Is your Enterprise ready to handle data loss disasters? How quickly can your operating systems resume across your multiple sites after an outage or disruption? How will you safely recover sensitive data?
An Enterprise’s IT infrastructure must prepare for distributed damage. Whether it’s natural disasters, malware attacks or even human error, disruptions can affect multiple locations in different ways and at different times.
Even an isolated departmental data loss can cause severe damage, including revenue loss, adverse opportunity loss or even reputational damage.
Today’s technology-driven industries focus on innovative data protection for their information management systems. But many infrastructures continue to use outdated backup and recovery systems, such as relying on isolated physical storage on-site.
Enterprises need backup systems that can not only protect multiple locations while minimising disruption and data loss, but they also need data security solutions which deliver a range of benefits.
This article will examine everything you need to know about Enterprise backup.
Enterprise backup is the data protection, data management and data backup storage system Enterprises use to protect their business data.
The need for data protection is driven by differing organisational requirements – legal requirement to retain documents for a period of time, cybersecurity strategies, or simply business continuity best practice to guard against accidental data loss or deletion.
Enterprise backup has evolved exponentially in recent years and there are a range of solutions available that vary based on backup type, technology and business requirements.
The data protection solutions that have traditionally been used – tape backups, on-site server redundancy and backup to disk are just some of the traditional backup examples. These solutions all share common issues – inability to scale, lack of control, capital expenditure cost and manageability challenges.
Cloud backup is one of these solutions for enterprise-level data backup and storage.
Cloud backups are the natural evolution for these data protection solutions as they solve the core issues of cost, complexity and scalability.
There are different types of cloud backup which each offering different benefits for different budgets and security needs.
Backup directly to the Public Cloud
Enterprise systems can use their apps to send data directly to public clouds. These cloud services provide the backup window, but not the backup recovery software.
It means Enterprise systems have their end requirements to consider. Their software must be compatible with the cloud server. They may also have to add more data protection layers where necessary.
Backup via Service Provider
Enterprise systems can use commercially available cloud services through a service provider. These cloud service providers will include their backup applications and cloud storage locations. They also support other compatible commercial backup platforms.
Cloud to Cloud Backup
Enterprise systems that already use cloud computing solutions can integrate C2C backup. These cloud providers host Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. SaaS backup solutions seamlessly transfer enterprise data from one cloud to another.
Local backup relies on physical storage using legacy infrastructure. These legacy systems are slower and more unwieldy compared to cloud backup services.
Data transfers are manual and slow, with sparse data transfers. Legacy hardware also struggles to stay within capacity as technology integration increases.
They can spread legacy systems across multiple vendor solutions. Data recovery is complex, making operational continuity more challenging to restore.
While the terms cloud backup and cloud storage are sometimes used interchangeably, they are very different in an operational sense.
Cloud storage refers to the repository where the data is saved for access, while cloud backup refers to the regular data transfers as well as the storage.
Data storage alone is not enough for proper backup process or total disaster recovery strategy.
There are key differences between backup and disaster recovery. Backup is a sub-function of disaster recovery.
Data backup is a process for data protection. Data recovery from a backup system is the only option to get your original data back if it is corrupt, lost or held for ransom.
Disaster recovery goes further and includes the process for resuming operations after a disruption. It can include data backups and IT system process redundancies.
Both data backups and IT system resource backups are integral to disaster recovery. SaaS backup and recovery solutions make it easy by switching internet access locations.
Organisations rely extensively on SaaS solutions. Organisations with disaster recovery plans need both resource and data backup solutions that include SaaS.
Office 365 doesn’t offer comprehensive data backup solutions and protection. It puts data responsibilities back into the hands of the data owners.
SaaS backup services like Veeam backup for Microsoft 365 add data protection. They meet legal requirements while filling the backup gap.
The best part is they build these services to integrate. They add to Office 365’s core functions and features. Your cloud backup ensures data transfers are smooth, safe, and recoverable.
Data backup solutions for the enterprise cloud have many benefits. It speeds up disaster recovery and other contingency plans.
