Cloud backup is a relatively new technology and is not fully understood. The idea is that information is stored in virtual reality, meaning that it is easier to get to in case of an emergency. There are many benefits to storing your backups on the cloud but there are also downsides and you will need to consider both.
The Pros to Cloud Backup
Something that will benefit many people is the fact that there are paid and free options for this form of backup. Free services often offer small amounts of space, which is perfect for those who want to backup their home computers. However, the paid services offer more space and better security, which is perfect for businesses.
The information that is stored on the cloud is available no matter where you are, as long as you have a connection to the internet. This means that you can be out of the office and access the cloud backup if you need to. There are now many companies storing information on the cloud to allow people to work from home one or two days a week, which is beneficial to hire employees who need to consider childcare.
With everything stored virtually, there is no need to find a space to store the information. This works very well for a disaster recovery system since there is no risk of losing information while moving to the location. There is also no risk of the information being destroyed by the disaster, if it is stored in the same office building.
There is no need to worry about the backup or the hardware that it is stored on. This is all run by the company that runs the cloud software. This means very little work for you; all you have to do is gather the information that you would like to put on the service and put it on there.
It is possible to update this information on a regular basis, which is great for those businesses that will need to backup information on new clients or customers or make regular updates to their software or documents.
The Cons to Backing Up Through the Cloud
The main downside is that you will need an internet access to place all your data on the cloud and regularly update it. You will also need an internet connection to access it at a later date. A the same time, that connection will need to be stable and strong to be able to do everything as the cloud backup process will take up a lot of it.
It is very important to read all the terms and conditions of any company that you backup through. There are some companies that put clauses in so that they can use the information too. This is very dangerous when it comes to sensitive information for a business, especially social security numbers and credit card information or for private and confidential information.
There is no guarantee that the company will remain open. There are many businesses closing down due to financial difficulties and this could happen at any time. This will mean that your cloud backup is completely lost and you will need to go through the whole process again. This could cause a major problem if you lose the company and your original information at the same time.
The hardware can break at any time – just like yours can. Most companies will not make a backup of your backup so if there is a problem with their hardware, your information will be lost. This runs into the same problem if the company goes out of business.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to cloud backup and it is up to you to go through them. This is relatively new technology and there are still teething problems with it. However, the benefits may make up for that, especially as the technology advances.
