What is?

Remote Backup Service

A remote, online, or managed backup service is a service that provides users with an online system for backing up and storing computer files. Managed backup providers are companies that provide this type of service.

Online backup systems are typically built around a client software program that runs on a schedule, typically once a day. This program collects, compresses, encrypts, and transfers the data to the remote backup service provider's servers. Other types of products are also available in the market, such as remote Continuous Data Protection (CDP).

Providers of Continuous Data Protection (CDP)service frequently target specific market segments. High-end LAN-based backup systems may offer services such as near-realtime transaction-level replication or open file backups. Consumer online backup companies frequently have beta software offerings and/or free-trial backup services.

Remote Backup Service Progress

Most online/remote backup services came into existence during the heydays of the dotcom boom in the late 1990's. While the initial years of these service providers were about capturing market share distributed among the top few providers, the large industry players took cognizance of the importance and the role that these online backup providers were playing in the web services arena and M&A activity has became quite predominant in the last few years. Today, most service providers of online backup services position their services using the SaaS (software as a service) strategy and its relevance is predicted to increase exponentially in the years to come as personal and enterprise data storage needs rise. The last few years have also witnessed a healthy rise in the number of online backup providers with them existing independently as also as part of a business unit of a larger industry behemoth.

Typical Backup Features

Opened File Backup

The ability to backup files that are extensively opened, such as Outlook files (*.pst) or SQL database files can be useful. Such ability allows IT administrators to run backup jobs any time of the day, not requiring setting aside server maintenance time. Most online backup products need an add-on for this. Higher-end products support this natively.

Multi-platform

A Multi-platform backup service can backup multiple operating system platforms such as the various flavor versions of Windows, Macintosh, and Linux/UNIX. Many newer backup service entrants only backup Windows XP, for example.

Multi-site

A feature of some backup services is the capability to backup the primary website data plus remote offices and branch offices in a relatively seamless manner.

Continuous backup

allows the tool to backup continuously or on a predefined schedule. Both backup methods have advantages and disadvantages. Most backup tools are schedule-based and perform backups at a predetermined time. Some backup services provide continuous data backups which are used by large financial institutions and large online retailers. However, there is typically a tradeoff with performance and system resources.

Online Access to files

Some backup services allow you to access your backed up files via a normal web browser. Many browser tools do not provide this type of functionality.

Data Compression

Typically data will be compressed with a lossless compression algorithm to minimize the amount of bandwidth used.

Differential Data Compression

A way to further minimize network traffic is to transfer only the binary data that has changed from one day to the next, similar to the open source file transfer tool Rsync. More advanced network backup tools use this method rather than transfer entire files.

Data Encryption

Encryption of data during transmission to vendor and encryption when stored at vendor

Bandwidth Usage

User selectable to use more or less bandwidth at various times

Backup Service Cost Factors

Online backup services are usually priced as a function of the following things:

1. The total amount of data being backed up.
2. The number of machines covered by the backup service.
3. The maximum number of versions of each file that are kept.

Vendors typically limit the number of versions of a file that can be kept in the system. Some remote backup services omit this restriction and provide an unlimited number of versions. Add-on features (plug-ins), like the ability to backup currently open or locked files, are usually charged as an extra, but some backup services provide this built in.

Disadvantages of Remote Backup

Remote backup has some disadvantages:

• Depending on the available network bandwidth, the restoration of data can be slow. Because data is stored offsite, the data must be recovered either via the Internet or via tape or disk shipped from the online backup service provider.
• Backup service providers have no guarantee that stored data will be kept private - for example, from employees. As such, most backup service providers recommend that files be encrypted before storing.
• It is possible that a remote backup service provider could go out of business or be purchased, which may affect the accessibility of one's data or the cost to continue using the remote backup service.
• If encryption password is lost, no more data recovery will be possible.

Advantages of Remote Backup

Remote backup has advantages over traditional backup methods:

• Remote backup does not require user intervention. The user does not have to change tapes, label CDs or perform other manual steps.
• Remote backup maintains data offsite. Perhaps the most important aspect of remote backup is that backup files are stored in a different location from the original data. Traditional backup requires manually taking the backup media offsite.
• Data storage abroad could be an advantage too.
• Some remote backup services will work continuously, backing up files as they are changed.
• Most remote backup services will maintain a list of versions of your files.
• Most remote backup services will use a 128 - 448 bit encryption and sent shrinked data packages via a http secure connection.

Colo is a full service web hosting and networks operation center and provides its clients a wide variety of secure web hosting and server services including daily Remote or Managed Backup Service no matter what web hosting plan feature you choose. You can read further about Colo’s Web Hosting Backup Features here or call toll free at 1-866-316-2656 and we will help you select the services that best meets your needs. If short on time but have further questions, we’re ready to help. We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Please email us through our request a call back form on this page (top right).

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