How To Find The Best Cloud Backup For Small Business

Cloud backup of data can mitigate the problems caused by data breaches, emergencies like hurricanes, and human error by giving businesses almost instant access to their data at any time of the day or night.

Not every cloud integration solution is suitable for every business, however. Many features, like storage limits and price, vary from solution to solution. Small businesses in particular need access to reliable but cost-effective solutions for off-site data storage.

The good news is that there are many options available for these businesses. In order to choose the best cloud backup for small business, each company should evaluate the following features to make sure that the solution they choose meets their unique needs.

Compliance

Businesses must comply with certain requirements in order to keep customer data safe. Most small businesses, for example, must meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards in order to properly secure customers’ financial information. Businesses in the healthcare industry need to comply with HIPAA regulations.

Any cloud backup solution you choose should meet or exceed the same compliance standards you need to follow for securing customer data. For example, businesses in the healthcare industry will need to find a solution that is HIPAA compliant. Most small businesses will need a backup solution that is PCI compliant.

Ensuring that your cloud backup is compliant with industry-appropriate regulations can save you headaches in the future and give you the peace of mind of knowing that your customer data is safe, even when it is away from your physical computers and storage devices.

Security

Regulatory compliance is not the only security issue small businesses should consider. The overall security their cloud backup solution provides is also a critical aspect to investigate.

The amount of security a business requires for their data will vary depending upon the company, the industry, and the specific circumstances of the business. However, the best cloud backup for small business should provide the following at a minimum:

· End-to-end encryption (preferably 256-bit)

· Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certified

· Segmented access so only users who need the information have access to it

· Reliable firewall protection

· Intrusion detection

Disaster Recovery Plan

The primary advantage of storing data on the cloud is to have immediate access to it in the event of a disaster, like a data breach or human error. Fast restoration of your files is a must in order to prevent costly downtime for your business.

As a result, any cloud backup solution you choose for your small business needs to include a disaster recovery plan that restores your data to you right away. You should expect 24/7 access to your data and restoration capabilities that are on the scale of minutes or maybe hours, not days.

Storage Limits

Technically, the cloud offers almost unlimited storage of data. However, many cloud backup solutions place caps on the amount of storage you can use. These caps typically include restrictions on the number of machines you can backup and the amount of data you can backup (i.e. 2 TB, 5 TB, etc.).

Increasing the amount of storage you use or the number of devices you backup can increase the cost. Small businesses, therefore, need to find a cloud storage solution that offers them enough capacity without charging them for more storage than they need.

In order to choose the right storage capacity, consider factors like whether or not you need unlimited machine storage, whether your data storage is measured in GB or TB, what types of files you want to store, and so forth. The good news is that there is enough variety among cloud backup solutions that you should be able to find the right storage capacity for your needs.

Scalability

Related to the amount of storage you need for your business is the ability to increase or decrease that storage as needed. The best cloud backup for small business allows these businesses to change their storage capacity as needed.

To that end, select a solution that has multiple storage options and that offers a simple process for moving from one storage plan to the next. You can also choose a plan that offers unlimited storage, but you will pay more for that feature.

Backup Frequency

The frequency with which your files back up to the cloud is another important factor to consider. Backup plans vary widely in their backup frequency. Many allow you to choose from a number of options. often including the following:

· Instant backup or syncing

· Hourly

· Daily

· Weekly

· Monthly

You will also need to consider how long your backup solution keeps copies of your old files. For example, a service might keep old versions for just a day, for 30 days, or indefinitely. Make sure you can keep your old files as long as you need.

Support

The best cloud backup for small business offers round the clock support and multiple points of contact. Choose a solution that is responsive, easily available, and accessible at any time of the day or night to answer your questions, troubleshoot issues, and offer you support as you use the backup solution.

Pricing Structure

Price is always a consideration for small businesses. Cloud backup is a worthwhile investment, but you still need to be able to afford it. To that end, look for a solution that offers the pricing structure that works within your financial needs. Pricing often varies based on the following factors:

· Amount of storage

· Number of machines

· Number of files

· Length of archiving

· Annual or monthly rates

Make sure you understand the pricing structure of any cloud storage solution you look into, and choose the one that fits your company’s financial picture the best.

Small businesses should back their data up into the cloud for greater security and accessibility. In order to find the best cloud backup for small business, consider factors like compliance, security, disaster recovery plans, storage limits, scalability, backup frequency, support, and pricing. The best solution is out there. If you need help finding it, reach out to TARC. We can provide you with the cloud solutions that will benefit your small business over the long term.