We are willing to bet that every one of our readers has lost important data in the past. It might have been file corruption, the loss of a device containing important files, or even a hacking incident. However, in most cases, the root cause of data loss is a lack of foresight on the part of the user. If you are careful about doing regular backups of your most important data, you probably don’t have to worry about data loss ever again. We say “probably” because everything in the universe has the potential for failure. Still, regular backups have very little potential for such, and remote data backup is the most convenient kind of plan.
Reason 1: Most Of Your Data Is Stored On End-Use Devices
When we say “end-use device,” we are talking about your desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, etc. Although these devices can sometimes have impressively large hard drives, you should not use them as primary storage for important things. Any data that is truly important should be backed up elsewhere. Why is this true? Well, because devices crash all the time! When that happens, you can end up losing everything on the drive.
If most of your data is stored in these end-use devices, then you definitely need to use remote data backup. The only other option would be to regularly transfer files to external hard drives. Ideally, you should be doing both of these things: Transferring important data to an external drive while also backing it up remotely. If there’s anything more secure than one backup, it’s two of them.
Reason 2: You are Storing A Lot Of Crucial Data
If you are storing a lot of sensitive and/or important data, it becomes more important to back that stuff up regularly. You stand to lose a lot more from data loss, so greater precautions are a must. A lot of people advocate for the “3-2-1 rule” regarding backups, which is basically three rules in one:
3: Keep three backups of your most important files
2: At least two of those backups should utilize different storage media
1: At least one of those backups should be stored off-site
Those with limited backup needs might not need to go this far, but people with a lot of sensitive data cannot afford to do otherwise.
Reason 3: You Don’t Have A Local Backup Server
Any public or semi-public network should have a backup server that is used only for that purpose. This backup server doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical machine, as you can also use a VM (virtual machine) to do the job. However, many people find that they have more confidence in a physical device.
Local backup is a great idea, but these servers can become corrupted. If some other part of the network is hacked or compromised, it is possible that someone might be able to access the backup server and delete/steal its contents. When it’s all directly connected like that, there is no way to avoid such risk. That is why remote server backup is more important. To be on the safe side, you should have backups both locally and remotely. Of course, if you aren’t using local backup, then you have a greater need for a remote option.
Reason 4: Your Connection Speed Is Particularly Fast
One little problem that exists with remote data backup is the problem of transmitting large amounts of information over the internet. Obviously, this can be done, but it can sometimes take a while. Backing up large batches of files can definitely consume enough time to affect productivity. If your connection speed isn’t very good, the delays might prove to be more trouble than they’re worth.
However, if your internet speed tends to be pretty good, remote backups are going to be your best option for data protection. Even if some malicious hacker infects you with ransomware and locks your whole system, a remote backup can have you up and running in no time. All you’ll have to do is download one of those remote backups and restore your device/network from there. Once again, the speed of your connection will determine how practical remote backup is for you.
Conclusion
Having answered the question posed by the title of this article, we should next ask ourselves: When shouldn’t you use remote data backup? Well, unless you have an abysmally slow internet connection, there is no reason that you shouldn’t use remote data backups. Whether you represent a large company with whole rooms full of data drives or a private individual who wants to preserve personal files, it’s just foolish to put all your eggs in one basket. Through the use of remote backups, you can keep many eggs in many baskets, and that is a lot more secure. To learn more, please contact PCH Technologies at (856) 754-7500.