Enterprise backup takes the costs out of your CapEx and back into your OpEx.
Your organisation also won’t require any new IT specialists. There’s no increase in IT maintenance for hardware, software, or systems upgrades. Your cloud backup solution provider manages all these IT resources instead.
Cloud-first backup services are essential because it’s a substantial short-term and long-term cost savings.
Best practices for information backup strategies are near-universal. Informational mediums have similar backup philosophies, like photos, paper documents, and digital data. These best practices include:
Veeam has its own backup rules tailored explicitly for protecting data. These redundancies ensure backup data remains safe and restorable, even in worst-case scenarios.
Veeam’s 3-2-1 backup rule evolved from an old photography rule. The rule’s inspiration came from IT best practices (coming full circle).
The 3-2-1 philosophy holds that data should be kept as three copies. These copies should also be on two different media, with at least one copy off-site.
In summary, the 3-2-1 Backup Rule is:
The three copies Veeam refers to are:
Each copy uses different media for storage. These requirements are minimums routinely exceeded by backup systems.
Veeam evolved the 3-2-1 rule with the 3-2-1-1-0 Rule:
Air-gapped and immutable copies are necessary to safeguard against today’s ransomware-laden, cyber-criminal ecosystem. They ensure malicious access doesn’t shut down or destroy critical data.
These best practices can be more difficult with traditional backup systems. IT systems will quickly run into problems with cost, scaling, and other drawbacks.
Cloud backup has several benefits for Enterprises, which include:
They heighten another significant benefit of data protection and data security. They also poise cloud backup solutions to offer a unique edge in cost, scalability, and accessibility.
Hardware is costly to install and maintain. It also needs consistent upgrades as technology continues to develop or as it reaches end of life.
Backup solutions are often more cost-effective than local backups. The cost reductions give cloud backup solutions a higher ROI. It includes factoring in long-term system scalability.
Scalability is one of the most significant benefits of enterprise backup. IT systems have ever-increasing demands for system resource management.
Hardware management issues include multiple upgrades across vendors. They may also need to juggle a separate licence for each workload. Fixed storage is another issue that makes scaling backup tools difficult and costly.
Cloud backups are flexible in increasing or decreasing consumption as needed. They can also help reduce IT resource drain as data capacity needs to evolve.
Local backups are only available from their site location. Restoring data becomes a site-by-site effort that slows down instant recovery.
Cloud backups are accessible over any internet connection, which means any site location can recover data from anywhere.
Cloud backup has the advantage of enabling tighter security. It includes tighter encryption and stricter access.
Phishing attacks have long been a leading cause of data breaches. Cloud systems keep backup data security in the hands of data protection experts.
Heightened security translates to increased defences against ransomware and other cyberattacks. No interconnected solution is ever 100% safe in the data protection market. However, a cloud solution still adds unique layers to protect data.
Cloud backups use more regular and fast transfer times, and they detect malicious data access and change more quickly.
Slower manual systems give attackers more unauthorised access time. The longer they remain in a system, the more damage they create.
Traditional backup systems are more vulnerable to malicious access. They routinely keep initial backup in the exact location as data storage. It leaves all the data vulnerable to the same attack.
Veeam is the leading provider of enterprise cloud backup solutions as the result of:
Veeam is also integral to sovereign cloud IaaS providers like AUCloud. These services have high-security requirements. They safeguard classified, sensitive, and critical data for government and CNI communities.
They specially built sovereign clouds for the highest data security. They ensure regulatory compliance where services are within the country of service. This includes physical location, virtual and legal spheres of influence within the location.
It keeps data integrity under control and has no wiggle room around regulations. There are also no third-party vendor vulnerabilities from outsourced services.
Australian Government agencies require Certified Strategic cloud providers. Their critical systems protection relies on these services.
Australian citizens require trust and reliability in their public sector – indeed across all the organisations they deal with. This includes safeguarding their data from external threats.
A company needs more than an Australian location to accomplish this. Every link in the supply chain must be under Australian jurisdiction as well.
One weak link can expose the entire chain. Cloud backup services are only genuinely sovereign after all data is secure in every step of the process.
