Essential Guide

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Editor's note

Cloud-based backup is an increasingly popular strategy for backing up data that involves sending a copy of the data over an internet connection to an off-site server.

There are many elements to cloud-based backups, and different strategies to take, so it's important to understand best practices, benefits and potential issues. For example, cloud-to-cloud backup is one emerging technology out of the cloud-based backup market.

There are challenges to cloud-based backup. Cloud backup security is often a concern, but it has improved over the years.

With this Essential Guide, learn some of the pros and cons of cloud backup, and receive expert advice about the evolving technology arena.

1Cloud backup strategy

Lots of vendors offer cloud-based backup services, but they have varying levels of features and capabilities. Make sure you know what you're looking for before taking the cloud backup plunge.

2Cloud-to-cloud and SaaS backup

Cloud-to-cloud backup is the practice of copying data that is stored on one cloud service to another cloud. You might hear the practice referred to as software-as-a-service (SaaS) backup. Just note that a backup of SaaS data doesn't necessarily have to go to another cloud. With vendors frequently releasing cloud-to-cloud backup products, it's critical to recognize what features are important.

3Cloud backup security and ransomware protection

There are steps you can take to improve security of your cloud-based backup. In addition, cloud backups can help protect your organization from cyberthreats such as ransomware.