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Practically every business today makes significant use of information technology to improve their efficiency in providing service to clients. With this technology there is often an increased level of risk and responsibility to manage it. Every additional system, software application, process and task (manual or automated) increases the quantity of data and data areas to be managed. While the risks and responsibilities are varied, the more serious ones are generally the most manageable. While absolute or even partial data loss can not be totally avoided at local level, increased broadband availability has made online backup available to most business users. This allows you to send your data in a securely encrypted format on a continual and automated basis to an area not at risk of the same incidents at the same time as your business and also with safeguards in place for multiple clients which would not be affordable at local level. In essence you are utilising a corporate solution but only having to pay for the piece you use.
While the concept of online backup is widely known, there is a list of questions common to most non online backup users which should be investigated before amending any backup system. The purpose of this document is to list and answer these questions so you can make informed decisions about online backup in relation to your own business. Our frequently asked questions section addresses common online backup related questions. This document differs as here we are addressing the areas which are commonly misunderstood. For that reason we would ask any non technical business users, typically management decision making level to read this document completely and not skip areas they feel they understand due to title of question or prior press release or general media perusal. The answers are purposely kept brief here to encourage you to read them in full.
What is online backup?
On-line backup is a system which through the use of software, hardware, a user account and third party service allows a business to securely backup their data to an off site location for retrieval on an as required basis.
How safe is online backup?
The data transferred and in transit through online backup is safer than the data on your computers. This is because online backup uses encryption to prevent unauthorised access whereas the data on your computers is available for any hacker to read. Despite the fact that most people understand this, it is common for people to have difficulty in accepting that the data outside is safer inside. Some people see online backup as somewhat intangible when compared to local backup. Hacking a computer is very easy when compared to hacking encryption. Encryption evolves as computer speeds increase to negate the possibility of hackers gaining any advantage with availability of faster computers for their unethical endeavours. In addition, even if you are never the victim of a hacker, your local data is at very high risk when compared to online data as the local investment in retention represents that of one organisation whereas the online storage location will be supported by the investment required to keep safe the data of inordinate quantities of critical data. If you see online backup as somewhat intangible, consider online backup users who suffered data loss. When their server and tapes were deemed useless, all they had was their online backup. When you need your online backup, it is not only tangible, it is the only tangible data restore facility you can have.
Are there any issues regarding online backup which potential users should be aware of?
Yes, as with all information technology systems, there are areas to be considered when upgrading a backup system from off-line to online. The following are areas you should take up with any intended provider and expect clear, concise, written answers. Our answers are presented here with the questions.
How do I restore my business data if my broadband is down?
If your broadband is required to backup online, it is logical to conclude that it is required to restore.
Most providers have no way around this very important issue. It is important because the problem is common. The need to restore generally indicated problems at the client site. Connectivity may well be one of many issues. Backupanytime, in addition to backing up online also provide the facility to simultaneously retain a local, encrypted data store of all online backup data. This allows users to restore without connectivity and at speeds far greater than general broadband would offer. In addition, we provide a “man in a van” service to allow on-site retrieval in an emergency. The latter service may incur a cost of service based charge. Please note it is not compulsory! We offer it because our system allows it.
Many don't and very few offer a local encrypted store of all data.
Does business online backup differ from personal online backup?
Considerably yes. Personal online backup is generally appropriate to very small quantities data and comes free without any support or availability guarantee. Personal online backup is inferior to not only business online backup but well managed off-line backup.
How do I know which data to select when using business online backup?
This issue is relevant to any data backup system. Not knowing what to backup is not a reason to decline online backup. It is a reason to find out what you need to backup. Once approached with intent, this issue is generally resolvable through simple delegation. Involve your local I.T. support, any third party data base software provider and your proposed online backup company.
How do I know if my business online backup system is working?
All reputable business online backup providers will run a managed service. This will involve not only daily backup notifications by email but direct communication from them by phone should more than two backups miss in succession.
Who should I call when I have a business online backup query or a need to restore?
You should have a general support number and an appointed account manager. The general support number should be your first point of contact for most queries and your account manager directly and immediately if you are unhappy with general support service.
What are my responsibilities and those of my business online backup service provider?
This should be and is in most cases a simple breakdown. You are responsible for data selection. Your online backup provider may assist you with this and have a knowledge base of systems you use. Ultimately however it is only you that can decide what you need. You are responsible for ensuring your system is left on during the specified backup period. Your service provider is responsible for automated backup related communication and person to person communication if you miss an agreed number of backups in a row.
How do backupanytime differ from other business online backup providers?
Very significantly. Here are a list of differences between our service and that of most other online backup services. We are not aware of any other provider worldwide who offers all of the following.
Local restore point
Our system allow the creation of a local restore point for all backups. This allows clients in a broadband down environment to restore any or all data to their system without waiting for connectivity. This can also be used while broadband is available if an inordinate volume of restore is necessary and would be deemed too slow over broadband for the time frame available.
Physical delivery of data
If broadband is down and local restore point store folders have suffered in the same outage we can have the data delivered by traditional “man in van” facility. This is only possible and safe because of the high level of encryption we use.
High level / multi type / multi level encryption
We use bank level encryption as standard. If you have ever used online banking you have used the type of encryption we employ. Also, we offer multiple encryption types. Some business users have a preference of one encryption type over another such as blowfish versus DES. We support all major industry encryption types. You can also amend the level of encryption within most encryption types. Greater encryption increases the timespan between data manipulation and transfer. THIS Allows your to implement the greatest encryption level to the overnight time frame for your office. This is only possible because of considerable investment in our software.
Client end encryption code generation.
Most providers issue you with an encryption code. This means not only that they could read your data but so could anyone who intercepts the code. With our system, you generate the code at your end and can change it with or without reference to us. This means that you and only you can de encrypt your data. We can not read your data.
Manual sign off on security and confidentiality.
We manually sign off on client security and confidentiality. We can only do this because of the encryption system we use. The vast majority of suppliers can not do this as they issue the code and therefore know that regardless of their bona fides they or anyone hacking their system could read your data.
If you would like to avail of a free, no commitment trial of backupanytime online backup, call us in strict confidence and we will arrange this for you.
Backupanytime, for responsible people and their important data.
