Cloud Backup

Cloud Backup Services

A remote, online, or managed backup service, sometimes marketed as cloud backup, is a service that provides users with a system for the backup, storage, and recovery of computer files. Online backup providers are companies that provide this type of service to end users (or clients). Such backup services are considered a form of cloud computing.

Online backup systems are typically built around a client software program that runs on a schedule, typically once a day, and usually at night while computers aren't in use. This program typically collects, compresses, encrypts, and transfers the data to the remote backup service provider's servers or off-site hardware.

Service-based

1. The assurance, guarantee, or validation that what was backed up is recoverable whenever it is required is critical. Data stored in the service provider's cloud must undergo regular integrity validation to ensure its recoverability. 
2. Cloud BUR (BackUp & Restore) services need to provide a variety of granularity when it comes to RTO's (Recovery Time Objective). One size does not fit all either for the customers or the applications within a customer's environment.
3. The customer should never have to manage the back end storage repositories in order to back up and recover data.
4. The interface used by the customer needs to enable the selection of data to protect or recover, the establishment of retention times, destruction dates as well as scheduling.
5. Cloud backup needs to be an active process where data is collected from systems that store the original copy. This means that cloud backup will not require data to be copied into a specific appliance from where data is collected before being transmitted to and stored in the service provider's data centre.

Ubiquitous Access

1. Cloud BUR utilizes standard networking protocols (which today are primarily but not exclusively IP based) to transfer data between the customer and the service provider.
2. Vaults or repositories need to be always available to restore data to any location connected to the Service Provider’s Cloud via private or public networks.

Scalable and Elastic

1. Cloud BUR enables flexible allocation of storage capacity to customers without limit. Storage is allocated on demand and also de-allocated as customers delete backup sets as they age.
2. Cloud BUR enables a Service Provider to allocate storage capacity to a customer. If that customer later deletes their data or no longer needs that capacity, the Service Provider can then release and reallocate that same capacity to a different customer in an automated fashion.

Metered by Use

1. Cloud Backup allows customers to align the value of data with the cost of protecting it. It is procured on a per-gigabyte per month basis. Prices tend to vary based on the age of data, type of data (email, databases, files etc.), volume, number of backup copies and RTOs.

Shared and Secure

1. The underlying enabling technology for Cloud Backup is a full stack native cloud multi-tenant platform (shared everything).
2. Data mobility/portability prevents service provider lock-in and allows customers to move their data from one Service Provider to another, or entirely back into a dedicated Private Cloud (or a Hybrid Cloud).
3. Security in the cloud is critical. One customer can never have access to another’s data. Additionally, even Service Providers must not be able to access their customer’s data without the customer’s permission.

Enterprise-class Cloud Backup

An enterprise-class cloud backup solution must include an on-premise cache, to mitigate any issues due to inconsistent Internet connectivity. Hybrid cloud backup is a backup approach combining Local backup for fast backup and restore, along with Off-site backup for protection against local disasters. 

Enterprise solutions features should offer these support services

• Encryption - Data should be encrypted before it is sent across the internet, and it should be stored in its encrypted state. Encryption should be at least 256 bits, and the user should have the option of using his own encryption key, which should never be sent to the server.

• Network Backup - A backup service supporting network backup can back up multiple computers, servers or Network Attached Storage appliances on a local area network from a single computer or device.

• Continuous Backup & Data Protection - Allows the service to back up continuously or on a predefined schedule. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. Most backup services are schedule-based and perform backups at a predetermined time. Some services provide continuous data backups which are used by large financial institutions and large online retailers.

• File-by-File Restore - The ability for users to restore files themselves, without the assistance of a Service Provider by allowing the user select files by name and/or folder. Some services allow users to select files by searching for filenames and folder names, by dates, by file type, by backup set, and by tags.

• Online Access to Files - Some services allow you to access backed-up files via a normal web browser. Many services do not provide this type of functionality.

• Data Compression - Data will typically 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. More advanced online backup services use this method rather than transfer entire files.

• Bandwidth Usage - User-selectable option to use more or less bandwidth; it may be possible to set this to change at various times of day.

