster Recovery When You Need It Most

Disasters happen without warning. Fire, flood, theft, or cyberattacks can destroy local backups along with your main systems. Cloud backup gives you an offsite safety net.

When disaster strikes, you can restore your data quickly from the cloud. This cuts downtime and helps your business recover faster. Some cloud backup services can even restore entire systems, not just files.

The peace of mind from knowing your business can survive a major problem makes cloud backup worth it.

Cloud vs Local Backup: A Comparison

Both cloud and local backup have good points. Knowing the differences helps you pick the right choice.

Local backup offers:

  • Faster first backups for lots of data
  • No need for internet
  • Full control over your backup hardware
  • One-time cost instead of monthly fees

Cloud backup gives you:

  • Safety from on-site disasters
  • Easy growth as your needs change
  • No hardware to fix or replace
  • Access from anywhere with internet
  • Pro-level security

Many businesses like a mix of both. They keep recent backups locally for quick fixes and cloud backups for disaster protection.

Understanding RPO and RTO in Cloud Backup

Two key terms matter when planning your backup: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO).

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

RPO means how much data you can afford to lose. It sets how often you should back up.

If your business can lose one day’s work, your RPO is 24 hours. This means daily backups are enough. But if losing even an hour of work would hurt, you need an RPO of one hour—and much more frequent backups.

Recovery Time Objective (RTO)

RTO means how fast you must get back to work after a problem. It sets how quick your backup system must be.

If your business can wait a day for data, your RTO is 24 hours. But many businesses need RTOs of minutes or hours. Cloud backup services offer fast recovery for businesses with strict RTO needs.

Your RPO and RTO needs will help you pick the best cloud backup for you.

Additional Technical Features Worth Knowing

Immutable Backups Stop Ransomware Cold

Ransomware attacks are a big threat today. These attacks lock your data and demand money to unlock it.

Immutable backups give strong protection. Once made, these backups cannot be changed or deleted—by anyone. If ransomware hits, you can recover from these safe backups without paying.

Geo-Redundancy Protects Against Big Disasters

What if a disaster hits the data center where your backups are? Geo-redundancy solves this.

With geo-redundant storage, your backups go to many data centers in different areas. If one place has problems, your data stays safe in other places. This gives the best protection against major disasters.

Data Deduplication Saves Space and Money

Data deduplication finds and removes repeat data in your backups. This can greatly cut the storage space you need.

For example, if ten workers have copies of the same file, deduplication stores just one copy. This saves money and speeds up backup and recovery.

Backup as a Service Takes Care of Everything

Some businesses lack IT staff or want to focus on their main work. Backup as a Service (BaaS) gives a complete solution.

With BaaS, your provider handles it all:

  • Setup and config
  • Watching and managing
  • Fixing any problems
  • Testing recoveries
  • Updating the system

You get peace of mind knowing experts watch your backups all day, every day.

Why Cloud Backup Makes Sense Now

Business moves faster every year. Remote work, rising cyber threats, and unpredictable disasters make old backup methods risky.

Cloud backup tackles these challenges while saving money and making IT simpler. The ease of growth, strong security, and anywhere access make cloud backup the smart choice.

Your company’s data shows years of work and countless hours of effort. That value needs protection that grows with your business.

Take time this week to check your current backup system. Ask: Would we survive a major data loss? If you’re not sure, it’s time to look at cloud backup.

Your business has worked too hard to risk everything on outdated methods. Switch to cloud backup—your future self will thank you.

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About Plow Networks

Plow Networks is a leading IT services provider, connecting businesses to technology since 2012. Our expertise spans designing and managing networks for multi-location companies, provisioning and optimizing Microsoft 365 and Azure subscriptions, and designing cloud-based voice systems for companies with complex business requirements. Plus, we’re dedicated to supporting the devices and users that rely on these critical systems every day.

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