Why You Shouldn't Rely on Cloud Storage Alone to Keep Your Data Safe
- Alexa Davis
- March 15, 2024
- 11:56 AM
- No Comments
The growth of cloud storage has been fantastic for businesses. The ability to access your files and app data anywhere, anytime aids data backup, remote working, and collaborative project work enormously. It's also great value compared to physical media. Major providers such as Microsoft OneDrive offer accounts with plenty of online space. However, it's critical to have a backup Plan B for your data in place if you're working to professional standards. Cloud backups are the answer.
What's The Difference Between Cloud Storage and Cloud Backup?
Cloud storage is just that - storage. It might be on someone else's server, but it's subject to much the same limitations and risks.
Although your cloud account is stored and administered remotely by a third party, it functions almost identically to your local hard drive or a removable USB stick. It also has the additional complication of a public-facing login (username and password prompt) before you can access files.
While these factors might seem trivial alone, they can stack up to cause painful headaches in certain situations with only a cloud storage data plan in place.
Users often find themselves inadvertently losing crucial files on the cloud via accidental revisions, deletions, and auto-updates wiping older copies – especially when accounts are accessed by multiple users. Local-to-cloud copying policies can also mean that auto-sync sometimes captures malware and infected files from disk drives, spreading spyware onto the cloud drive. And if the single cloud access password is lost or changed against your will, the data held is locked away forever.
The Value of Cloud Backups
The best way to avoid disaster as a business is to invest in a third-party, remotely managed cloud backup service. Cloud backups combine the advantages of cloud storage's auto-sync with rolling saves of files and OS images, all stored in a secure remote account.
What makes a cloud backup service so different from a storage account? Backup apps dispense with the drag-and-drop, collaborative link model that governs the cloud. Instead, they integrate into the OS and File Explorer itself, transferring entire blocks onto the cloud via a constant remote connection.
Cloud Backups Through an IT Support Partner
A network administrator manages backup policies for all registered machines from a central dashboard, setting schedules and policy choices for each drive. Membership is provided on a subscription basis or brokered via third-party support partners.
Active scans and checks keep a lookout for viruses or breaches, providing additional security to support the storage company’s internal safeguards. If your data is lost, the company responsible for hosting will work with you to recover your files.
Managed Cloud Storage and Backup Services From TMB
Cloud storage administration, installation, and security are at the core of our managed IT services. As a specialist cloud app and IT support provider, we offer full remote data backup and strategic file recovery planning as part of our tailored support packages. Get in touch today to learn more.
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