Why do we need backups?
Of course to avoid damage and loss of important data. Then who needs backups? In fact, all sectors require a backup service. Starting from the business and corporate sectors, the education sector, hospitals, creative industries, even to the needs of each individual. Backup is an important need in this digital era, because everything can be done online. In addition to data protection purposes, online backup is also useful for flexibility in data access. No more need to prepare and carry an external hard drive wherever you go. Backups that have been integrated with the cloud system can be accessed using a laptop, or only with the smartphone that is used.
There have been many applications and backup services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iBackup, and so on. Some of these backup services are free and some are paid. Of course, paid services have more complete features than free backup services. But of course for the needs of companies or large businesses it is not enough to just use these applications. Instead of entrusting backup needs to the backup service provider. Why? Because of course the backup service provider is more professional related to security, storage capacity, and has a 24/7 support system so that if an error occurs and so on, the user knows where to make a complaint and the technicians who are alert will help fix user problems quickly and accurately. target.
The Best Online Backup?
Online backup is considered the best and most secure type of backup of all types of traditional backups that still use disks, as well as external hard drives. This is due to several reasons including:
Data security guarantee
With the use of online backups that have been integrated with cloud computing systems, it is certain that the security of the backed-up data will be guaranteed not to be damaged, corrupted, or lost. Because usually the backup provider also has an additional package in the form of security and anti-virus to protect the security of the data that has been backed up.
There will be no data loss due to damaged or lost storage media or hard disk cases. Because all storage is integrated with the cloud system, where the data will be safe in a data center.
Easy and flexible access
Say goodbye to all kinds of hassles that result from having to carry an external hard drive with you everywhere you go. Because with online backup, all data can be accessed easily, quickly, and flexibly wherever you are. Simply accessed with a laptop, tablet, smartphone or whatever your gadget is as long as it is connected to the internet network.
Carrying an external hard drive wherever you go is also very risky, the risk of being damaged because it is often hit by other objects, falls, gets lost, or is exposed to viruses due to being frequently connected to different PCs or laptops. This is certainly different if you use an online backup service that has been integrated with the cloud system.
Easy data recovery
Backup will not have much benefit if it does not fulfill its main purpose, namely recovery and securing data. Backups will not work properly if the data that has been backed up is difficult to access, the data is incomplete according to the backup that has been done, damaged / lost, and so on. When something goes wrong so that data is lost, backup can function as data recovery.
Actually, to prevent damage or loss of data, you must pay attention to the backup process itself. The backup process must be carried out in a correct and structured way, so that data can be backed up correctly and perfectly. So that in the future, when you need the data, the data can easily be found and the backup can be your recovery plan.
Cost savings for the long term
At first glance, it may seem that the cost of online backups is slightly more expensive when compared to traditional backups via media such as external hard drives. But what is rarely realized is that traditional backup media has a lifespan. So after some time, the backup media will be corrupted and unusable after some time. Therefore, you need to buy a new device again to replace the old device.
This will be different if you use an online backup. With online backup, you only need to pay the initial fee. Then the next payment only applies if you want to increase the backup storage capacity.
Helping to focus more on the field of business that you run
If you rely on a backup service provider, you don’t need to think about maintenance, security, management, and so on because the service provider will take care of everything for you. You just have to focus on the business and the company you are running.
This is one of the conveniences in using the online backup provided by the provider. There is no need to have reliable technicians to manage IT-related problems because the support from the provider certainly includes everything that is supported by professional technicians in their fields.
Easy in operation and maintenance
Online backups do not require complicated maintenance, because basically online backups are easy to access. Users just enter the backup application and then can access the data online for 24 hours. As for maintenance, backup already has a well-integrated system so that only the provider of the backup needs to think about maintenance and its programs.
Regular data backup can be done every hour, every day, every week, or every month depending on the needs of each user who uses it.
Backup and Recovery
What things can be backed up? Of course, in addition to data in the form of files, documents, photos, videos, and so on, online backups can also include system and physical device backups or virtually which can include Windows, Linux or Mac OSX Desktop and Server. Another advantage is that several online backup service providers have also equipped their backup service packages with a high security system, which includes the protection of certain security technologies, password protection, and SSL security.
Online backups are easier and more flexible in terms of each user’s needs, because storage can be added quickly enough without upgrading to another account or migrating. In addition, online backups also have high availability where backups will be very less likely to be down due to a redundant cloud infrastructure system. There are so many advantages and disadvantages of online backup as mentioned above. But are there any problems or problems that are often encountered in backups? Of course there is. So, what are the obstacles in the backup?
Constraints in Data Backup
Data backup in a capacity that tends to be small, or a backup process that does not require large storage, and the amount of data backed up is not enough, then usually there will be a few obstacles that arise in the backup process. However, the more data, systems, and applications that are backed up, of course the process will be longer and time consuming, as well as other possible risks. Some things that may happen in the process of backing up large amounts of data include:
- Requires large storage or storage capacity
- Takes a long time in the backup process
- A connection or network that must be stable and not down so that the backup process can run smoothly
- The tools used for the backup process must be able to ensure that the backup process continues to run smoothly, both built-in tools and additional tools needed
The backup process itself varies, some are in the form of copying files in the form of the original files, but there are also those who transfer data by changing the original file formats to solid ones such as .zip, .rar, and so on. This backup can be done with the help of certain tools. You can use the default tools, additional tools, or a combination of the two. Apart from the fact that the backup process has several obstacles experienced, this tool will help all backup processes run successfully by helping simplify the files and data to be backed up.
The combination of backup tools widely used in Wide Area Network (WAN) environments such as in the data center can help make the backup process easier. When a number of files must be backed up in a large enough range, then these tools will be very helpful. In addition, other requirements needed to perform backups in a WAN environment include a stable and uninterrupted connection, large bandwidth so that the process can run smoothly, the availability of infrastructure components that must be provided to support the backup process, as well as administrators or administrators. technician in charge of backing up the data. The administrator must really understand the tools that are recommended or should be used for the backup process.
Additional backup tools from third parties are usually only needed and are used only when the default tools are used as much as possible and still require additional tools to maximize all processes and functions in the backup. But ideally what an administrator in a data center should do is to maximize the use of the built-in tools first, so that they can find out what things need additional tools from third parties in order to solve backup problems. Therefore, an administrator must be someone who is really skilled and thorough in his work.
Then how important are additional tools when compared to the default tools? What are the functions and uses of additional tools? There are several functions of additional tools in this backup process, some of which are:
Control the required bandwidth in the backup process
Classify and isolate the data to be copied
Set a schedule for copying files
Establish a connection between the storage destination and the virtual platform
Able to be a liaison between other backup storage locations
The challenge that is often faced by backup service providers is if the client wants a copy of his data abroad, not only domestically. This is a challenge because during the data transfer and backup process, the network and connection from the satellite must be completely stable and uninterrupted, especially if the data is in large amounts. The risk that often occurs is that the data is not fully backed up. So when a client wants to access one of the files and the file doesn’t exist, this will have an impact not only on the service provider but also on the client’s business continuity. Therefore, it is better to carefully consider the positive and negative sides of having additional backups located very far from the main data center, whether it is more profitable or even detrimental.
