A good business continuity strategy focuses on being prepared, especially for possible technology disruptions. Hardware failure, cyberattacks, and natural disasters can lead to data losses or hamper major business processes. You can prepare for those scenarios by designing and implementing a disaster recovery plan that’s adapted to your needs.
Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery:
Relying on the cloud to backup data is a popular option because you can send your data to a public cloud service automatically or use a cloud-to-cloud solution to create backups. Those backups are generated by cloud-based applications for a seamless process.
If you choose the right provider, a cloud BDR is a reliable way to store data. Scalability is another advantage since you can always get more storage if you need it.
The cloud delivers short recovery times for small datasets, and keeping data off-site is a good idea in case your hardware becomes inaccessible as a result of a power outage, weather disaster or some other reason.
The drawbacks of cloud backups are that large datasets require longer recovery time, and choosing the right cloud provider can be challenging since the safety of your data depends on the provider you choose.
Onsite Data Backup & Recovery:
Investing in an onsite BDR solution is a viable alternative to relying on the cloud if you want to retain more control over your data.
There can be significant upfront costs associated with hardware, but storing your backup onsite gives you more control over who has access to the servers. You can also ensure that your storage solution meets compliance requirements for sensitive data.
There are drawbacks to onsite storage that you should be aware of. It leaves you vulnerable to lost or damaged hardware in a disaster, and there are ongoing maintenance and training costs. It’s also important that you consider the additional workload for your IT department.
In spite of those drawbacks, onsite backup recovery makes sense if you have to back up sensitive data or meet strict industry compliance requirements. The speed of recovering large datasets also is better compared with cloud-based solutions.