News in the Channel - issue #14

CLOUD BACKUP

– in part because of the continued increase in cyberattacks – cloud backup really should be seen as an essential investment.” But despite this, many organisations are still widely unaware of the need to have backup and recovery solutions for their SaaS applications, Graham adds. “In that regard, there is a growing recognition that SaaS backup and data protection is critical, simply because many businesses rely heavily on the applications they use,” he says. “There is also a trend to move towards a best of breed approach when it comes to SaaS data protection and backup. While many applications offer data protection services as part of their offering, organisations are starting to realise that when it comes to critical applications, it is preferable to find the most suited and specialised solutions delivered by vendors with deep knowledge of the applications being protected. This argument also ensures that organisations are protecting their data independently from the environment or the SaaS application they are using.” Trends But while customers may want best of breed, as Javvad Malik, lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, notes, they also want solutions to be as simple as possible. “Like most technologies, users are often seeking simplicity in functionality and ease of integration,” he says. “Backups should be seamless, automated and as foolproof as possible. But more importantly, they should have multi layered security to protect against insider and external threats. Users should do a thorough due diligence of backup providers to ensure they are fit for purpose. “While the topic of backups may not excite

most, we will likely see increased innovation in this space in the coming months and years. Looking to integrate backup strategies into overall organisational resilience.” James Abercrombie, Acronis tech evangelist, agrees that customers are seeking cloud backup solutions that are easy to implement, manage and scale. “Providers are responding by offering user-friendly interfaces, automated backup processes, and simplified management tools to streamline operations,” he says. “Cost efficiency is a key consideration for customers. Cloud backup providers are offering pricing models that align with customer needs, including pay-as-you-go options and tiered pricing based on storage usage. “With the growing awareness regarding the importance of disaster recovery, customers are seeking cloud backup solutions that offer robust and efficient disaster recovery capabilities. Providers are investing in technologies that enable faster recovery times and minimal data loss.” Combined solutions Allied to that, customers are preferring hybrid cloud solutions that combine on-premises and cloud-based storage into one solution. “This approach provides flexibility, scalability and allows organisations to maintain control over critical data,” he says. “Customers are increasingly looking for cloud backup solutions that offer comprehensive data management and visibility features. This includes the ability to track and analyse data usage, optimise storage resources, and gain insights into data patterns. “As organisations adopt multi-cloud strategies, there is a demand for backup solutions that support data protection across multiple cloud

Graham Russell

owndata.com

Javvad Malik

knowbe4.com

While the topic of backups may not excite most, we will likely “ see increased innovation in this space in the coming months and years.

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