• Off-Line Backup - allows along with and as part of the online backup solution to cover daily backups in time when network connection is down. at this time the remote backup software must perform backup onto a local media device like a tape drive, a disk or another server . the minute network connection restored remote backup software will update the remote datacenter with the changes coming out of the off-line backup media.

• Synchronization - Many services support data synchronization allowing users to keep a consistent library of all their files across many computers. The technology can help productivity and increase access to data.

Common Business Features

• Bulk Restore - A way to restore data from a portable storage device when a full restore over the Internet might take too long.

• Centralized Management Console - Allows for an IT department or staff member to monitor backups for the user.

• File Retention Policies - Many businesses require a flexible file retention policy that can be applied to an unlimited number of groups of files called "sets".

• Fully Managed Services - Some services offer a higher level of support to businesses that might request immediate help, proactive monitoring, personal visits from their service provider, or telephone support.

• Redundancy - Multiple copies of data backed up at different locations. This can be achieved by having two or more mirrored data centers, or by keeping a local copy of the latest version of backed up data on site with the business.

• Regulatory Compliance - Some businesses are required to comply with government regulations that govern privacy, disclosure, and legal discovery. A service provider that offers this type of service assists customers with proper compliance with and understanding of these laws.

• Seed Loading - Ability to send a first backup on a portable storage device rather than over the Internet when a user has large amounts of data that they need quickly backed up.

• Server Backup - Many businesses require backups of servers and the special databases that run on them, such as groupware, SQL, and directory services.

• Versioning - Keeps multiple past versions of files to allow for rollback to or restoration from a specific point in time.

Cost Factors

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

• The total amount of data being backed up.

• The number of machines covered by the backup service.

• The maximum number of versions of each file that are kept.

• Data retention and archiving period options.

• Managed backups vs. Unmanaged backups

• The level of service and features available

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

Most remote backup services reduce the amount of data to be sent over the wire by only backing up changed files. This approach to backing up means that the customers total stored data is reduced. Reducing the amount of data sent and also stored can be further drastically reduced by only transmitting the changed data bits by binary or block level incremental backups. Solutions that transmit only these changed binary data bits do not waste bandwidth by transmitting the same file data over and over again if only small amounts change.

Advantages

Remote backup has advantages over traditional backup methods

Perhaps the most important aspect of backing up is that backups are stored in a different location from the original data. Traditional backup requires manually taking the backup media offsite.

• Remote backup does not require user intervention. The user does not have to change tapes, label CDs or perform other manual steps.

• Unlimited data retention (presuming the backup provider stays in business).

• Backups are automatic.

• 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 to send data over unsecured links (i.e. internet)

• A few remote backup services can reduce backup by only transmitting changed binary data bits

Disadvantages

Remote backup has some disadvantages over traditional backup methods

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 a disk shipped from the online backup service provider.

• Some backup service providers have no guarantee that stored data will be kept private — for example, from employees. As such, most recommend that files be encrypted.

• 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 service.

• If the encryption password is lost, data recovery will be impossible. However with managed services this should not be a problem.

• Residential broadband services often have monthly limits that preclude large backups. They are also usually asymmetric; the user-to-network link regularly used to store backups is much slower than the network-to-user link used only when data is restored.

• In terms of price, when looking at the raw cost of hard disks, remote backups cost about 400 times per GB what a local backup would.

Managed VS. Unmanaged

Some services provide expert backup management services as part of the overall offering. These services typically include:

• Assistance configuring the initial backup

• Continuous monitoring of the backup processes on the client machines to ensure that backups actually happen

• Proactive alerting in the event that any backups fail

• Assistance in restoring and recovering data

Cloud Storage Services

Cloud storage is a model of networked online storage where data is stored in virtualized pools of storage which are generally hosted by third parties. Hosting companies operate large data centers, and people who require their data to be hosted buy or lease storage capacity from them. The data center operators, in the background, virtualize the resources according to the requirements of the customer and expose them as storage pools, which the customers can themselves use to store files or data objects. Physically, the resource may span across multiple servers.The safety of the files depends upon the hosting websites.

Cloud storage services may be accessed through a web service application programming interface (API), a cloud storage gateway or through a Web-based user interface.

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