Cloud storage is an important component of the overall data protection strategy in most enterprise organizations. Businesses commonly use cloud storage as a tier of storage to house backups. There is a concept known as direct-to-cloud backup. What is it? How do companies leverage this type of storage in their backup strategies?
Understanding Direct-to-Cloud Backup
Direct-to-cloud backup is a type of backup where you send backup data directly to the cloud. You don’t first have to save it on a local storage or backup server.
By using this model, you gain all the benefits of the cloud, including its scalability and accessibility, to ensure an efficient backup process.
If you are bringing your own backup software, to leverage direct-to-cloud backup, you would have to ensure the solution is capable of targeting cloud storage directly. Many have the concept of creating and using a cloud repository to target storage in the cloud backup provider.
How It Stands Out from Traditional Backup Methods
Traditional backup methods often involve local storage, like tapes or disks. Direct to cloud eliminates the need for such physical devices. Instead, an internet connection is the only requirement to send data directly to the cloud.
The benefits of direct-to-cloud include reduced costs (due to the elimination of physical hardware), enhanced data protection, and improved disaster recovery based on the resiliency of cloud storage.
Cloud Backup Vs. Cloud Storage
Let’s see if we can distinguish the differences between cloud storage and cloud backup. While related, they are two separate concepts. Cloud storage is the location where data is stored. Generally speaking, cloud storage is provisioned with one of the cloud hyperscalers, like Google, Microsoft, or Amazon and the backup files are stored there.
Cloud backup relies on cloud storage by default. In self-service configurations, organizations can use cloud storage they have already provisioned in their infrastructure-as-a-service environments. In SaaS backup solutions, cloud storage is included as part of the service.
Cloud storage tiers and backup strategies
Most modern cloud service providers offer tiered storage solutions. It is essential to understand these tiers, their characteristics, and their costs when architecting an efficient cloud backup strategy and configuring cloud backup vendor solutions. These tiers are often distinguished based on data access frequency, retrieval time, and associated costs.
Hot Storage: Fast and Accessible
Also known as high-performance storage, hot storage is designed for data that needs to be accessed frequently and quickly.
It’s best suited for critical business data regularly used by applications or end-users. The benefits come with a higher cost, as the emphasis here is on speed and responsiveness.
Applications in Backup Strategy: Hot storage is suitable for your backup solution to pull recent backups or data that needs to be restored immediately in case of failures, making it a pivotal component in ensuring minimal business disruption.
Cold Storage: Economical for Infrequent Access
Cold cloud storage is tailored for data accessed less frequently but needs to be retained for extended periods. It might include archived data, regulatory backups, or older backups retained for compliance purposes. Cold storage is significantly cheaper than hot storage, but there’s a trade-off: data retrieval times are longer.
Amazon S3 Glacier is an example of this cold storage type frequently used for data protection solutions for a tiered cold storage tier.
Applications in Backup Strategy: Cold storage can be an ideal solution for data that is not immediately necessary but still crucial for long-term retention. Think of backups that form part of a monthly or yearly recovery point or older backups that might be needed for compliance audits.
Balancing Cost and Accessibility
When integrating tiered storage into a backup strategy, organizations must balance cost and data accessibility. Hot storage ensures data is instantly available but comes at a premium. Cold storage is economical but might not be suitable for immediate recovery needs.
Organizations often employ a combination of these tiers. For example, an initial full backup might be kept in hot storage for a week, then transitioned to cold storage after a month, ensuring a blend of speed, availability, and cost efficiency.
Cloud Backup Service economics, recovery, and security
A reliable cloud backup service is more than just storage. It offers backup and recovery features, file sync capabilities, and data security assurance. When looking at a provider or solution, ensure it meets the requirements of your business in these areas.
Cloud backup providers like those offering cloud backup and recovery solutions also provide tools for efficient data management, allowing organizations to meet their recovery point objectives, which is extremely important.
The Economics of Cloud Backup
Cloud backup costs can vary. Factors like the amount of stored data, backup frequency, and the cloud backup vendor’s pricing strategy can influence the total cost. In addition, storage tiers are considered part of the pricing structure and will weigh into the overall cost.
Disaster Recovery and Cloud Backup
Disaster recovery involves two components: the backups and the ability to recover those backups. With cloud backup services, organizations have a better chance to recover data efficiently.
Tools provided by cloud backup providers ensure that data can be restored even in scenarios like cyberattacks or natural disasters.
Ensuring Data Security in the Cloud
While direct-to-cloud backup offers convenience, data security remains vital. Leading cloud service providers implement rigorous data protection measures, encrypting data both in transit and at rest. If you bring your own backup software to implement direct-to-cloud backups, be sure it includes data encryption in-flight and at-rest.
BDRCloud: Fully featured cloud backups
As an example, BDRCloud is a cloud backup & recovery solution that protects the wide range of infrastructure businesses use today, including SaaS environments like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. In addition, it protects endpoints ranging from Windows, Linux, and Mac and physical server endpoints.
Aside from your physical and SaaS infrastructure, BDRCloud also protects applications from Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint. It is a good example of an effective cloud backup solution that helps organizations meet data protection challenges today.
It is helping organizations shift away from on-premises-only backup solutions and leverage the power of the cloud for protecting critical data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do cloud backup solutions support virtual servers?
Most organizations are running on virtualized infrastructure. Tailored solutions are available for virtual servers to protect both physical and virtual environments. Most managed backup providers offer solutions for failover and fallback that allow site-level recovery.
What sets apart a cloud backup service provider from a managed data center?
While both handle data, their focus varies. Cloud backup service providers specialize in offsite data protection with dedicated backup tools. Managed data centers manage hardware and IT infrastructure, sometimes offering backup services.
How can I pick the best cloud backup service for my needs?
Evaluate the provider’s storage options, data protection strategy, recovery speeds, and costs. Also, consider integration capabilities with platforms like Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure. Reviews and trials can further guide your decision.
Wrapping up
Managed service providers can play an important role in a company’s backup strategy. They can offer cloud backup solutions tailored to business needs, ensuring frequent, reliable, and secure backups.
Direct-to-cloud backup provides an efficient, cost-effective, and secure means of protecting organizational data. As businesses continue to produce vast amounts of data, a reliable backup strategy partnered with a trusted cloud backup service provider cannot be emphasized enough. Investing in direct-to-cloud backup ensures that an organization’s data remains safe, accessible, and ready for recovery whenever needed.
Read More:
MSP Series: 3-2-1 Backup Rule with Disaster Recovery as a Service: Part 20
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