Cloud Backup Best Practices

Do you frequently worry about your hard drives crashing, or struggle to find enough space to store data locally? If you answered yes to either scenario, having a cloud backup for all your data storage needs is the solution you’re looking for.

Cloud backup refers to having a copy of your data in an offsite, cloud-based storage system instead of a local storage device such as a hard drive or server. Cloud backup enables you to securely transfer data over the internet and store it in a remote server typically managed by a third-party service provider. It helps protect your data in the case of a security breach, natural disaster, or on-site system failure.

This article explores how cloud backup is a better data storage option than traditional backup methods. We also give you seven best practices for backing up your data on cloud storage.

What are the advantages of cloud backup?

Cloud backup offers significant advantages over conventional backup methods.

First, it is cost-effective since cloud backups don't require purchasing hard disks, servers, or other hardware.
Cloud backup is highly scalable, as users can easily add storage capacity as needed without purchasing or maintaining additional hardware. You can upgrade your storage plan with the cloud backup provider as your data volume increases.
Cloud backup offers greater flexibility and convenience than traditional backup methods. Data can be easily accessed and restored from any location with an internet connection. This makes work simpler for remote or mobile workers
Most importantly, cloud backup can provide greater security than traditional backup methods. Cloud backup service providers use advanced encryption and security measures to ward off unauthorized access to data or theft. Many providers offer additional security features such as multi-factor authentication and access controls.

Seven cloud backup best practices

A well-thought-out and reliable data backup plan is crucial for any business. It is the only way to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster or an unexpected data loss. Let's look at the top best practices associated with cloud backup.

Regular backups

Backing up data routinely is the foundation of any backup strategy. For this, you can perform manual backups daily or at least once a week. You can also automate the process and set a schedule for daily, weekly, or monthly backups. This helps ensure that your data backup is always current and available for recovery in any eventuality. You can also find options that let you backup your data in real-time.

3-2-1 rule

It is a bad idea to rely on only one backup method. Instead, you should follow the 3-2-1 rule. It involves having three copies of your data, two of which are stored on-site in different devices or platforms, and one copy that is stored offsite. For instance, one backup could be stored on an internal server, another on a high-capacity hard drive, and the third on a cloud server. The 3-2-1 rule is an effective way of building redundancy into your data backup strategy.

Offsite storage

Businesses that don't have the resources or budget to follow the 3-2-1 method can prioritize backing up data offsite. Keeping a copy of your data offsite is critical to protect against natural disasters, theft, or technical faults. Storing data on the cloud provides an easy and secure way to ensure your data is always available for recovery, even if the primary storage system were to be damaged.

Think about endpoints

Simply backing up your primary database isn’t enough. Endpoints such as laptops, tablets, and mobile devices cannot be overlooked in any effective backup strategy. These devices may contain critical data that can be easily lost, stolen, or damaged. Including endpoints in your backup strategy is vital to ensuring that all your data is protected.

Encrypt your backup

Encryption adds an extra layer of security to your data. Many cloud backup providers usually offer encryption options as a standard. Encrypting your data ensures it cannot be accessed accidentally by unauthorized players or maliciously by hackers and cybercriminals.

Monitor backup performance

Keeping a sharp eye on your backup performance helps flag potential issues with the backup process such as slow backups, failed backups, and incomplete backups. Monitoring also helps ensure that all backups are running according to a pre-set schedule, especially if you have set up automated backups.

Test your backup plan

It’s always a good idea to test your cloud backup systems rigorously to ensure you can recover your data easily. Testing helps identify potential backup strategy issues and fix them before it's too late. Make sure to test your backup recovery plan at least once a year. You should ideally test more often than that if your business generates and backs up huge volumes of data.

Secure your data with American Cloud

Are you looking for cloud-based solutions that can help lower operating costs while making your data infrastructure more efficient? American Cloud offers premium data backup systems you can rely on at a fraction of the cost you’d expect.

We are the smart choice when it comes to multi-service cloud platforms. All our products and solutions are customizable to your specific needs, whether you are a large corporation or a small neighborhood business.

At American Cloud, we offer professional services to help businesses migrate to the cloud and optimize their digital transformations. Our team of experienced professionals can help businesses with everything from cloud planning and design to implementation and reliable support.