Best Cloud Backup Services for Small Businesses in 2020
Cloud Acronis, Backup & Replication, Blackblaze, Carbonite Safe, Cloud, CrashPlan cloud, Google Drive, IDrive, Microsoft OneDriveIf you are running a business, one of your top priorities, aside from making sales, is security. When thinking about security, we usually think of getting the best antivirus software we can afford to prevent malware and other cybersecurity threats. Protection of data privacy from breach also comes into play. But security also includes having a reliable backup service for your system, and prevention of total data loss. In this regard, cloud backup storage comes into play.
A cloud backup storage, also called backup-as-a-service, is a remote, online, and managed backup service. It provides users with a way to backup, store, and recover their computer or server files quickly. Different companies offer this service to individuals and businesses. These kinds of backup services fall under cloud computing, which is making waves in the business landscape.
Cloud backup comes with a software program that can be configured to back up on schedule. Other cloud backup services can also run continuously to make changes in user systems in real-time.
Difference between Cloud Storage and Cloud Backup Systems
A server backup is the usual route individuals and businesses take to backup up files, folders, and entire systems. Cloud storage is also used to mirror specific files or folders, usually on common cloud servers like Dropbox, Google Drive, or One Drive, which makes it easy to collaborate and share files with other users.
But cloud storage is different. Cloud storage not just mirrors specific files. It copies your entire system redundantly and securely, distributing them to different remote storage systems you can access via the web.
Cloud backup ensures you have several backup copies of your files, so if something happens to your device or server, you can conduct a system restoration right away without affecting your business.
Here is a video from Cloudwards explaining the difference between cloud storage and cloud backup:
Video Source: Cloudwards / Cloud Storage vs. Cloud Backup—What’s the Difference?
According to Cloudwards, cloud backup files are copied or mirrored from a computer, server, or mobile device to the cloud. Because the data is stored remotely, it reduces the risk of total data lossbecause of that mirroring process.
If total data loss can be damaging to an individual, how much more for a business? Small businesses are still building their reputation and credibility. To have something as total data loss and data breach happen to them and affect their consumers can destroy the business’ credibility even before it gets established.
5 of the Best Cloud Backup Storage in 2020
Since having a cloud backup storage is crucial to a business, let us look at the best cloud backup storage service providers this 2020.
1. Acronis
Microsoft Office 365’s cloud service comes extra secure with Acronis Backup Standard Office 365 Subscription against accidental or intentional data deletion and other malicious behavior.
Acronis Backup Service can help businesses with the safe and secure storage of Office 365 applications, including OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Exchange Online.
To add to their backup service, it adds other powerful features such as disk-cloning, rescue-disk creation, and other system utilities and extra disk tools in a clean interface. It is user-friendly, performs fast and boasts of the quickest recovery speeds, and comes with an excellent mobile backup app.
Acronis Backup for Office 365 can be accessed with a subscription license. To use it in cloud deployment, however, the customer needs to purchase a license for the required number of seats and pay for sufficient Acronis Cloud Storage capacity for their backup maintenance.
Users can easily restore deleted items from their backup, even when subscription services have expired in Office 365.
With Acronis Backup Standard Office 365 Subscription, users can share backup plans between seats, get insights from advanced reporting systems, and use one centralized storage for all protected seats. Users can also conserve storage space with Acronis’ deduplication technology. Its uninterrupted surveillance through multiple levels of administration roles also makes users feel more secure.
2. IDrive
Recent reviews from the Business Daily and Windows Central choose IDrive as an excellent choice for small businesses. Its comprehensive cloud features make it stand out, from its online backup, cloud storage, to its file-sharing capabilities.
With IDrive, users have the option to schedule automated sync throughs or to have continuous backups. It provides group management capabilities, unlimited users, and devices, and to adjust plans according to your business’ needs. Small businesses also have the option of multiple device backup for all their computers, servers, and smart devices in one account.
It stores and transmits data securely with 256-bit AES encryption, and has a Snapshots feature that stores versions of your systems in storage, so you have the option in the future to restore your system from specific backup points.
IDrive is user friendly and cost-efficient. However, it has slower performance than some competitors, like Acronis, which I put in the first spot because it has one of the fastest speeds in system restoration.
3. OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive Cloud backups your office files with an initial 10GB of free space that comes with their free plan for all users. If you own an Office 365 subscription,it makes perfect sense to get OneDrive because of the convenience of having powerful cloud storage for your files.
Even more so, if you are a business collecting vast data month after month, a subscription to this cloud storage backup is well worth it. More than 85% of Fortune 500 companies trust and use OneDrive.
With OneDrive, you get access anywhere you are, through your mobile devices, laptop, or PC. AS you update files on one device, your files get updated on all other devices used to access OneDrive.
It also provides offline access to saving and changing your files. Once a connection is reestablished, OneDrive updates those changes on your cloud storage.
Aside from reliable backup services, OneDrive also protects your files. If anything happens to your devices, you can still retrieve the information stored on them from your OneDrive cloud backup storage.
Sharing and team collaboration is also made easier with OneDrive. You need not attach big files to email or physical drives. Because you can simply save it to your OneDrive account, it is also best to store in your Cloud service those files that are regularly accessed by the team, to make collaborative work much more efficient. Microsoft 365 OneDrive seeks to help you get more things done in your business.
