E-Handbook: Enterprise backup as a service protects data for remote users Article 1 of 4

Backup as a service is the prescription for your backup woes

If you've been putting off the jump to enterprise backup as a service, there's no time like the present.

Cloud-based backup as a service is a popular option for data protection, especially at a time when many organizations are working from home and realizing the benefits of remote work. While it was widespread before, use of the cloud is having a moment in this post-coronavirus world. Indications are that cloud spending is on the rise as organizations take advantage of its cost benefits and remote nature, and that applies to data backup.

The technology has evolved and improved from its beginnings more than a decade ago, and it can now provide users with a true managed service to back up critical data. Some IT administrators might like more control of their backups, but if you want to "set it and forget it," then backup as a service could be your best option. Simplicity and ease of use are big selling points, especially as businesses struggle with many other complications as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Vendor choices range from established data protection providers, such as Arcserve, to new entrants in the market, like Clumio. And enterprise backup as a service reaches a broad range of workloads, whether it's infrastructure, such as VMware; infrastructure as a service, such as AWS; or software as a service, such as Microsoft 365. Users need to ensure they back up all their workloads -- SaaS-specific data, especially, has less native protection than many realize.

This handbook provides guidance on the benefits of enterprise backup as a service, shows how the technology has progressed over the years, and lays out challenges and pain points users may experience.