From financial records and customer databases to sales figures and employee details, data forms the foundation upon which your business operates and makes strategic decisions. Where would you be without it? 

Your data not only drives your daily operations but also shapes your long-term strategies through insights derived from market research and analytics. 

With the importance of data comes the critical need for robust data backup solutions. 

Data loss, whether caused by hardware problems, cyber-attacks, or natural calamities, can be devastating. This is why having a solid backup strategy is essential for maintaining business continuity and protecting against data loss.

Why Data Backup is Essential

Backing up data means creating copies of your crucial information and storing them in a secure location. This is vital because:

• Protection against Data Loss: Data can be lost due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, hardware failure, or malicious attacks.
• Business Continuity: In the event of a data loss incident, having backups ensures that operations can resume quickly without significant disruptions.  
• Compliance and Legal Requirements: Many industries have regulations that require businesses to maintain certain records and data backups.

Local vs. Cloud Backups

When it comes to backing up your data, you have two main options: local backups and cloud backups. Both have their own set of advantages and trade-offs, which are especially pertinent in regions like Zimbabwe, where internet access can be intermittent and power cuts are common.

• Local Backups

Local backups involve storing copies of your data on physical media such as external hard drives, USB drives, or dedicated backup servers located on-site. You can even go as far as the paper age and print everything to store in files.

Advantages:

• Speed: Local backups can be performed quickly without the need for an internet connection.
• Control and Security: Since the data is stored on-site, you have full control over the physical security measures.
• Cost-Effective: Once the initial investment in hardware is made, there are no recurring costs for storage.

Trade-offs:

• Time consuming: Local backups are generally done manually, meaning they’re incredibly time-consuming and open to human error. In fact, a whopping 60% of all data backups are incomplete. Did you forget to feed the cat? Well sorry to tell you this, but you probably forgot to backup that important file as well.
• Maintenance: Managing and maintaining the hardware can be time-consuming and requires technical expertise.
• Limited Scalability: Expanding storage capacity may require additional hardware purchases. Oh, did we say cost-effective just now? Well it is until you need to scale up. 
• Physical Vulnerability: Local backups are susceptible to physical damage from fires, floods or theft. You could hedge your bets and follow the  3-2-1 approach, making three copies of your data – storing two in different locations on-site – and hiding the third copy somewhere off-site. But can you honestly tell me you have time for that?
  

• Cloud Backups

Cloud backups involve storing your data on remote servers managed by a third-party service provider such as Acronis.

Advantages:

• Accessibility: Data stored in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Scalability: Cloud storage can be easily scaled up or down based on your needs.
• Disaster Recovery: Cloud providers often have robust disaster recovery plans, ensuring data is safe from physical threats. 
• Automatically: Let’s not forget to mention that Cloud Backups can be set up to occur automatically ensuring your days, weeks and months of hard work are all seamlessly taken care of.

Trade-offs:

• Internet Dependence: Regular backups and data restoration require a stable internet connection, which may be challenging in areas with intermittent connectivity.
• Cost: While initial costs may be low, ongoing subscription fees can add up over time.
• Security Concerns: Storing data off-site involves trusting a third-party provider with your sensitive information, necessitating strong encryption and security measures.

Choosing the right backup solution involves understanding your business environment. By carefully considering the advantages and trade-offs of each approach, you can develop a resilient backup strategy that ensures your data’s integrity and availability, even in the face of local challenges.

Our Solution: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud

Apart from being partners with Acronis we do truly think they are the best in town. Acronis has won several awards throughout the years making them hands down our product of choice. 

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud ensures you have total coverage and complete control over your data.

Unlike some of its competitors, it imposes no limits on the number or duration of file versions stored. Acronis provides both automatic and manual backups to cloud and local destinations, which can be managed remotely via a central dashboard.

The solution backs up everything – from disks and partitions to files, folders, and virtual machines – offering flexible control with options for full image, differential, or incremental backups. Its hybrid cloud architecture and redundant backup solutions offer reliability superior to traditional RAID enclosures (an enclosure that holds multiple drives). 

Acronis delivers comprehensive cyber protection with military-grade AES-256 encryption, SSAE-18 certified security, and Tier-IV designed data centres with 99.995% availability. Additionally, its pioneering AI technology detects and neutralises ransomware threats, ensuring your data remains secure and accessible.

Along with backup, Acronis also boasts a 15-second recovery time, which is twice as fast as the closest competitor. It gives you the ability to quickly and securely restore your operations from encrypted archives with minimal downtime.

If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch today. We’d be happy to discuss our offerings with you and your team – [email protected]