Simply put, hybrid cloud backup, or disk-to-disk-to-cloud (D2D2C), combines your existing on-premise infrastructure with cloud-based storage, giving you an efficient, scalable, and affordable data backup and recovery solution. The switch to hybrid cloud backup is growing year over year, and the trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. With this trend here to stay, now is the time to consider jumping onto the hybrid cloud backup bandwagon. Keep reading for our top five reasons to make the switch.
1. Enhanced Redundancy
Hybrid cloud backup solutions offer enhanced redundancy in two ways. First, since this backup system provides you with a local disk or tape backup and the same backup stored in the cloud, you can resort to either option if one is unavailable for some reason. Second, the data center that hosts the cloud backup typically utilizes fully redundant architecture that offers over 99.99% uptime.
2. Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Because you don’t have to be concerned with additional long-term hardware costs, maintenance costs, and operating costs, using a hybrid cloud backup solution reduces the TCO of your backup infrastructure. Cloud backups offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model, meaning you can take full control of your monthly costs. And if you’re concerned about scalability, you have no need to be. Increasing storage capacity is often as simple as making a phone call or clicking a few buttons.
3. Speedy Recovery
Many people think that hybrid cloud backups are slow. The good news is, that’s a myth. They’re not slow at all, especially with the sophisticated data compression and deduplication mechanisms available these days. Hybrid cloud solutions have the ability to back up only the data blocks that have changed, ensuring that only the data that needs to be sent or received makes it across the wire.
4. Improved Availability
When disaster strikes, quickly accessing the backed up data is crucial. If you only use disk-to-disk (D2D) or disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T), your data is most likely stored locally within the office or off-site at a third party. This may require physical intervention to initiate the recovery process, which could cause a delay. With a cloud-based storage solution, you can instantly recover the data from anywhere to anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.
5. Better Adherence to Compliance and Security Regulations
Compliance regulations from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX), and the payment card industry (PCI) require data to be backed up in a secure manner and available for recovery for given durations of time. A hybrid cloud backup solution allows you to do this. Strong encryption algorithms (e.g. 448-bit blowfish) and the almost infinite capacity and lifetime of data stored in the cloud give you the means to store and forget.
Hybrid cloud solutions provide a better, faster, cheaper backup option that gives you peace of mind and increased flexibility when it comes to data backup and recovery. The hybrid model gives you the best of both worlds. If you are still a little skeptical of this option, consider giving hybrid cloud backup a go for a few months. Testing it our for a short period of time gives you first-hand experience and allows you to assess the benefits for yourself before making a final decision. If you have questions about hybrid cloud backups or are ready to make the switch, contact our team today!