As I mentioned last time, there are 7 main things you should consider before choosing a cloud backup provider. I reviewed 3 of these 7 things with you in Part 1. As a quick refresher, these were:
1.Security
2.Performance and versatility
3.Pricing structure
Now for the final four considerations…
Considerations
The final four considerations for choosing a cloud backup provider are:
#4. Availability. The is a function of the data center tier level, as discussed in the blog post, “How Secure is your Critical Business Data”. Thee better the data center tier rating, the more likely your data is available to be recovered. To put it shortly, you want to find a company that has a Tier 4 rating as that ensures that the data center will be up and running 99.995% of the time.
#5. Regulatory Compliance. As a cloud backup provider, LiveVault is SOC2 Type II audited, and for this reason, offers compliancy for many other regulatory boards, such as HIPAA. Our solutions are designed to support medical practices in HIPAA regulations and to help them become HIPAA compliant. When deciding to move to the cloud, you should be looking for a partner that can support your efforts in meeting industry specific regulatory needs.
#6. Company Policy. This has more to do with you and us. Before choosing a provider, you need to know your recovery time objectives, retention needs, and more. For more information on what you need, check out “5 Things you need to Know Before Writing your Backup Policy”. Once you have determine the support you need, you will want to confirm, in detail that the provider you are choosing to work with can meet all of these needs. Unlike many other products, where you can pick and choose which needs have to be met, and which do not, when it comes to backing up data, all points must be met. Do not work with a provider that does not meet all of your needs.
#7. Avoiding vendor lock-in. Avoiding lock-in is key to any purchase, whether its cloud backup or a personal purchase. You never want to be forced to continue to use a product because moving to a new vendor is impossible. Also, keep track of the contract you sign, and make sure the terms are to your standards. When it comes to cloud backup, you can check to make sure that the firm you are working with follows emerging standards, such are the Cloud Data Management Interface.
Moving to the Cloud
For many businesses, moving to the cloud makes the most business sense, not only due to cost, but also to location of data, ease of use, and ease of data recovery. But before you make the move, you want to do your due diligence. Everyone gets excited, or feels the pressure, to make a decision quickly. Before you do that, make sure you are making the right decision for your business needs.
Click here to learn more and download our free whitepaper, 7 Considerations for Moving to the Cloud.