Businesses have had to deal with the largest health crisis in a century, a global epidemic that has permanently changed how we live and work, over the past few years.

While the crisis itself is something we'd all prefer to forget, the requirement for many firms to continue operating in the face of lockdowns compelled them to look into cutting-edge solutions. Although cloud computing is nothing new, over the past few years enterprises have begun to investigate platforms and infrastructure housed in the cloud in order to achieve enterprise mobility on a scale never previously seen.

What is Cloud Computing?

The hosting of software, platforms, and computing resources in remote data centres that are accessed through the internet is the most basic definition of cloud computing. Enterprise mobility, or the capacity to offer remote access to work resources so that workers can work from home, is a crucial component of cloud computing. The Cloud offers resources and services that are as diverse as the organisations that utilise it, from pre-packaged workplace productivity platforms like Microsoft 365 to the capacity to provision resources for the building of anything from SQL databases to custom web apps.

Remote backup services are just one of the many cloud options available. These services, which are also known as "cloud backups" or "managed backup services," make copies of data for recovery needs and store those copies on the servers of the backup service provider or in another cloud-connected storage facility. Even while cloud backups are becoming more and more common, most businesses still favour traditional on-premise backups for the time being.

What makes them different from their on-premise equivalents, and how do cloud backups stack up? Let's weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each, beginning with the on-premise backup option, which you may be more familiar with.

On-Premise backup solutions

The majority of enterprises still favour on-premise backups for data recovery despite the recent significant growth of cloud services… then why?

  • Compliance reasons.  Some of the most regulated industries, including healthcare and finance, require on-premise backups – or hybrid arrangements – for compliance reasons.
  • Tradition. Many organisations, especially those still reliant on legacy software programs, continue the use of on-premise backups simply out of habit. Having invested in the system, they’re keen to use it to get value-for-money.
  • Perceived security. Copying data to another on-site location gives peace of mind to some companies, and with the storage location being within the LAN (local area network) backup and data restoration activities can be performed without an internet connection.

 

Various types of storage media, such as network attached storage, servers, hard drives, discs, or tape drives, can be used by on-premise backup solutions.

Pros of On-Premise Backups

Offline Availability

The capacity of on-premise backups to function without an internet connection is their most obvious advantage. Even though the majority of businesses depend on the internet to run, it's comforting to know that in the event of a broadband outage, you'll be able to easily recover the data you require. Additionally, on-premise backups may be quicker and offer lower latency than cloud solutions when supported by a strong network infrastructure.

More secure (in some ways)

Cloud backups still require sending your data across the internet, opening it up to the chance (albeit remote) that a hostile actor can intercept and exploit it despite the fact that they normally employ end-to-end encryption to secure transiting data.

In contrast, on-premise backups are more safe because your data won't leave the boundaries of your trusted network and is always shielded by network security measures (like firewalls).

Configurability

Compared to their cloud-hosted counterparts, on-premise backups frequently offer more configuration options. You can supply as much storage as you require, and you and your tech team can perform backups as frequently as necessary. When your backup infrastructure is owned and managed by you, there are no usage constraints.

No monthly fees

While there are a variety of charges associated with on-premise backups, you are not normally charged a monthly subscription as is the case with cloud-hosted services. Even while the costs of operating and maintaining an on-premise backup might add up over time, they can be a compelling choice for companies looking to minimise fixed monthly costs.

Cons of on-premise backups

Your business will assume greater responsibility

At least when it comes to data backups, great power also comes with great responsibility. For an on-premise backup, you must either hire in-house staff or contract out the management of your backup system. Your backup infrastructure must be properly maintained and running in accordance with your regulatory duties, either by you or your tech partner.

Greater Physical Security risks

Large amounts of sensitive data kept on-site could be an alluring target for criminals, calling for a sophisticated and expensive variety of physical security measures. If you haven't already, you might be required to add CCTV, alarm systems, and controlled entrance to dissuade would-be criminals depending on how sensitive the data in your system is.

Such security precautions are typically implemented in the data centres that host cloud-hosted backup solutions, and they frequently additionally have 24/7 security employees for additional protection.

Disaster Vulnerability

From the perspective of disaster recovery, using an on-premise backup solution in isolation is never a good idea. If you keep all of your backup data in your office space, a fire, a flood, or any other hardware-related disaster could render it unrecoverable.

Operating an off-site backup with your on-premise system can reduce these hazards.

Scale-up costs

It requires purchasing and installing pricey gear to scale up your data storage or increase the computer power needed to execute your backup. The price of replacing such hardware when it reaches the end of its useful life must also be taken into account. Although there are no monthly membership fees associated with on-premise backups, the setup and expansion expenses can be astronomically high, especially for smaller enterprises.

Conclusion

It could be worthwhile to take into account the restrictions of your on-premise backup system. Although such solutions have their benefits, combining your on-premise solution with a backup solution that stores data off-site may help you achieve your data security goals. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-hosted backup solutions.

BCNS  – Ensuring that your technology is working for you

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