The cloud is a fantastic way for businesses to access software and run applications in a more efficient and cost effective way than in the past. But it really comes into its own for securely backing up and storing data as part of your disaster recovery plan.
Why does your business need a disaster recovery plan?
It’s important for any business owner to plan for the unexpected, no matter the size or type of business. Imagine a storm or an electrical fire that takes your IT systems down, or a malware attack or virus that wipes your data. Any one of these scenarios could happen to you, causing not only a lot of stress, but financial loss as well. You can limit any loss and get back up and running again as quickly as possible if you have your data securely backed up and stored in the cloud.
Benefits of using the cloud for data recovery
Having your data in the cloud means all your information will be hosted there, backed up automatically, and easily accessible from any device and any location with an internet connection if something happens to your office equipment and network. Here are some the reasons why it you should consider using the cloud:
1) When you use the cloud for business disaster planning, you eliminate the need to pay for expensive data recovery. As an example, if you were to switch your business to a virtual fax system from eFax, all your communications would be automatically stored in the cloud, and easily recoverable. No specialist help is required.
2) Having data backed up on physical storage media such as external hard drives is less secure. Back ups may not be automatic, leaving the process open to human error, and drives can be damaged, lost or stolen. Data in the cloud can be password protected and encrypted for security, and can be set to back up on any schedule you like – from hourly for critical data to weekly for archived data.
3) It can also significantly reduce your costs, as most cloud providers charge a monthly subscription fee, which is much cheaper than relying on traditional IT services and staff in times of trouble.
Because it allows you and your employees the flexibility to work from any device in any location, using the cloud in your business disaster strategy helps ensure continuity in even the most drastic of circumstances.
By backing up your data and storing it in the cloud, you can help safeguard your business from financial trouble as a result of critical data loss, and give yourself the best chance of getting operational again fast in the event of a disaster.