Expert interview on the topic of backup services

In an interview with Paulo Charrua, our Managed Solutions team leader, you will learn more about the importance of backup solutions.

What criteria are most important when choosing the right backup service for an SMB?

When choosing the right backup service for a small and medium-sized business (SMB), various criteria must be taken into account. In addition to price, various aspects such as reliability, data security, automation, recovery speed, scalability, support, security and encryption, etc. are crucial.
Of course, you also have to be aware that a backup solution as a service does not always offer the same range of functions as a tailor-made solution. Therefore, it is important to understand the customer's needs before considering such a solution. Ultimately, it is important to know the customer's needs and inform them about the various options so that they can choose the solution that is optimal for them with a clear conscience.

Why are the costs for different data volumes for backups so high?
What are the cost drivers and how can an SME make sensible savings on backups?

Larger amounts of data require more storage space and a more powerful infrastructure. This inevitably leads to higher costs for hardware, software and maintenance. As the amount of data increases, the bandwidth for data transmission also increases, which in turn causes additional costs for the Internet connection and increases the demands on network resources. There are also costs for redundancy, energy consumption, data security and, last but not least, support and service.

In order to save costs when backing up data, it makes sense to first analyze the data carefully and decide which data is relevant and absolutely needs to be backed up in order to achieve data reduction. However, this question is not always so easy to answer:
For example, is it enough to just back up the data or is it better to back up the entire server so that it can be restored as quickly as possible in the event of a failure?
Do I do incremental or differential backups?
How long should the storage period be?
(It should be noted here that backups are not archive solutions, but are only intended for emergencies.)
Does the provider use deduplication/compression?
These and a few other aspects help to optimize the costs of my backups.

Do you become heavily dependent when using a particular backup software?
And how complicated is the migration to another solution or to another provider?

Dependence on a particular backup software and the complexity of migrating to another solution or provider depend on various factors. Most providers use proprietary technologies and formats that generally make migration to another software solution impossible. In my opinion, however, there is no strong dependency on the provider because, on the one hand, customers can usually cancel their contracts and, as already mentioned, backups are not archive solutions, so that if you change, for example, you keep the old solution for the duration of the retention period and then starts with the new provider with the new solution. Of course, it would be ideal if the new provider uses the same solution, but even then you will usually not be able to import the existing backup data, at least not as long as it is a Software as a Service product.

As an SME, you can also rent inexpensive file storage in the cloud instead of a full-service backup and thus install a free solution for creating backups.
Are there any dangers and what are the disadvantages?

Yes, it is entirely possible for SMBs to use low-cost cloud storage such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google One, etc. as well as a free backup solution. However, there are some risks and disadvantages associated with this approach. Let's start with inexpensive file storage. Although these are generally quite reliable these days, a backup is essential. Regardless of the provider, failures can always occur, even with large providers. There are numerous examples of this from the past.

However, I see the problem not primarily in choosing a cost-effective provider for file storage, but rather in backing up the data free of charge. There are always reasons why a solution is free and these are usually associated with various types of limitations, such as a greatly reduced range of functions of the software solution, the sophistication of the software, reliability and then often a lack of support or Customer service.

Are there any special security precautions that need to be taken when backing up sensitive data? - Which?

Protecting sensitive data is crucial in our digital world. Security precautions when backing up such data are therefore essential. First, backup data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Access to the data should then be carefully considered and limited to an absolute minimum. Backup data should always be stored in separate environments (production and backup). Regular tests should be carried out. Geo-redundant storage of backup data at multiple locations can also help minimize risk. Implementing these security measures, even if they are not exhaustive, helps companies effectively protect their sensitive data.

Aside from the obvious difference in speed, are there any significant differences between using SSDs or HDDs with the backup provider? - Which?

Aside from the speed of hard drives, both SSDs and HDDs can achieve high writing and reading speeds. Both technologies have their advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately they can provide reliable backup solutions in various scenarios. It is important for the customer that there is enough bandwidth as well as write and read speeds available to be able to back up the data in a reasonable time. In addition to the hard drive speed, other factors such as bandwidth and write speed are also crucial for efficient data backup.

We would be happy to support you with our offers in the area of Data Backup. As a reminder: Microsoft does not back up Exchange Online and only ten days of retention for Microsoft SharePoint. As a customer, you therefore have to take care of an adequate backup. That's why we have expanded our redCLOUD backup solution to include specialized M365 plans.

Contact Contact us at any time with your concerns – we are there for you!

Expert backup services
Paulo Charrua
Team Leader Managed Solutions