Where Do I Store My Backup Drives?

The simple answer: a third-party offsite storage facility.

Offsite storage of data backup is essential to the security of any information for businesses big and small.

Why Offsite?

Ease of access is the main “reason” businesses choose to store their data backup onsite. While seemingly convenient, onsite storage practices are extremely dangerous. While this type of storage may protect your business from viruses, hacking, or other software and hardware related problems, onsite storage does not protect from disasters and other hazardous situations. In the event of fire, theft, or other disaster both your primary and backup data may be destroyed, and all the cost and planning of your backup system will have been in vain.
Offsite storage protects your business from both internal and external errors and events. As far as ease of access is concerned, many third-party storage facilities promise same-day delivery of any portion of your backup at no additional cost.

Why a Third Party?

The importance of storing data backup at a third party location would take up blog posts for weeks to get through (which we will do). But we’ll sum up some basics today.

1. Security and Legality
   Some companies hand backup tapes to a secretary or other employee to take home each night. While there are some obvious security issues with this process, there are legal problems associated with it as well, primarily the fact that the practice of any employee taking backup data home with them is completely illegal. A company that loses a backup tape being stored in such a manner is considered negligent and loses all insurance protection associated with the loss. This can result in huge losses, lawsuits, and legal trouble. In short, just don’t do it.
2. Cost
   Provided backup data is not being sent home with an employee, another means of data storage needs to be provided. As we’ve noted the importance of offsite storage, trying to set up your own offsite storage facility is expensive. Backup data should be stored according to particular standards and procedures which are not available at a typical storage unit. Not only is it a headache to set up your own self-storage unit, the cost of self storage far exceeds that of a storage facility specialized in data storage and records management. The main issue with cost is that a business using a self-storage unit cannot rent a small enough space to make it worth it. Specialized records management companies, on the other hand, store and price based on units, not square footage. For example, if you only have five backup tapes, you can store them at a records management facility for less than a dollar per tape. However, if you are using a self-storage unit, you’ll end up paying for an entire 8x8 unit to store five tapes!
   
3. Specialization
   Self-storage units are not equipped with the right technology to safely store data backup. Water damage, climate control, security, and accessibility are all problem areas associated with self-storage units. Records management companies are specialized in data backup storage and its proper care. Their facilities are required to meet certain standards specifically designed for data backup storage.

Ok, so let’s summarize the importance of third-party offsite storage for data backup.

1. Less expensive
   
2. Less liability/more protection
   
3. Easy to access
   

In my opinion, it’s a no-brainer. Data backup should always be done by a third party. It will save your business time and money.