Duking It Out: Remote Data Transfer vs. Offsite Tape Backup

Understanding the pros and cons of these two highly effective backup approaches can score a strategic success for your business—and could save money, too.

Want to build a bulletproof backup strategy? A big part of this task is securing important information offsite to guard against a data breach or natural disaster at headquarters. Either remote data transfers or offsite tape backups can answer the call. But which is best for you?

Most businesses have low to no tolerance for any type of downtime. According to an ESG survey, 53 percent of companies with fewer than 25 servers said they could withstand only one hour or less of downtime before losing revenue or suffering other significant adversities. Another 19 percent said they could tolerate up to three hours of downtime.

Could your business endure a morning or afternoon offline? More important, is it ready to withstand such an interruption? An anemic 63 percent of respondents to ESG’s survey say they’ve adequately protected their important data against such an event. In response to such threats, more companies are turning to a trusted partner for their offsite backup needs. But that’s only the first step. They must also ponder which path to follow: offsite tape backup or remote data transfer.

The Case for Remote Data Transfer

Interest in remote data transfer has grown tremendously, particularly since cloud storage has seen a 31 percent uptick, according to ESG. Small and medium-size companies select online backup for several reasons—42 percent cite disaster recovery, 33 percent seek better management and reporting abilities, and 30 percent want to improve service levels.

Other remote advantages include:

• Offsite storage. Remote data takes backed-up data offsite.

• Automatic backup. Backups can be scheduled and accomplished with little or no human intervention.

• Continuous backup. Large companies may benefit from continuous backups rather than scheduled.

• Security. Data are encrypted from end to end.

• Version control. Your organization won’t be stymied by multiple versions of the same files, which let you restore on a file-by-file basis.

• Offline backup. If the network goes down, most backups can continue offline; they can be transmitted once you’re back up and running.

• Cost savings. You’ll save on administrative costs and capital investments because you don’t have to foot the bill for a data protection infrastructure. Pricing for online backup is generally flexible.

The Many Virtues of Offsite Tape Vaulting

Tried-and-true tape is still a favored storage medium. And offsite tape backup can leverage tape’s low cost and long-term archiving capabilities to protect what’s most valuable to your company. Tape plays a critical role in most companies’ backup strategy. The Aberdeen Group’s September 2010 report, Offsite Storage and Computing: Keys to Successful Disaster Recovery, found that more than 75 percent of all Best-in-Class and Industry Average organizations use tape recovery.

When you implement an offsite tape backup strategy, be sure that your partner can:

• Schedule backups. Many backup strategies fail short because backups aren’t conducted regularly or are interrupted in midstream. Your partner can help schedule backups and coordinate transportation efforts.

• Arrange transport. Instead of your having to hire a courier to  transport tapes from office to offsite storage, your trusted partner will provide secure transport. Drivers undergo a rigorous background check and understand the importance of protecting tapes in transit.

• Track your data. Through bar codes and inventory lists, you’ll always know where backups are. Look for a partner that uses a Web-based application to track delivery, scheduling and reporting. It should also be able to manage a multiple-office scenario.

• Swap tapes. If backup is done offsite at a colocation center or remote location, your partner can send someone to swap tapes and transport them. That way you won’t have to use your IT staff or depend on a colocation center worker to do it.

• Secure tapes. Not only should the storage facility be secure, but a trusted partner should have rock-solid security in place at every step—from tape swapping to transport to storage and access.

• Provide climate-controlled facilities. Tapes don’t take well to mildew, water, wind or extreme temperatures. A third-party tape vault should provide a carefully controlled environment.

• Ensure chain of custody. The safe transport and storage of your tapes will go a long way to prove that chain of custody has been preserved if legal or regulatory questions arise.

Consider the Caveats

While both methods are valuable and valid backup solutions, each raises some concerns. For remote data backup, this centers on security, cost, long-term viability and archiving. With tape, organizations sometimes question whether the medium is flexible enough and whether the strategy requires more care and human intervention. However, with a trusted partner, you can rest assured that backups are completed on schedule, and that tapes are well maintained, protected and inventoried.

No matter which tactic suits your company’s backup needs, it’s critical to select a partner with vast expertise, access to the latest technology, and a sharp focus on security.

Do you have questions about data backup and recovery? Read additional Knowledge Center stories on this subject, or contact Iron Mountain’s Data Backup and Recovery team. You’ll be connected with a knowledgeable product and services specialist who can address your specific challenges.

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