Total system failures and lost files can be crippling for small businesses. Without the wealth of data that organisations acquire over months and years of trading, operations can grind to a halt, while the loss of sensitive information belonging to customers and employees can result in hefty fines imposed by regulators.

Your business’s server is a goldmine of information, without which your enterprise may struggle to even exist. If you’re unable to access the data, precious time is wasted implementing contingency plans and trying to repair the damage – and the long-term effects can be disastrous.

Offsite server backup solutions protect your business against a data loss disaster, enabling you to return to normal operations quickly by restoring files so they’re at your fingertips when you need them.

What Is An Offsite Server Backup?

Your server is the brain of your business, an immense mass storage device on which every document, image, file, and application are stored. With multiple computers connected to the server, your staff can access the same files whenever they need.

An offsite server is a similar storage facility located off-site. If your server experiences severe technical problems, or your premises is affected by a serious incident, such as a fire, the offsite server will be unaffected. With the contents of your server copied to the offsite server, every file and application your business needs to operate will be safe and secure.

What Features Of An Offsite Server Should I Look For?

When exploring the different offsite server solutions available, it’s important to choose one that works for your business. Most offsite servers offer similar tools and features, so look out for:

File compression and deduplication
The more space your backups occupy on the offsite server, the more it’ll cost you. Block-level compression and deduplication can reduce storage costs considerably, whereas uncompressed backups simply copy over the contents of your server with no attempt to minimise space.

Automated scheduling
Instead of wasting time manually backing up your server, automated scheduling ensures that the process is completed at a set time, regularly. Ideally, server backups should take place every 24 hours but, with automated scheduling, you don’t even need to remember to do it.

Enterprise-grade encryption
If you’re backing up your business’s important data to another server that is offsite, you’ll want the reassurance that your files are secure. Enterprise-grade encryption ensures that all files are encrypted in storage and can only be accessed by inputting a passphrase that is only known to you.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Access to your company’s data from remote locations in becoming increasing important, so a File Transfer Protocol enables the easy movement of data from one location to another. Wherever you are, you can access your business data, enabling you to make those important instant decisions to drive your organisation’s growth.

Offsite Server Backup From F1 Support

At F1 Support, we can set up and manage your business’s offsite server backups on your behalf, ensuring your data is securely stored as part of your Disaster Recovery Plan. If the worst happens, we’ll recover your data, enabling your operations to return to normal in no time. For more information on our data management services, simply get in touch with one of our experts.

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