Critical industries also need data protection storage. The rippling effects of geopolitics means Australia remains a high-value target.
Data security for critical industries is like the public sector. Cloud solutions can meet industry compliance and do without adding company or consumer costs.
Governments have a vested interest in security resilience, and there is a new Security Legislation Amendment Bill passed in 2021, with the second tranche passed in March 2022.
The Act now heightens data protection requirements for Critical infrastructure sectors, which include:
Ransomware that targets Australia’s critical infrastructure is already a concern. Cyber criminals have targeted energy companies and power grids.
Critical data protection strategies already rely on backup data solutions. But what protection strategy do you use for your backup data?
A sovereign cloud provider eliminates third-party vulnerabilities. All your data remains under Australian laws, and access includes your customer data, analytics, and metadata.
Private organisations also need a data security culture. Any company that handles finance information or PII is a prime target. It is true even if they fall outside the financial or healthcare industries.
Sovereign cloud backups reduce the likelihood of customer data breaches. They also lower business disruption time. Data remains safe through security protocols if a worst-case scenario happens.
Enterprise backup solutions and Sovereign Cloud backup solutions are similar except – a sovereign cloud backup ensures all backup and storage data remains in Australia – always. This includes customer data, account and support data, analytics, and metadata.
Choosing the right sovereign cloud provider requires close analysis.
Here are the top seven criteria to consider when deciding on a sovereign cloud provider for your Enterprise.
Many cloud service providers are already in Australia. Their actual ownership and control may come from an overseas company. Data storage must be Australian-owned and operated to meet sovereign criteria – and only subject to Australian laws. Many foreign cloud providers will claim that your data will always be stored in Australia, but it only with an Australian owned and operated data centre that you can be assured that all “data about your data” also remains Australia resident.
The United States hosts the most data centres globally by a wide margin, with over 2,500. The United Kingdom (+450), Germany (+440), and China (+410) follow in that order with the highest totals.
Australian data stored in overseas centres is a thorny issue for security. It makes it easy for countries to access Australian citizen data without legal recourse for those affected. Sovereignty ensures that the data remains physically stored in Australia.
Virtual access needs the same protection as physical access. Sovereign controls also make sure data doesn’t ever virtually leave Australia’s shores.
It includes backup data, control management data, and metadata etc. Any other information relevant for security and protection purposes stays in Australia.
Data backups are subject to legal jurisdiction under their host country’s laws. The host country can also subpoena for data access via their courts.
Sovereignty keeps backup data solely in Australia’s legal sphere.
Compliance is crucial for sovereign cloud providers. The DTA’s Hosting Certification Framework has three levels:
The highest level is Strategic. AUCloud, Australia sovereign cloud provider, not only meets these requirements but also exceeds them in many areas.
AUCloud is also IRAP assessed to meet the PROTECTED the controls of the Government’s Information Security Manual. AUCloud provides both OFFICIAL and PROTECTED data environments – depending on the security needs of the end customer.
AUCloud is also ISO 27001 certified across all IaaS services. ISO is an international information security standard. Companies with data protection at all levels (personnel, training, tech, etc.) are 27001 certified.
Data and systems need responsive support with a quick turnaround. AUCloud offers robust 24/7 support from an Australian-based support team. If you need ASAP support, you won’t contact an international company at 0300 their time and receive an answering machine or a chatbot.
AUCloud offers unmatched benefits for sovereign cloud solutions:
Public and critical infrastructure sectors rely on low-cost tech solutions. However, these solutions must deliver high quality services and data protection – they need to be operative and effective.
Do you want all the benefits of a public cloud and the highest levels of data protection? AUCloud is your go-to sovereign cloud backup service.
Enterprise cloud backups are critical for data protection and disaster recovery plans. Your data backup needs safe and scalable cloud solutions.
Contact our team to learn more about sovereign cloud solutions for your company. Our experts are always ready to offer help for all your technology-driven needs!
1800 282 5683
sales@aucloud.com.au
Australia’s partner in data protection & cyber security
Copyright © 2024 AUCloud. All rights reserved.
