If you’re maintaining an on-site backup system you can reduce your costs and increase the security of your data by moving to an internet-based backup service. Here’s how:
There’s quite a bit involved in setting up and maintaining your own backup system. Some of the primary tasks are:
- Labor required to set it up by a skilled engineer: hardware, software, configure and test.
- Ongoing attention by a skilled engineer to maintain reliable operation.
- Cleaning of the system.
- Periodic test restores to ensure that the system is working.
- Troubleshoot problems as they occur.
- Tape rotations.
- Transportation of tapes not in use to an off-site location.
Here’s what’s involved in setting up an internet-based backup service:
- Setup your account
- Install and configure software on servers
- Check web-based dashboard to make sure everything is working.
Here’s what a company might pay over one year if they own their own on-site tape-based backup system, assumes 200 gigs of data:
| Item |
Cost |
| Purchase tape drive | $2000 |
| Purchase backup software with server agent and support contracts | $700 |
| Purchase tape cartridges and cleaning cartridges | $400 |
| Setup and configure system | $1000 |
| Monitor and maintain | $4500 |
| Total Cost |
$8600 |
Here’s the cost for a typical internet-based backup service for one year, assumes 200 gigs of data:
| Item |
Cost |
| Install and configure | $250 |
| Service fee for 12 months | $1260 |
| Total Cost |
$1510 |
Beside the costs advantages of an internet-based system, here are other advantages:
- Data is always stored off-site, not just when tapes are rotated off-site every week. So your data is more secure.
- You never run out of capacity.
- You never have to replace tapes.
- You only pay for what you actually use, not for what you may use in two or three years. So in the above example if you were backing up 100 gigs of data the 12 month cost for the internet-based service would be $660.
Are there disadvantages to a internet-based backup system? Yes. If you’re creating gigabytes of new data on a daily basis or do not have a high-speed internet connection then you’re probably better off with an on-site backup system. And disaster recovery can take longer since your data is at the service provider.
Have questions? Give us a call. We help companies create an IT plan that includes Cloud-based solutions like internet-based backup systems.
This is great Darren…how do you get this to small businesses? Richard Wright (Wright/Kirby CPAs) has been sponsoring a newsletter to small businesses that focuses on accounting and valuation issues, but I could see them bunking in with you on local/regional business…also, change “STATEGY” to “STRATEGY” above