Managed Service Provider Backup

What is MSP Backup and Recovery?

MSP backup can be a cloud-based, hybrid, or local platform, offered by managed service providers where information and business configurations are stored. It refers to a process by which the data is collected in a local server or a cloud server provided by the MSPs. Data is stored in these servers in case it is required for recovery. In case of data corruption and deletion, hacks, or other discrepancies in information storage MSP Backups can be used to recover data. Data recovery is also a part of this process where data can be retrieved in the event of crisis.

MSP backup initially completes a full backup of the available data in the system. Then it performs incremental backups, as and when data is updated. This reduces traffic on the cloud network. Businesses or organizations can keep track of the data being stored and the status of the storage server is always accessible to the client.

Different specified services are required to save all the system settings and system data. The MSP backup service does not allow hundred percent restoration of system data. Despite this limitation, an MSP backup is a must-have in any disaster management plan. It is a sensible form of disaster recovery and a mandatory data-loss prevention measure.

Types of Data Backup

Implementing an effective strategy to manage backups can be difficult. Backup software is developed to cut off on the complexities revolving around backup and recovery. The main agenda of backup software is protecting data. There are three common types of backup:

1. Full backup: It is a simple backup operation that backs up all the data available in the system. It takes a long time to perform this operation. It also requires a huge amount of storage space. Therefore, to efficiently put this to use, it is used along with either an incremental or a differential backup.
2. Incremental backup: This backup performs an operation that ensures all the altered and updated data are stored safely. It will keep a track of the time and date of all backup operations. It is a simpler operation. It is also faster and consumes less storage.
3. Differential backup: This backup continues to update and save all the data that has undergone changes since the last full backup.

There is another kind of backup available that is a mandatory aspect to consider while planning for data storage and security. It is called the Disaster Recovery (DR) backup.

Disaster Recovery: it is used for restoring hardware, applications, and data for business continuity. It helps in setting the objectives on recovery points and recovery time.

Disaster recovery backup measures can be sectioned into three parts:

• Preventive Measures: they aim at preventing an event of crisis or crash.
• Corrective Measures: they are placed to rectify a system in an event of disaster or crisis.
• Detective Measures: They focus upon anticipating and detecting events of the crisis.

Provisions for backup Solutions

Depending upon your business plan, availability of resources, and necessities there are two kinds of backup solutions: offsite and independent drives. Offsite storage is performed in remote or local servers, whereas independent drives include storage devices such as hard drives, CDs, pen drives, etc. Depending upon what kind of data a client needs to keep the business or organization running, one may choose to backup data on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

1. Offsite storage: it provides more storage than independent drives. It comes at a recurring charge that is paid by the client to the MSPs. They are a perfect fit for data recovery as they provide a huge amount of data to store at a very nominal price. A safe and secure information storage system is important in the long run for all businesses. The data is further backed up in the offsite storage drives in case the offsite server crashes. It is a safe method of keeping data safe.
2. Independent drives: keeping data stored in independent drives is another safe option. They are easy to use plug-and-play devices, so information storage and recovery become easy as well. There are a variety of volumes available as storage drives. External drive storage is a one-time purchase cost. They work fine until they crash. Independent drives fall short in the protection of business data.
3. Cloud services: Cloud services refer to the process of encrypting and copying primary data over a public or proprietary network to offsite servers. The cloud server is hosted by another Cloud service provider who charges a fee following the bandwidth and amount of data stored. The number of users plays a factor in determining the fee as well.

Database Management Systems (DBMS) help you manage databases easily and organize data properly. DBMS allows storage, alteration, and collection of data from databases. It enables transactions to be performed and also protects data. An example of a  sound backup and recovery software is Veritas NetBackup. Another example of MSP backup software is NovaBackup and N-Able.

Advantages of MSP Backup and Recovery Services

There are many advantages of MSP Backup and Recovery services. The most common and important of them is keeping a copy of important bulk data of a business or an organization. In case the data gets deleted due to some disaster, or if a computer crashes, the lost data can be retrieved.

Here are a few benefits of MSP Backup and Recovery Services::

• Cloud backup: Managing offsite backup is easy. But cloud backups are more flexible and easier to access data from.
• Storage server: A cloud storage server allows the entire data storage system to be operated from the storage server.
• Flexible licensing: Reduces the cost of MSP backup services with all-inclusive planning.
• Seeding to and from the cloud: In this kind of backup, ****the initial full backup to the local device is seeded to the cloud. Full restoration of data is reversely seeded from the cloud via an encrypted drive. This ensures overall security and confidentiality of data.
• Local backup: It allows file and media backup in local servers and hardware.
• Disaster recovery: It offers an incredibly fast physical-to-virtual restoration of data.
• Central monitoring: This kind of backup includes client and MSP monitoring from local and offsite backup devices from anywhere.
• Multi-tenancy platform: This can create accounts for customers, clients, departments, and groups with access as required.

Well, that's not all! Tom Watson, Chief Channel Advisor from NinjaRMM shares a few more tips on how MSPs can offer a compelling security proposition. What are you waiting for? Check it out ;)

Conclusion

There are various kinds of plans provided by MSPs to their clients in regards to their backup and recovery services. In this article, we have thoroughly discussed the types of data backup and the advantages of data backup and recovery. The need for data recovery and data backup has increased drastically. With the technological boom and the world turning digital, all existing businesses and organizations are required to avail MSP backup and recovery services for easy optimization of data and security of data.