What are the backup best practices using the cloud?

What are the backup best practices using the cloud?

What is a cloud backup strategy?

Cloud backup strategy is also known as remote backup or online backup. It is a strategy used to send a copy of files or database to a secondary location, specifically off-site, to store them safely to be used in case the system fails. 

The secondary servers are hosted by a third party who charges clients based on:

• Storage space
• Data transmission bandwidth
• Number of users
• Storage capacity used
• Number of times you access your data
• Number of servers

A good cloud data backup helps bolster your data protection without adding too much work on your shoulders. 

Many cloud backup providers charge their customers yearly or monthly. It is relatively cheaper to pay annually than monthly. 

How does cloud backup strategy work?

Cloud backup serves as an off-site option for many users. Below are the steps for a cloud backup strategy:

1. Designate files for backup. It can be new or updated data
2. Encrypt backed up files and send them off-site to the cloud
3. You can choose from private, cloud-to-cloud (C2C), or public backup methods
4. Access files or data quickly and readily available when needed or during the recovery event. 

There are different ways you can do a perfect cloud backup strategy that will fit your backup plans. Below are types of cloud backup you might want to adopt:

Online Cloud Backup Systems

You may opt for hardware alternatives that link data backup to a cloud backup solution. These facilities include disk capacity along with a backup server and backup software. 

These appliances provide seamless links to the cloud provides and backup services. Some of the vendors that give such facilities include but are not limited to Rubrik, Quantum, StorageCraft, Asigra,  Dell EMC, Unitrends, and Cohesity. 

These vendors are the best in terms of the most recent backup retention. In addition, you can make any recovery from the local backup copy, which saves transmission costs and time. 

Back up directly to the public cloud

Another way to store your data is by copying resources to a public cloud. This means writing your data directly to providers like Microsoft Azure or AWS. Here, you use your own data backup software to create a copy to send to a cloud storage solution. 

The cloud storage then provides a destination and keeps the data safe. It doesn't specifically offer a backup application. It is important to note that you may need additional data protection options with public cloud backup services. 

Back up to a service provider

Here, you write your data to a data cloud service vendor who offers backup solutions in a data center. 

The service provider may have commercially-available applications for your backup needs, or it can provide you with backup software that you will use to send data. 

What are the types of cloud backup methods?

With the increased use of technology, backup is no longer an unknown term. However, the backup concept existed way before we gave it the same name. 

When people stored essential files in a different place separate from the original one, that was backing up taking place. This would serve as a backup if one lost the original document or somehow corrupted it. 

The technology companies took over the concept, they didn't change it, but they provided new resources to make backing up more accessible and faster. 

There are three types of cloud backup methods: full, differential, and incremental. 

Let me now dive into each of the above types in detail.

• Full cloud backup: This type of cloud backup means that you copy everything essential and cannot afford to lose. This is the first copy, and it is the most reliable one because you can make it without any additional tools.

• Differential Cloud Backup: A differential backup and incremental backup (I will dive into it next) have the same basic structure. Differential involves backing up new files or those that underwent some changes. You will re-copy all files created from the original backup always. I recommend that you should not carry out differential backup manually. 

• Incremental cloud backup: This backup model require more care than the rest as it involves making copy files taking into account the changes they might have undergone since they were last backed up. For instance, you do a full backup, and once you are done, you go ahead with incremental backup. Here you create two new files. The system will detect all the original full backups and remain the same, and it will only back up the newly created files. Incremental backup saves time and space. In addition, there are fewer backup files to be stored compared to the full backup model. However, like in differential backup, don't carry out incremental backup manually; that is my recommendation. 
  

As I stated earlier, backing up stated earlier in the days. It is essential to know when to store your backups. There are different ways to store backups, including traditional methods and newer advanced ones. The types of storage media have changed over the years, seeing when they were invented later. 

There are numerous backup storage media such as DVDs, CDs, Blu-Rays, punch cards, floppy disks, external hard disks, and cloud storage services. 

Before you decide where to save your backups, it's good to figure out how long you want the backup to be stored in the medium. Each medium has its life span, as shown in the table below:

What tasks do online backup services perform?

Online backup services usually include a Web-based admin console that allows you to access the data and monitor the health of your backups. The backed-up files are encrypted and stored in the provider's data centers.

Before choosing an online backup service, its good to consider the pros and cons of the service:

Advantages of online backup services

1. The cloud is scalable. This means that if your data grows, your cloud backup will still accommodate your backup needs. However, it would be best to be wary of the increasing cost as the data grows. Therefore, it is good to delete or archive data you no longer need. 
2. It is simple to manage cloud backup because online backup service providers do much of the work compared to other backup models.
3. Cloud data backups are not prone to a high risk of backup failures. However, you can lose data due to physical damages, accidental overwrites, or improper storage with other forms. 
4. Online backup services are available anywhere and across devices.
5. Online backup services are secure from malicious ransomware attacks. Cloud data backup is done outside your network, and it is encrypted before it is transmitted from your site/source to the cloud.  
6. It is cheaper to backup your data online than other backup models for large data volumes. In addition, some providers offer free cloud backup options for a specific memory volume or time. 

Disadvantages of online backup services

1. Backup cost increases as you increase the amount of data in their storage.
2. The cloud backup speeds depend on latency and bandwidth. This means if you have many users connected to your internet network, your backup process might be slower. It can be a bigger issue when conducting a data recovery operation.
3. Your data is moved from your locality or device to an outsider provider. Therefore, it is good to understand your provider's physical security procedures, fiscal viability, and equipment used.

What are the best cloud backup service providers?

Choosing the best cloud backup vendors can be a challenging task. Before you settle on one, review their SLAs, long-term costs, security, and pricing plans. The table below shows some of the best cloud backup service providers:

Conclusion

It goes without saying that data loss can be very costly to any of us, and backups should be part of cyber hygiene for everyone. In a sense, backup is intended to protect your data investment. Now let's think ahead so as not to lose this investment. Cloud backup is one of the best options to keep your data safe.