7 Backup and Cloud Storage Mistakes to Avoid
In today’s digital landscape, cloud storage is an integral part of modern business. It provides flexibility, scalability, and security for virtually any size of data. However, many organizations still make mistakes in the setup or management of their backup and storage strategies. Mistakes not only lead to increased costs, they also expose sensitive data to risk.
In this article, we will explore the 7 backup and cloud storage mistakes to avoid, and we will walk through how to build a smarter and more secure storage strategy.
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Having Only One Backup
One of the most significant mistakes organizations make is having only a single backup copy. Storing data in one location, on-premises or on a single cloud backup account creates a single point of failure.
If data is lost due to a came from cyber-attack, inadvertent deletion, or a hardware type failure, the organization has no data recovery options – potentially, data may be lost forever. Organizations should adopt the principle of 3-2-1:
– 3 copies of data
– 2 different types of storage (local + cloud)
– 1 copies offsite
By employing a combination of cloud storage access and local backup, organizations increase resiliency and reduce risk exposure.
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Overlooking Data Security and Encryption
Just because data is stored in the cloud does not mean it is safe. Many organizations think that the cloud providers will handle security, but that is not always the case. If no sufficient encryption is utilized, there is a chance that unwanted access could occur.
To not fall into this trap:
- Always encrypt data at rest and in transit
- Choose providers that provide end-to-end encryption
- Implement access controls and multi-factor authentication
Security should never be secondary in your cloud storage design.
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Forgetting About Compliant Requirements
All sectors have a need for data compliance, whether that is GDPR in Europe, HIPAA in healthcare, ISO/IEC in IT, or a myriad of other requirements. If you opt to go with a cloud service without understanding the compliance regulations first, you will not only be fined, but you will ultimately risk your organization’s reputation as well.
When evaluating cloud providers, ask
- Do they comply to the respective industry certifications?
- Is data stored within allowed geographical area?
- What audit trails can they provide for accountability?
Allowing cloud storage to not be compliant can be a huge expense.
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Storing Data in the Wrong Storage Class
Not all data is created equal. Data that files may be accessed frequently need hot storage while archives and access rarely files may be better suited for cold or archive data storage. This tiered approach to data storage can save businesses money, especially if businesses are storing data which doesn’t require hot tier storage (with its associated costs).
For example:
- Hot storage = fast, low latency (associated higher cost)
- Cold storage = slow access, longevity (associated lower cost)
By analyzing your data usage (access and speed) pattern, you can quickly discern the mode of data storage best suited to your needs, whether it is the tiered class of storage or the retrieval speed you need.
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Not Testing Backups
Backing up data is one thing, but you need to test your backup until you are able to recover data. This is particularly important as we find that many businesses only find out their backup files were either incomplete, not recoverable, or their backup system wasn’t functioning at all well after the need arose or after the fact of their need.
Some best practices are:
- Schedule routine ‘drills’ of your data recovery
- Verify the integrity of your backup files
- Restore the backup system on two different devices or on version upgrades
A strategy for backing up data without significant testing is really like having an umbrella full of holes. Your storage solution, whether internal or externally hosted (cloud), should help to automate these tasks as part of their solution.
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Overlooking Scalability and Future Needs
Your storage requirements today will be different from those tomorrows. A common mistake is to select the wrong Provider or plan and not think scalability. As your data grows, you may face significant increases in costs or poor performance.
Cloud storage is elastic, but you need to think through your options:
- Can your provider scale storage on-demand?
- Do they provide predictable pricing?
- Would the performance be the same if the data grew?
Consider growth needs ahead of time instead of realizing you didn’t after the fact.
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Not implementing a disaster recovery plan
Recovering the data, is only one piece of the puzzle. A disaster recovery (DR) plan ensures that you can restore critical systems appropriately following downtimes. Many organizations treat disaster recovery as an option, and without a plan, even a brief period of downtime could incur large losses to an organization.
A sound disaster recovery plan should include:
- Defined Recovery Time Objectives (RTO)
- Clear Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)
- Cloud infrastructure failover strategies
Using cloud storage in combination with disaster recovery solutions provides business continuity, even in worse-case scenarios.
Final Thoughts
By avoiding these seven cloud storage mistakes, you save your business time, money, and stress. Securing compliance, scalability, and disaster recovery: each step is essential in protecting your valuable data.
10pb Cloud Storage and modern solutions offer advanced encryption, a variety of tiered storage options, and built-in backup and recovery, all designed to keep your data protected. Thoughtful planning will help you avoid common pitfalls, allowing an alluringly economic use of a powerful cloud storage tool to bolster growth.
FAQs
- What is the biggest mistake with cloud storage?
The worst mistake is using a single location for your backup. Always follow the 3-2-1 backup rule.
- Is cloud storage safe to store sensitive data?
Yes. Use strong encryption, access controls (do not share your login), and, if required, use a compliance-certified provider.
- How often should I test my backups?
Testing should be conducted at least once every quarter, if not monthly, or even weekly for mission-critical data.
- What is the difference between hot and cold cloud storage?
Hot storage is for low latency (and frequently accessed) data, and cold storage is used for archives that are less frequently accessed and less expensive to store.
- How cloud storage will help reduce disaster recovery?
By providing a scalable infrastructure and offsite redundancy, cloud storage not only lowers the cost but also the need for expensive on-premises equipment.
