CLOUD BACKUP
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Cloud connection Another area to consider is the importance of diversification, redundancy and interoperability of infrastructures, providers and tech stacks, as well as the need to consider low-latency, high bandwidth connectivity to clouds, says Dr Christoph Dietzel, head of global products and research at DE-CIX. “All these components are needed to ensure a seamless failover in the event of an outage,” he says. “How companies connect to their chosen clouds is unfortunately often neglected in the formulation of a cloud strategy, but for cloud backups and business continuity it is an essential component of the infrastructure planning and design. Because critical workloads demand a seamless failover in the event of an outage, connectivity to clouds must be low latency and high bandwidth, and for this, direct connectivity to cloud service providers should be considered. “The path that companies often take to the cloud – over the public internet – is appallingly insufficient for the task. The best way to ensure secure and low latency connectivity to the cloud is to connect the company infrastructure directly, and with sufficiently dimensioned network capacity to the clouds in question using the private connectivity solution that each cloud service provider offers. This can be implemented via a connectivity solution provider, but if more than one cloud is being used, an interconnection platform or cloud exchange is a more efficient option. The result is dedicated cloud connectivity with guaranteed capacity, also ensuring the security of the data being transferred. Making sure the bandwidth can be scaled as required means that not only will it be necessary to appropriately dimension the network capacity, but also any hardware and connectors between the networks. Direct interconnection is not only beneficial for the performance of data transfer, but it is also more secure and protected against the risks of the public internet, including shielding data transfer from DDoS attacks.” Dr Christoph adds that the lack of interoperability between different cloud providers’ infrastructures also poses a challenge to creating a harmonised hybrid or multi-cloud scenario and enabling cloud-to- cloud communication. “In a nutshell, a process of translation between the infrastructure of cloud providers is necessary,” he says. “Some cloud exchanges CONTINUED
platforms. Providers offer and maintain services that facilitate seamless backup and recovery in diverse cloud environments.” James adds that with the rise of AI and machine learning, integrating technologies is a must. “This includes the use of AI for predictive analysis, automation of backup processes, and intelligent data management,” he says. “These technologies are enhancing efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.” How data is backed up But Tom Henson, managing director at Emerge Digital, adds that as businesses transition from server-based backups to cloud-based app backups, it's crucial to consider not just how data is backed up, but also how to restore the full context of an app, including metadata like access permissions. “The demand is increasing for real-time backups, enhanced data recovery and stronger security,” he says. “To meet these needs, providers are enhancing their offerings with AI, ensuring backups are not just stored but also smartly managed, preserving all aspects of the app environment.” Stew Parkin, global CTO, Assured Data Protection, adds that dedicated cloud data management services enable businesses to account for the high volumes of data spread across data centres, cloud servers, SaaS platforms and the complexities that brings. “There are several practical and commercial benefits to adopting cloud data management for modern enterprises, and even growing SME organisations, all of which result in greater resilience and business success,” he says. “Managed cloud backup ensures the process of data management is fluid, accounting for all critical data from across the organisation, regardless of whether it is stored on-premises or in a public or hybrid cloud environment. The managed cloud backup function provides businesses with hands-on 24/7 support, constant reporting, and the ability to switch to a second, clean site where all company data, IT and operations will be up and running in the event of an outage, ransomware attack or natural disaster. “Managed cloud backup is designed to align with company risk management and data protection policies, and regulatory compliance, while also lightening the workload of the IT team, freeing them up to focus on digital transformation projects.”
James Abercrombie
acronis.com
Tom Henson
emerge.digital
Stew Parkin
assured-dp.com
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