Get complete data protection with a reliable, trusted cloud backup services provider; efficient, scalable & affordable backup solutions proven to keep your data secure. You don’t need to be afraid to switch to cloud backup services as long as you follow some basic tips to protect your data. If you are looking for a trusted, secure, and reliable backup solution for your business, contact DSC, Digital Service Consultants today.

button_contact-dsc-today

“Excellent customer service!!! Thank you for all you do DSC!” – TrentEppsMusic
Read more customer reviews

Cloud Backup Services – Tips to Protect Your Data

cloud backup services

Cloud backup services offer a highly efficient, scalable, and reasonably priced storage solution for your data. Cloud storage is becoming increasingly popular for business data storage solutions, however, there are still concerns about how safe this type of additional storage actually is. Here are some helpful tips to follow when backing up your information on the cloud to help protect your data. If you would like to learn more about what cloud storage is, click here.

Tip #1: Back Up Your Data Locally and Offsite

If you haven’t heard of the 3-2-1 rule, you should pay attention. Most businesses have adopted this as an industry best practice. Here’s how the rule works:
3 – Always have 3 copies of your data at all times.
2 – Keep the 3 copies in 2 different types of storage.
1 – Make sure that at least one copy of your data is stored offsite.

many devices

Cloud storage is a great way to efficiently and economically handle your offsite backup storage. However, with the growing numbers of devices that need to be backed up (desktops, servers, and mobile devices) coming up with an appropriate and effective backup strategy can be complicated. There are companies that specialize in cloud backup solutions that can help you design and implement a strategy that meets your business’ unique needs at an affordable price point.

In addition to your cloud backup services, you may also need a backup recovery service. If your company has a large amount of data, then it could take days to download it from the cloud. This could mean a significant loss of time and money. Some backup service companies will provide a recovery service that will “overnight” or hand-deliver a hard-drive with critical system data.

Days taken to download missing data from the cloud can translate to lost time and money. In much the same way that seeding services are provided, recovery services that provide an overnighted or hand-delivered hard drive with critical system data are also available from some vendors. This can be a good option if a local backup isn’t available.

Another option that many businesses are adopting is server colocation.  This is where a company rents space in a colocation data centre to house their own servers. The server is owned by the company but the colocation centre provides the physical space for the server as well as the power, network resources, maintenance and monitoring to keep it running properly. To learn more about server colocation, click here.

Tip #2: Make Sure Your Cloud Service Provider Uses Encryption

encryption

It is important to make sure that your data is being transferred to the cloud in a safe and secure manner. Therefore you should find out if your cloud service provider uses encryption. Encryption is a process of encoding data. It basically scrambles your data so that it is unintelligible. Usually, encrypted data is combined with an encryption key. Encryption keys are a collection of algorithms which are designed to be totally unique and are able to scramble and unscramble the data. Without the proper key, the encrypted data cannot be “unlocked” or made readable.
Encryption for data transfer: There are different types of encryption. Secure Socket Layer (SSL)  encryption is often used for sending and receiving data. This type of encryption will greatly minimize the threat of a hacker being able to intercept and steal your data as it is being transferred.

Encryption for data storage: It is not enough to have your data encrypted while it is being transferred. It should also be encrypted once it arrives at its destination. You will want your data to be encrypted with the most secure form available. One such type of encryption is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Tip #3: Use Passwords That are Difficult to Crack

password protection

Cracking passwords is probably the number one cause of cyber breaches. It is important to have secure passwords and to follow some simple rules.

1. Make sure you have a different password for each and every account you have. Don’t be tempted to use the same password multiple times.
2. You can make your passwords stronger by making them long and including both numbers and mixed-case letters as well as special characters such as ! ? # $ % & *.
3. Avoid using words or names that could be associated with you. Choose random words or don’t use actual words at all.
4. Change your passwords frequently.
5. Don’t save your passwords on your computer or any device that is connected to the Internet.
6. It is always best to memorize passwords instead of writing them down.
7. Use a password management application. Because it is difficult to remember so many complex passwords, many IT security experts recommend using a password management application which will generate and remember complex and unlimited passwords for you. To find out more about this type of application, click here.

Tip #4: Avoid Storing Sensitive Material On the Cloud

financial data

It is virtually impossible for your information to be 100% secure on the Internet. The very nature of the internet prevents that. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use cloud services to backup your information. Instead, you should be selective about the types of information that you choose to save there. Avoid storing highly sensitive information such as your passwords, banking information, or intellectual property such as patents and copyrights on the cloud. Even if you and your cloud service provider has taken every possible precaution to protect your data, this type of information could end up in the wrong hands.

Tip #5: Ask Lots of Questions About How Their Cloud Backup Service Works

backup system

Not all cloud backup service providers are alike. Make sure that you do your research and find out how they store your data and what security features they provide. Ask them about the type of encryption that is provided and any additional security features that they provide. If you don’t fully understand what they are saying, ask more questions. Don’t leave the safety of your information to chance. Find out if they will help you to set up and maintain a robust backup plan to suit your business. Find out if they monitor their systems 24 hours a day to make sure that everything is always running smoothly.

Here’s a handy infographic to summarize:

10 Tips To Secure Your Cloud Data

 

DSC  – The Safe and Secure Cloud Backup Service Provider

Your information is valuable, so don’t trust it to just anyone. DSC has been a trusted name in the IT industry for over 30 years. We are experts in the IT field and can provide you with the safe and secure cloud backup services you need. We provide a full range of internet-related services including cloud backup, colocation, system monitoring, software hosting, dedicated email, website development and implementation, web hosting, e-commerce, security, and a variety of related products and services. We also provide network support for Linus, Microsoft server and workstation platforms, Fortinet firewalls, and Cisco systems. Contact us today for all of your internet-related requirements.

For further reading: Check out our post “Server Colocation in Atlanta – the Ultimate Guide

Sources:
7 Effective Tips to Secure Your Data in the Cloud

Best Cloud Backup Services for Business