How to Choose a Cloud Vendor
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How to Choose a Cloud Vendor

CIO Review

As we rattle along at a break-neck speed into the information age, data has become one of the foundational pillars of any business. Now, data is collected, stored, monitored and analyzed to gain actionable insight in terms of customer traits, trends, and business insight. Once residing in files, these data are now available in cloud, allowing 24/7 access.   As cloud continues to infuse into the core strategy of businesses, it will rapidly enable deployment and provisioning of IT infrastructure based on changing needs.

Data is frequently synced or updated, mirroring the system in real time. Cloud data backup not only forms a security cover for the business, but it also can save time and money in restoring the operations, which makes it a more viable option. Before entrusting the data to a cloud application backup system, it’s critical to make sure that the vendor has their own backups and recovery plans in place.

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Cloud-to-cloud backup is the practice of copying data that is stored on one cloud backup service to another cloud. Third-party cloud backup has gained popularity with small offices and home users because of its convenience: It takes the management and maintenance of hardware out of the equation for the customer.

A cloud-to-cloud backup service bestows complete control over the data while the organizations still continues to leverage the benefits of clouds.  However, security is one of the main concerns that tops any company’s agenda.

Dubbed as ‘Backup as a Service’ cloud-to-cloud backup transfers the data from the cloud hosting service to a cloud backup server.

Choosing a cloud vendor is equally important for C-suite and IT. Before choosing a cloud vendor make sure to consider the below points:  

Pointers for Choosing a Vendor

Before opting for any cloud-to-cloud backup vendor one should make sure and take into account every possibility to avoid any misfortune in the near future.

• A cloud-to-cloud data backup product should be compliant with various regulations and even if the organization is not subject to regulatory requirements, then also it a wise option to go for a vendor that meets the regulatory requirements.

• There’s a growing need for a strong e-discovery engine to locate any data and recover it properly when the requirement arises.

• The frequency with which data is backed up is a crucial factor. Some vendors allow data back up more frequently compared to others. Likewise, a vendor should offer an acceptable service-level agreement for data recovery.

• Cloud storage providers generally use a boilerplate Service-Level Agreement (SLA) for all their clients. While some terms, like average data access time, are fixed, IT organizations can always negotiate other terms. One should pay close attention to availability and downtime. Also there’s a need to look carefully at the terms pertaining to geography, security and privacy. Make sure the SLA specifies the scenarios under which the provider can read your data.

• There’s a wide gulf in the needs of individual users and small companies from those of an enterprise. While selecting a vendor, admin must consider if the service is designed for individuals and small businesses? Does it focus exclusively on the needs of medium-to-large organizations? Obviously the best choice is a service that specializes in specific fields catering to an organization’s needs.

• Using one vendor to backup multiple cloud services makes sense—but only if the vendor provides one interface with smooth, integrated search, oversight, and reporting across the different cloud services. So look for a cloud-to-cloud backup provider that, at least, plans to cover multiple cloud services.

• One should make sure that the provider’s plans for the platform are in line and tune with the projected needs of the company. Then there are certain questions one should consider before opting for a provider: Will it be able to back up multiple cloud services? Can it incorporate on-premise data? How future proof is the solution?

As there are so many different cloud-to-cloud data backup vendors, it is important to spend some time researching about the product that fits the bill perfectly for your organization.

Not only is an appropriate backup solution necessary to stay compliant but it also plays a defining role in preventing disruptions. Data can be lost, corrupted, or accidentally modified by an employee. A cloud-to-cloud backup solution gives an organization the much needed impetus and empowers it  to quickly revert back and access the data as needed. Moreover, a cloud backup not only keeps the data safe, it also ensures that easy access to data anytime, whether or not cloud hosting service is available or Software-as-a-Service platform is operating as it should. However, it's very important to work with a partner who is trustworthy, as they will be the one responsible for the keeping the data safe and secure.

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