Remote Backup Options for Small and Medium Business

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Remote Backup

There are a lot of easy and powerful Internet backup software. Remote data backup software helps to backup and restore data from any place with an Internet connection. The Internet backup software is easy to set up, extremely secure, recovers fast and is available in affordable prices. Software automates the entire backup process. Files are scrambled and password protected, cataloged and transferred off-site without any human activity. Whether you want to back up your own computer, or if you have an internet host and want to share it with others, then software is the reliable, affordable, secure solution. From the friendly user interface of software you can perform secure and encrypted backup or restoration operations.

Online Internet backup is automatic, reliable and secure. Once online backup software is installed and backup sets are arranged, backups start automatically. Online backup offers continuous backup, recovers data fast and lowers costs. Online Internet backup provides scalable and offsite data backup. A copy of your data is stored remotely online, to help you recover it in the event of an unexpected problem.

The Internet backup process is sometimes called remote backup. For years, large mainframe computers have been remotely backed up. Now, the right combination of hardware and software has made remote backup a reality for personal computer users, too. It not only makes sure that the backup process is functioning, but also tests how you will access data if your server becomes unavailable.

Backups are solid, increasing and create interruptions. Therefore they work fairly well on a dial-up connection. If you have a lot of data, the initial backup takes some time. Once the initial backup is performed, only individual file changes have to go up. Therefore the amount of data going out through the modem is small. Both a windows backup client and a web client exist. The windows client provides the backup and easy restore functions. The web client has more powerful restore options and manages online data store. It has advanced collaboration features such as sharing files and folders with colleagues, mailing of very large attachments and the ability to access data from anywhere on the Internet. Internet backup uses the Internet connection to send data to a secure remote server. Unlimited storage is available, but costs and Internet speed impose practical limits.

Remote Backup 

Remote data backup plays a very significant role in your day-to-day lives. Your data is crucial to your business. If it is absent then you no longer have a client contact list, financial information or application critical information. If in case you lose your data, it would more than likely take one or more employees up to two weeks to re-enter. This is obviously not an attractive scenario.

Remote data backup is very essential because data loss can occur due to a power outage, fire or hard drive crash. Data loss can mean disaster. It can mean hours of frustration, costly replacement, and significant revenue loss. Nearly one in four computers has lost content to hackers, viruses, blackouts, or electrical failure, and more than two thirds of computer users fear data loss to viruses or hackers, according to a survey by Bruskin Research. Sixty nine percent of business computer users back up their data less than once a month if ever.

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Remote Backup 

Offsite backup over a network:

Offsite backup over a network:

Most backup programs support network backup, and the way to use this is simple. Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) usually feature "network drives", which appear to your computer as an ordinary drive. They often have names like M:, N:, O: and so on. Depending on permissions set up by the people administrating your network, you may be able to write to certain drives but not read from them, or you may not be able to change or delete data once it's written. These are common situations, but they should not affect the way you back up.

Once you have found a suitable location for your data - your administrator will be able to help you with this - backing up can be as easy and fast as with an external drive. Select the appropriate drive and the data you want to save and that's it. Even though a network connection is usually not as fast as a local cable, this is just a matter of waiting. Most programs allow you to set a backup timetable, which is a great way to take the effort out of backup. If you leave your computer on at night, then setting an incremental backup every second day at 2am, for example, ensures the safety of your data. A possible disadvantage here is that if your network goes down, you might not be able to get your data back for some time. Laptop users might not always be connected to the network at the scheduled backup time, defeating the purpose entirely.

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Remote Backup 

Offsite backup through FTP:

Offsite backup through FTP:

Another form of offsite backup uses a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server over the Internet. FTP is traditionally used to move large files online and can reliably transfer any files of any size.

To access data stored on an FTP server, you can use your backup program, a special FTP client or just a regular web browser. While there are two "types" of FTP server, public and private, you will almost certainly be using a private server, which requires a password to access your data. Advantages of this method include that you can view the files stored on the FTP any time you wish using any FTP client, mobile users can back up from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, and FTP backup can be somewhat cheaper than a specialised remote backup service.

The main disadvantage inherent in this method is data security. The FTP protocol is not secure, and even a private FTP account does not ensure the security of your files; it only protects access to the FTP server. Anyone with access to your username and password has access to your data. Added to this, unless you take steps to protect it, your data will be unencrypted as it travels to the FTP server, and could possibly be intercepted. We recommend that you encrypt your files before sending them.

One option is to store your data in a standard password-protected ZIP archive. This is a quick method that allows you to extract your files on any computer using any ZIP client. There are ZIP programs that provide tighter security by applying stronger encryption algorithms, like AES or Blowfish. This increases the security of your data, but to decrypt your files you may need to use the program that encrypted and backed them up.

To obtain access to a private FTP server, find a good hosting company (try searching with Google) and compare based on price and location - companies with servers based in your country will usually be faster. Beware that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might charge you for the data you send, so you may wish to make incremental backups over FTP, which only backup what was changed since your last backup.

Remote Backup 

Even though backing up files has been emphasized for years as a security measure to prevent data loss, too many people are still learning through bitter experience that backups are essential. This may be due, in part, to confusion over the many options available for external storage of backup files.

As internal hard drives have increased in size, the media required to back up essential files has also changed. At one time, it was possible to back up all necessary files on a series of floppy disks. Today, the time and number of disks required for such a procedure would be prohibitive. Even Iomega Zip disks, which hold many times the data of a floppy, are no longer large enough for the number of files most users need to back up.

