Weighing the Pros and Cons of Cloud vs. On-Premises Backup

We wanted to tackle the great debate between cloud versus on-premises backup as succinctly as possible from a different angle: introduce a situation and describe why one may be better to use over the other. Of course, organizations must consider all these factors together when deciding on their data backup strategy. We do not mention the hybrid approach, utilizing both cloud and on-premises, which most of the time can be the best solution. We wanted to keep this simple and short.

First, let’s quickly review what backup is and the general pros of each. Data backup refers to the process of creating copies of data and storing them in a separate location from the original data source. The primary purpose of data backup is to protect against data loss by providing a means of recovering lost or corrupted data. The two data backup solutions are cloud and on-site storage devices. The “cloud” refers to 3rd party services that provide a secure remote repository accessed by users via the internet.

Accessibility and Flexibility: Companies that encourage or allow working from home or the employees travel for work frequently and need to access data would require an internet connection to access data. There are ways for organizations to set up remote connections to on-premises backup servers, but that creates more front-end costs and maintenance.

Recommendation: Cloud

Customization: If an organization has unique backup needs, such as strict compliance or a large variety of access restrictions, then they will need the autonomy to configure it as they need. Most cloud backup options have limits on how the backup can be configured.

Recommendation: On-premises

Unpredictable Growth or downsizing: The servers companies purchased and configured are all that they have. They can purchase enough hardware up front to ensure they have enough data storage to scale quickly, but that can be cost prohibitive. They could be in a bind if they do not have enough storage. Cloud providers allow companies to purchase more data storage when needed and reduce storage if they downsize. 

Recommendation: Cloud

Security: Organization have enough expertise to ensure they build secure infrastructure on premises. They also need to consider natural disasters like fires, storms, etc., which can cause data loss. Meanwhile, organizations would have to trust their cloud provider has robust security measures in place that meet their standards. Speed of recovery usually favors the on-premises solution.

Recommendation: Cloud (some situations can call for on-premises)

Cost: An organization must have enough money up front to consider building on-premises data storage. Once the infrastructure has been built, the organization must pay for the maintenance of the servers and the employees to do it. Organizations incur a recurring cost when using a cloud provider that is consistently lower than the maintenance and staff.

Recommendation: Cloud

While cloud backup provides flexibility, scalability, and off-site protection against disasters, it entails ongoing costs and reliance on internet connectivity. On the other hand, on-premises backup offers autonomy, compliance assurance, and faster access but requires upfront capital investment and may lack scalability.

By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each approach and aligning them with your business objectives, you can develop a robust data backup strategy that safeguards your critical assets and ensures business continuity in the face of unforeseen challenges.