4. Google Drive
Image Source
Google drive cloud Storage works seamlessly with G Suite integration. You get all the storage capacity you need, beginning with the free 1TB capacity that comes with every free plan.
But if you are running a business, it is best to get G Suite’s Business and Enterprise editions for more storage solutions fit for the demands of your business and the current budget you have for cloud storage.
It comes with a centralized administration, efficient data loss prevention, and features such as Vault for Drive where user management and file sharing becomes easy for users to help them meet data compliance needs.
Businesses can also get Google Drive as a standalone product through Drive Enterprise.
Google Drive boasts of Google AI, which can predict and identify what is urgent for its user in real-time. It includes essential content, main users and collaborators, and events.
Quick Access is another feature of Drive, which is a machine learning-based search enhancement that connects every user with the files that they often access or that need their attention.
Since GSuite is initially free, it is easy to get the entire team on GSuite apps to make collaborative work easier and more efficient. Drive is included in this. If there are budget constraints and you are in a season where you need to be resourceful with what you need to pay for and what you can use for free at the moment, then Google Drive is great to use.
You can purchase a bigger storage capacity for the most pertinent files that the team needs to access often. As your budget for digital and cloud assets grow, you can simply increase the storage capacity, or get the GSuite Enterprise for your growing business.
Premium plans are now rebranded as Google One. Subscriptions are available at different prices, but free users can store up to 15 GB of data. 100 GB of storage will cost around $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. Once you get the premium plan, you will also have access to Google experts, family sharing, and other exclusive features. Upgrades to 200GB, 1-TB, 20TB, and 30TB are also available, anywhere from $29.99 to $299.99 per year.
5. Backblaze
Backblaze Unlimited Backup promises to be the most accessible cloud backup and to help you never lose a file again. Businesses can have peace of mind knowing that their files are secure in the cloud without breaking their budget too. Users can keep old versions of files or systems between a year to forever, at the cost of around $2 per month.
It is well-recommended by experts, including the New York Times and Macworld. Backblaze comes with unlimited online backup for unlimited file size, which can include documents, photos, videos, other media, and files from your external drives. The transfer and recovery speed is fast, and the interface is very user-friendly, even for the non-tech-savvy.
It keeps your data safe as well with their secure data centers that have 24/7 staff support, biometric security, and redundant power system. It also uses comprehensive encryption to protect your data and provides users with personal encryption keys for extra protection.
However, if you are one who likes to customize settings, you may not be satisfied with how user-friendly and straightforward Backblaze is. It also lacks features compared to other cloud storage backup, works for limited devices, and provides no image and mobile backup.
6. Carbonite Safe
Carbonite Safe, unlike Backblaze, can cover as many devices as you need. It has a version for Home use and Business use, both with an affordable per month value of $6 per month and $24 per month, respectively.
Carbonite Safe can efficiently manage your backups for you, so you can focus on what you do best in your business. You can even set initial backups automatically, with changed files uploaded incrementally.
It has robust encryption using multiple technologies like 128-bit Blowfish and TLS for storing and transmission of files, respectively. It also has image backup and bare-metal restore and backup for databases and other applications.
7. CrashPlan
CrashPlan’s cloud backup software works great to protect small business data. Its backup solutions work seamlessly online, giving continuous protection. Your business keeps operating and will not be slowed down by automatic, continuous backup and protection running in the background.
With CrashPlan, there are no file size restrictions, no additional charge for extra space. Users can also customize file retention, and choose which files to keep, delete, or restore. In the event of ransomware and other attacks, users can still recover their data without having to pay a ransom or stopping business operations because of data loss.
Even external hard drives get protection and backup for no additional cost. Experience state-of-the-art security with CrashPlan’s 256-bit AES data encryption. CrashPlan also provides dedicated support by phone, chat, email.
Conclusion: Cloud Backup Storage is a Wise Business Move
Backup is one of the crucial security points every business must get right. Just like we cover our businesses with robust physical protection, we also need to protect our businesses digitally and data-wise. There are so many uncertainties that beset every business owner. Whatever happens locally, it will not affect the data that is backed up properly and efficiently.
A business can restart as soon as possible, recover lost or destroyed files immediately, and avoid the risk of losing business or reputation.
With a proper cloud storage backup, critical files and administrative tools are quickly recovered for use as soon as possible as well, even right after an attack, or whatever untoward incident that caused data loss on your physical devices or servers. That is the most significant benefit of cloud storage backup that every business must consider and invest in. Doing so will be a wise move business owners can make for their company and their customers.
Author: Mayleen Meñez
Mayleen Meñez worked for seven years in TV and Radio production, and also as a Graphic Artist/Editor. Finding her true passion, she devoted 15 years in NGO and community development work, where she experienced being a coordinator and teacher, travelling both in the Philippines and countries in Asia. She homeschools her three kids and reinvents Filipino dishes in her spare time. Writing has always been a hobby and pursuit, and she recently added content writing with Softvire Australia and Softvire New Zealand up her sleeve, while preparing for her next adventure in the nations.