SMB Backup and Data Protection – What You Need To Know
Today’s small to mid-sized businesses, or SMBs, are creating more data than ever. Their growth calls for more robust solutions to back up their business-critical data.
Due to limited financial and IT resources, it is crucial for SMBs to know exactly what to look for in a backup solution. In this guide we’ll be outlining key criteria for SMBs to keep in mind when seeking out total data protection.
Before we jump into that criteria, it is important to understand why backup is critical for an SMB. Successful backup is the foundation for disaster recovery and business continuity. Without it, recovery and continuity cannot exist. Technologies that were created decades ago to store data are simply not enough. Antiquated methods, like tape backup, aren’t going to ensure data retention and recovery during business critical time windows.
When choosing a backup solution, like those offered by Unique Computing Solutions, SMBs should look for 6 important pieces of criteria: comprehensiveness, ease of use, recoverability, performance and reliability, affordability, and scalability.
COMPREHENSIVENESS
Small businesses generally do not have a dedicated IT department that can manage separate backup, recovery and business continuity solutions. Does the solution provide key functionality that is seamlessly integrated? A combination of on-premises and cloud-based services offer the best total protection for businesses of all sizes, especially small businesses.
EASE OF USE
As SMB employees tend to take on multiple roles at work, managing IT shouldn’t be one of them. Solutions that offer intelligent user interfaces and are also supported by a vast network of managed services providers are often the best choices.
RECOVERABILITY
Most SMBs carry less than a month of operating costs in cash, so downtime can quite literally ‘break the bank’. Instant recovery capabilities can remedy this. Hardware systems do sometimes fail, and at that point users can rely on instant virtualization of failed systems. The strongest of providers will be able to convert a backup into a running system in a matter of seconds. In the event of natural disasters, complete system replication is necessary, which allots users a complete infrastructure to host their business on.
PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY
It makes sense that quicker and more frequent backups limit data loss. So when choosing a reliable solution, SMBs should choose one that performs backups very often. An ideal solution is incremental backup, where the technology adds what you’ve changed or deleted, rather than backing up the entire volume of data repeatedly. This adds to a solution’s ability to perform more quickly.
AFFORDABILITY
SMBs likely do not have huge IT budgets. It’s common to outsource for an entire IT department, but that can be pricey. With limited financial and technical resources, choosing a backup solution can be a trying task. Many opt for cheaper solutions, which allot them less functionality. Cheaper solutions may seem like the right call in the moment, but down the road it can be quite costly when the solution doesn’t do all that an SMB needed to prevent downtime. It’s important to find the most cost-effective and affordable solutions-which won’t require sacrificing significant features and capabilities. Find out more about our affordable recovery solutions.
SCALABILITY
Successful small businesses often grow into larger businesses. With that comes the creation of more and more data. Alongside this growth is a need for more advanced backup and business continuity solutions. Unique Computing Solutions is highly experienced in working with the businesses of all sizes to continually provide a bigger selection of products and services necessary to meet evolving needs.
When selecting your backup and business continuity solution keep in mind the key elements you want to look for. Highly reliable solutions will yield full backups in a smarter, storage-saving way, limit downtime, and offer strong functionality at all levels. It is important to keep in mind your companies long-term goals. If you are growing at a healthy pace, search for a provider that can grow with you while catering to your budget. Remember, finding the best backup and business continuity provider for your business is the first step to safeguarding your business’s data and future as a whole.
Want to learn more about what backup and data protection features you should look for?
Talk with one of our Disaster Recovery Technical Experts today to start planning a solution that is unique to your needs.