Advancements in cloud storage continue to extend options for disaster recovery plans and can mean significant cost savings for your organization. There are many ways to back up data, but the cloud is certainly more than just a trend when it comes to disaster recovery.
It’s always there
Keeping critical records off-site is an essential step in a good disaster recovery plan. Any number of disasters could destroy on-site records, and keeping them all in one place is not sustainable. The cloud is always there.
Data recovery
Keep in mind, accessing data on the cloud does require an internet connection, so it’s important to understand bandwidth requirements. Consider not just how much bandwidth is needed to move the data to the cloud, but also how much will be needed to access the data after a disaster strikes.
The data is in the cloud, but where do you need it to be? If you’re planning to transfer data from the cloud back to on-site infrastructure, be sure your disaster recovery plan accounts for how long that transfer of data is going to take. You know where your data is, but you also need to know how fast you can get it where you need it.
Cost
Storage space costs money, but when it comes down to it, cloud storage is cost effective. Using cloud storage for your disaster recovery plan saves on the amount of hardware you need to maintain. Cloud storage also tends to be flexible, allowing you to pay for as much or as little as you actually need.
Security
When it comes time to recover your data from the cloud, you want to know that it’s all there and has been safe in the meantime. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to using cloud storage for disaster recovery is the security issue . With information floating around in the cloud, how safe is it really? That’s going to depend on a few different things. To mitigate the risk and protect your data:
- Make sure your cloud vendor meets your security requirements
- Limit access to those who really need it
- Update passwords frequently
- Use a two-factor authentication process
- Encrypt the data you store on the cloud
When you use cloud storage for disaster recovery, no one’s going to trip over your data during an evacuation. It’s off-site and safe. You can store as much data as you need on the cloud without worrying about physical space, and it will be there when you need it as long as you understand limitations and security.
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