Posted on October 26, 2021
Backups & DR
Backup as a Service (BaaS) also known as cloud backup or online backup service, is offsite data storage where the contents of a hard drive are regularly backed up to a secure cloud based location via network connection.
The role of BaaS is to protect data from threats such as theft, disaster and user error. Backup as a Service (BaaS) is less complex to manage than alternative offsite services because data storage administrators can pass maintenance and management to the provider.
When you want to utilise backup as a service you need to invest in a service and sign up for it. Then you choose the specific services you wish to back up.
Once these selections are made and initial setup is complete the changes to your chosen data and any new data added are automatically backed up with online backup services instantaneously.
BaaS connects systems to private, public or hybrid clouds managed by third parties which benefits organizations in multiple ways including; recovery support, security and disaster recovery. Using cloud storage means that your data is geographically separated from you which increases security for your organization overall.
As a rule you should back up any work or data that cannot be replaced. Data that is instrumental to your organization, customer data and personal data should all be backed up.
Data is the foundation of most organizations today. Without business continuity in data heavy businesses, it wouldn’t be possible for them to thrive causing devastation for the vast majority of organizations.
Software as a Service (SaaS) customers in particular have concerns because SaaS vendors can’t guarantee a complete restoration of data that has been lost. Integrating SaaS with BaaS offers a complete recovery solution.
Traditional backup services have proven to be less than reliable when it comes to data protection with regular disruptions and loss of data. BaaS takes away these concerns by offering reliable coverage which protects your organization in a more comprehensive way.
There are countless benefits for BaaS, but one of the most important ones is ease of management. The trusty BaaS provider handles rotation of storage, moving data, integrity checks and deduplication.
Other benefits include:
Security methods used by BaaS are top of the range. The security protocols followed in the center where your data is stored should be made available to you and BaaS providers will be able to utilise advanced security safeguards such as encryption and firewalls.
A clear Service Level Agreement (SLA) with a precisely defined Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) must be provided by your backup as a service provider. These ensure that your organization will reap the benefits of easier recovery and improved business continuity.
The amount of data grows substantially as your organization grows which requires regular updating of your IT infrastructure by increasing the number of servers or upgrading storage facilities. BaaS offers cloud backup which means that you can get the required amount of storage immediately to match your needs.
Your cost of ownership is unquestionably reduced by enlisting in BaaS because your data is stored on their servers and hosted in secure data centers. Your organization is no longer responsible for hardware or supporting equipment.
Backup as a Service removes the need for you to deploy backup servers on premises and the maintenance of these servers. With BaaS, the provider maintains the hardware that stores your backup. They are responsible for preserving your data so that it can be recovered when needed.
Effective BaaS providers offer a range of services such as encrypted backups, regular backups and off site copies.
Encrypted backups allow you personal control over your data by locking it up with passwords meaning only your authorized users can access it.
Regular backups that backup all the selected files and folders. This full backup option is the most secure way of backing up files and folders to tape.
Off site copies are stored in external locations to the organization. This uses a facility that is not physically located near the organization’s core infrastructure.
Offering a collaboration of services means that BaaS providers can protect your data according to your organization’s specific needs.
When it comes to on premise backups we know that the infrastructure is located locally on your organization’s computers and servers. Thus making it easier to locate for threats. Whereas BaaS offers hosting on the provider’s server via a network connection, which in turn means higher levels of security and higher compliance for integrity of your data.
If your organization is looking to have access to unlimited storage, easy disaster recovery and to free up essential resources then BaaS is the most complete solution. Offering a level of disaster recovery and integrity that can’t be rivaled by traditional storage alternatives.