Cloud backup refers to the practice of copying files or databases to a cloud-based server so it can be restored as part of a disaster recovery plan. Cloud backup may also be referred to as online backup or online data storage. The alternative to a cloud backup is an in-house backup, which requires hardware investments and commitment to ongoing maintenance but offers more first-party control.
Enterprise-grade cloud backup solutions offer essential features like archiving and disaster recovery. Archival tools make it possible for an organization to retain backup data that no longer needs to be synchronized with current versions but could be needed for compliance with legal requirements in the future. The remote nature of a cloud backup also ensures critical data remains safe if the enterprise’s local data is jeopardized by a disaster such as a fire, flood, malware attack, or employee theft.
Solutions that back up data to a cloud environment commonly include the following features:
The following four types of cloud storage have both advantages and disadvantages; choosing one depends on business needs and priorities.
Type of Storage | Pros | Cons |
Public cloud | Low cost |
|
Private cloud |
|
Higher costs |
Hybrid cloud |
|
Sensitive information may still be at risk due to location in public cloud |
Cloud-to-cloud |
|
Doubled security risk |
There are three major methods of data backup:
Advantages of cloud backup include:
Disadvantages of cloud backup include:
Although they are very closely related, cloud storage and cloud backup serve different purposes. Cloud storage provides virtual capacity to save and access files, similar to a physical storage device like a hard disk drive or solid state drive. Cloud backup, on the other hand, is the duplication of the data that can be restored if something disastrous happens. To open a file, then edit and save it, a user would access the cloud storage platform, not the cloud backup. A cloud backup is only modified when it needs to reflect the most recent changes in a storage device.
Read More: Best Cloud Backup Services
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