Online data backup comes in many flavors, but the most usual architecture involves the transfer of knowledge across a WAN segment to the supplier that then stores important computer data.
There are various misconceptions about online backup and points to consider when deciding if online backup is proper for the business.

• I must have a enormous WAN connection to send all this data.
  

The vast majority of online backup solutions leverage data deduplication and compression and are also typically transmitting less that 1% on the total data set over the WAN.
Therefore, the WAN connection may be pretty modest.
This deduplication is tracked across sites, if personal files in site A resembles a file in site B, after the file in site A is copied merely the unique parts of the file in site B are delivered to the remote vault.
Most of the aforementioned companies support this capability.

That said, most enterprise customers tend to use a preexisting DS3 or better to link to the supplier.
The supplier will be able to assist you to determine what kind of communications link you'll require.

• Online data backup gets costlier over time.
  

Ironically, the traditional tape vaulting services have this problem a lot more than the electronic vaulting services.
Despite the fact that the likelihood of employing a tape which is 36 months old decreases with each passing day, traditional tape vaults still charge the same rate to store it.
Again, choice of the software programs are critical but a service provider with all the right software option can tier crucial computer data on different types of storage.
Some of the software in use by providers will allow for local storage of most recent data (for extremely fast recoveries and good for server rebuilds).
Tiers of storage may be put in place based on speed, capacity and cost within the remote vault.
Providers that support local caching of information and utilize a tier-pricing model include AmeriVault, Digitiliti and DS3 Data Vaulting.
While there are various variables and pricing really must be done with a case-by-case basis, the marketplace pricing for your "older" backup data should be approximately 30% of the price of the younger/fresh backup data.
Typically, this type of pricing is offered when a customer signs a three year to five year storage deal, with an option to renew.
So, if someone else is paying $2 per GB monthly, they might be paying under $.
60 per GB per 30 days to keep that data for five years.
Generally, the software that the supplier is using may be billed depending on the storage tier being used.

• It does not matter what hardware or software the service provider uses.
  

Understanding what software and hardware the supplier uses is critical.
There are many capabilities to look for in the software, however the hardware is equally critical.
Should you select storage hardware that efficiently stores data, is straightforward to manage and scales to quite high capacities, then the plumber can lower its costs and pass those savings through to you.
Look for name tier one or tier two storage manufactures.
As the company may survive an economic downturn, you would like to be sure the storage platforms they've got selected will, too.
Look for advanced features like storage virtualization, thin provisioning and automated tiered storage (most likely through the software or perhaps the hardware).
Exactly why are these essential to you? Understanding the sort of hardware the supplier uses provides you with some indication as to whether or not the service provider are going to be in a position to meet its SLA commitments.
While a broken SLA gives you something a reason to initiate legal action, it doesn't get crucial computer data back.

• It's difficult to begin with online data backup.
  

It isn't difficult to get going with online backup; it can be pretty easy, especially with the solutions that happen to be agentless.
The most beneficial practice would be to select a region in the enterprise that's been causing essentially the most challenges to the backup process, determine if that works well with the online backup approach, then while you build confidence within the solution, add more to it.
Initial backup may be handled in two ways.
First, it is possible to simply start the backup and let it churn through the process.
Determined by your computer data and the size of your WAN connection, this could take three days to four days to accomplish.
This process is especially viable with providers offering a local copy of the backup.
Backups might be protected locally and data can then "trickle" with the service provider as time passes.
One other method would be to have the company give you a local drive that's then shipped to the main site and copied into the vault as the baseline backup.
Is online data backup right for the enterprise? As always, the reply is "perhaps.
" You will find several different ways to improve your satisfaction with the data protection process, and certainly online backup is worthy of consideration.