Part of:Archive and backup: Protect data in the long term
4 long-term backup options for enterprise data
Data backups ensure copies of critical data are available in the event of a crisis or failure. When backing up long-term data, cost and capacity are vital considerations.
Data backups are among an organization's most valuable resources, and where they are stored is critical. Business leaders must have a strong understanding of their organization's backup data when choosing a long-term storage option to ensure that data is secure, organized and accessible when needed.
Not all backup data is suited to long-term storage. For organizations engaged in historical archiving, such as libraries, low-cost long-term backups are critical. In regulated industries such as healthcare, where data retention is subject to strict compliance regulations, reliable long-term backups are paramount in the event of a disaster.
Security is a key factor for all storage, but organizations working with long-term data backups should also pay close attention to access, cost and capacity. Since long-term data isn't accessed as often as mission-critical files, performance and retrieval times for these backups can be lower than for high-priority data.
This can vary if the organization is subject to service-level agreements (SLAs) that require rapid recovery times.
Organizations that store backups of long-term data must retain many files indefinitely, so high capacity and low cost are vital elements of the chosen storage method. If a company has a larger budget, it might be able to prioritize access over cost. However, with long-term data backups, lower prices are often chosen over high-speed performance.
Security is a key factor for all storage, but organizations working with long-term data backups should also pay particular attention to access, cost and capacity.
Below are four options to consider when selecting a long-term data backup method.
1. Tape
Tape storage has long been a staple for backup data. While newer technologies have come along, many organizations still use tape for long-term backup and data archiving.
The biggest advantage of tape is the price. Tape offers the lowest storage cost per gigabyte. This makes it well-suited for large capacities with long retention periods, as in long-term data backup.
Another key attribute for tape is its ability to create a physical air gap, which has become a crucial security element for protecting against ransomware and other network attacks. If an organization is particularly concerned about cyber threats, the offline nature of tape makes it a strong choice for long-term backups.
The clear downside of tape is slow data access. If a business must restore backup data quickly and often, tape might not be the correct choice. This is particularly an issue for organizations that must meet compliance regulations or SLAs that require a fast restore.
2. Disk
Disk storage has become a popular option as a backup method due to its improved performance over tape, while still offering attractive economics. Disk provides much faster access than tape, with a lower price tag than higher-performance flash devices. This makes disk well-suited for backup environments by providing low-cost storage for large capacities of long-term backup data, along with sufficient performance when a restoration is necessary.
3. Flash
Flash storage is a strong choice for high-performance workloads, and organizations typically use flash for primary workloads rather than backups. High-performance SSDs might be needed in certain backup environments that require rapid restore times, but this is rare for long-term backup.
In recent years, the economics of flash devices have changed, and SSDs might become a more practical choice even for long-term applications. Quad-level cell devices offer denser, lower-cost storage comparable to disk. Along with a performance advantage, flash might be able to edge out disk for long-term backup due to its lower energy consumption, high reliability and long lifespan.
4. Public cloud
Public cloud is another option for long-term data backup, with some caveats. The performance and economic benefits of cloud depend not only on the selected service provider but also on the chosen storage tier. For long-term data, the most appropriate choice might be a cool or cold tier, such as S3 Infrequent Access or Glacier from AWS, or Azure's cool storage tier and offline Blob Storage.
These options offer low-cost storage with the advantage of moving the infrastructure and management responsibilities off premises. However, restores from these storage tiers can incur large costs. Colder storage tiers might have a long recovery time, even more so than on-premises tape. Quicker retrieval times may be available from some providers, but likely at a higher price point. With this in mind, organizations that require frequent access to backups should consider a warmer cloud tier or an alternative on-premises option.
Mitch Lewis is a research associate at Evaluator Group. He provides insight into the IT landscape for enterprises, IT pros and technology enthusiasts alike.