There are basically three choices for external storage of backup files. Removable media such as CD or DVD-ROM, a separate external hard drive, or a remote backup service accessible through the internet.

Using CD or DVD-ROMs is the least expensive option. Many software manufacturers have backup software available that will create archives which can then be written to a CD or DVD. However, even though some DVD-ROMs can hold more than 8 gigabytes of data, because hard drives continue to grow even this option may require multiple disks and more time than many users have. This may lead those selecting this option to perform backups less frequently than they should.

More and more users are opting for external hard drives to store their backup files. Software can be configured to perform automatic backups and send the data directly to the external hard drive with no input required from the user. However, the distinct disadvantage of this system is that the data cannot be stored offsite, as the external hard drive must have a persistent connection to the computer being backed up.

A third option is emerging in the form of remote backup services. These are websites that allow users to upload data files and retrieve them later in case they need to restore the files. This allows offsite storage of backup files, however, this system requires a user to have internet access which might not be available in certain types of emergencies. Additionally, users should not rely exclusively on remote backup services to preserve their data as companies do go out of business, particularly web-based companies.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Computers, Aging, and Education.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadenc

Remote Data Storage and Protection 

Remote Data Storage and Protection

Online or remote data storage and protection, both for companies and individuals, has become the need of the hour. It is very essential for companies and individuals who do not possess any strong and robust resources of their own to go in for services and products being offered by data storage and protection firms. There are instances when people prefer storing all their vital data in a particular facility such as their system or some computer located somewhere. In such cases they face a huge risk in the form of complete loss of all their data in case of any catastrophes or disasters like theft, fire, foods, earthquakes, etc. Entire original as well as backup set of information and data will get completely destroyed.

There are several efficient options available in the market today such as MirrorDisk whose entire data storage and protection functions are completely automated and safe. They take care of automatic daily backup of all the required data, a complete backup of the entire system periodically, easy recovery and safe archival of all old data. All these tasks are carried out really fast and do not consume much time. MirrorDisk offers smooth functioning where their backup system is working in the background and users can go about doing their daily work and handling of applications. There is absolutely no friction or interference with any workings of the user. It looks into backup of the data to such an extent that even when there are open files, which are being worked up on, are saved and stored safely.

MirrorDisk also provides such as all around the clock access to stored data, real time maintenance of data backup, smooth recovery and archival of the data. Whenever the user's system crashes or any disasters occur and the entire original data is lost, MirrorDisk will produce CDs of the entire data content so that it can be easily restored on the user's system. There maybe times when such an occasion may never arise, even then MirrorDisk will provide a complimentary set of CDs annually as a part of data archive. They also provide facilities for remotely managing the stored data and encryption options if such a service is requested for.

Virtualization of Data Storage 

Virtualization of Data Storage

Many IT companies these days are adopting the strategy of reducing their data storage and maintenance costs by storing their data remotely online or at some centralized location. Remote data management is also raising new risks and challenges these days. One of the biggest crisis being faced these days in the world of data protection and storage is which procedure should one follow in order to carryout safe and robust backup for your systems and data. But there are times when you can never predict what calamities can befall on you and may end up losing all the vital information and data stored on your system. In such scenarios it becomes very essential to go in for the option of online data backup.

This is a very effective precautionary measure which helps you to save copies of your data files in some location that cannot get damaged at the same time as your system. The technology staff is now heading for utilizing on the new virtual data storage facilities available so that they need not keep sending backups of their data to remote locations. There are times when certain failures affect only a small amount of people but there are times when calamities strike and thousands of people can get affected. Latest advents in technology have introduced a new methodology called as virtualization of data wherein clever data management techniques are made use of in order to take back up of vital data periodically and store it in a safe location.

This is made possible by maintaining a direct link between the software application and hardware, where both can be functioning simultaneously. Virtualization technology is proving to be very beneficial for data protection and storage. As it is helping to reduce all the over all management and service costs. It is bringing about a revolution by transforming the entire way in which data is handled and managed. Unlike the server version, virtualized data storage removes any dependency software has on any hardware for data protection and management. There are several benefits because data can now be moved from one area to another without affecting any application that is dependent on it.

Remote Backup 

As an emerging industry remote data backup has really taken off. Most commonly remote file backup services allow you to log into a remote drive and via a web based interface upload all your critical files. 5GB of storage space is the entry point for most of the remote data backup services and this is provided at a low cost. Knowing that your data is being stored in a secure facility that's deliberately protected against harm allows you much greater peace of mind.

The weak point here however is the data transfer speed. Unless you're operating a high speed LAN in your company then remote backup can be a complete waste of time as you're tied to the maximum upstream speed of your network - which can be surprisingly slow depending on your IT infrastructure. Add in the issue of firewalls blocking uploads on certain ports and it can quickly become a real IT headache.

So how do achieve a Win-Win scenario? Blended backup! Look at utilizing both of these forms of backup. In an ideal world you'd store a local copy of your data and then upload an exact copy of that data to the remote file backup server. If money is an issue then store your bulk data locally but copy your mission critical data to the remote backup service. That way in the worst of disasters you'll still have the data you need to actually function as a business. That's not to say that bulk data such as archived email is not important but that old data could be recovered in time by a data recovery specialist whereas you mission critical data needs to be available at a moments notice.

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