All about outsourced backup: definition, advantages and comparative solutions

SMEs, start-ups, major corporations: all companies are concerned by IT backup. But what about outsourced backup?

If you want to reduce the risk of data loss to zero, and preserve your company's information capital, this is a solution worth considering.

We explain what outsourced backup is, its advantages and the different solutions on the market.

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What is outsourced backup?

Outsourced backup: definition

For a company, outsourced backup means entrusting all or part of the backup process to a service provider, who will manage the storage of its computer data in datacenters external to the company. This is also known as outsourcing.

The service provider duplicates, encrypts and secures the company's information system data, with the aim of eThe service provider duplicates, encrypts and secures the company's information system data, with the aim of preventing the loss of files or access to the information system, even temporarily, as well as the costs associated with restoring them.

The company thus has an up-to-date copy of all its data, whether sensitive or not, on a secure remote server.

A distinction is made between physical outsourced backup and professional online backup:

• external hard disk at the service provider's premises,
• FTP export, which manually sends the backup to a remote server,
• NAS hosted in a third-party data center meeting high security standards,
• back-up in the cloud.

How outsourced backup works

But how exactly does outsourced backup work?

1. Files on your local network are copied to one or more remote servers;
2. Encrypted data is transmitted via the Internet to be stored on the service provider's servers;
3. Backups are either scheduled to take place at a fixed frequency or in real time;
4. An automatic connection and synchronization is set up between the various user company workstations and the provider's web server.

💡 One recommendation is to keep three copies, on at least two different media, with a backup on an off-site location in addition. This is the 3-2-1 rule.

The different types of outsourced backup

1. Full backup

Also known as full back-up, this involves backing up all your data. This method should be carried out on a one-off basis, as it can be time-consuming and tedious depending on the amount of company data to be backed up.

💡 It is also generally not advisable to modify data at the same time, as this can disrupt the backup process.

2. Full synthetic backup

Also known as full synthetic is a faster complete backup of your data. It identifies and backs up only the changes that have taken place, without unnecessarily backing up what has already been backed up.

3. Incremental backup

Also known as incremental back-up, an incremental backup consists of backing up only the data that has changed since the previous backup.

Fast to implement, it enables regular backups to be made without impacting business.

💡 One of the most effective strategies is to perform a weekly full backup and a daily incremental backup.

4. Differential backup

Unlike the incremental backup, the differential backup backs up data that has changed since the previous full backup.

As time goes by, the number of new data items to be backed up increases, making the process less agile and fluid than incremental backup.

Different storage formats

These different types of backup may use a different storage format:

• file mode: each time a file is modified, the entire file is saved again;
• block mode: this divides a file into several blocks, so that only the block affected by the modification is saved;
• object mode: the file is fragmented into distinct sections called objects, each saved on a different machine.

The advantages of outsourced backup

1. Restores data in the event of loss

The main advantage of outsourced backup is its ability to protect against any type of incident:

• computer virus infections,
• hardware failure,
• theft,
• deletion by mistake,
• human accident (spilled liquid),
• malicious acts (former employee),
• cybercrime (hacking, ransomware),
• electrical surges,
• disasters (floods, fires, etc.).

👉 These can wipe out your precious data in the blink of an eye, and your entire business can come to a temporary or even permanent standstill, leading to negative consequences.

2. Ensure business continuity

By backing up and restoring your data in a matter of hours or days, depending on your data and your service provider, you limit the time your platform is unavailable and your business is suspended.

This means :

• lower financial losses,
• and a guarantee of reliability and trust with your customers.

3. Secure your data

By entrusting your data to a trusted service provider, you can be sure it's safe, since it's encrypted. This has the advantage of thwarting a malicious attack intent on stealing the data, since it is unreadable.

What's more, since the data is sometimes stored on different servers, it is impossible to exploit it.

4. Automate backup

With outsourced backup, there's no need to think about making regular backups as and when you need them, because they're fully automated.

Comparison of outsourced backup solutions

Here are a few important points to check before choosing your service provider:

• the level of protection for your data, depending on the location of the servers (it's best to choose a server subject to European or French law) ;
• confidentiality: make sure that the service provider cannot access your data for commercial purposes;
• reversibility of your data: the service provider must undertake to return your data in full in the event of breach of contract.

For a direct comparison of the different solutions, visit our outsourced backup solutions comparison chart.

BeBackup

BeBackup has the advantage of giving customers - from very small businesses to large corporations - freedom in their choice of data hosting:

• locally, thanks to an integrated replication mechanism,
• on its own servers (in datacenters),
• or on the servers of an IT outsourcer.

Data is encrypted at source, compressed and protected against piracy, and corporate customers can restore it autonomously if necessary.

BeBackup highlights :

• a scalable hosting offering to help IT outsourcers start up or add to their server setup with little investment,
• a high-performance "client-server" solution in which the server performs intelligent tasks, such as exchanging fingerprints to optimize transfers,
• bandwidth optimization for customers with low-speed connections.

Beemo Data Safe Restore

Beemo Data Safe Restore works exclusively with IT service providers and authorized resellers, and through them offers VSEs and SMEs :

• security, confidentiality and integrity of backed-up data (encrypted, compressed),
• data restoration and 24/7 monitoring,
• task management and automated updates.

Several offers:

• Beemo2Beemo, for in-house outsourced backup, outside the cloud, with a Beemo box at each of your sites;
• Beemo2Cloud, a solution offering three levels of backup for maximum security, whatever the company and whatever the volume of data to be stored;
• BeeHive, a formula that enables Beemo-certified service providers to cater specifically to very small businesses, with remote backup that doesn't require a box.

Nuabee (UCover)

UCover by Nuabee protects corporate data and information systems, using the full synthetic backup method to back up its customers' servers. Data is then encrypted and stored on the Orange Business Services Cloud, in French datacenters.

It offers :

• 3 levels of server protection (cloud backup, cloud backup with restart test and DRP protection),
• a team that monitors backups and performs tests without impacting business,
• fast data restoration times.

Highlights :

• its fully automated disaster recovery plan (DRP),
• adapted to SME and ETI architectures at affordable prices,
• certified by the TRUXT label, guaranteeing continuity and security of services.

Oxibox

Oxibox ensures the synchronization of backed-up data between its local server and protected datacenters located in France, to eliminate any risk of data loss and ensure the confidentiality of your information.
The solution includes :

• independent programming of backup frequency,
• definition of the source of data to be backed up: cloud, heterogeneous network, remote sites.

Oxibox highlights :

• 8 million euros of insurance against data loss,
• guaranteed 100% restoration, fast and without interruption,
• backup of up to several petabytes of data,
• complete real-time traceability of all backup processes.

Comparison table

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The importance of outsourced backups

As we've seen, doing without an outsourced backup solution at a time when cyber-attacks are at an all-time high is almost unconscionable. Your data is your most precious asset, and the majority of companies that lose it never recover.

To choose the outsourced backup provider best suited to your business, take the time to determine your needs and specifics, depending on the sensitivity or volume of your data, your information system and your budget.

What about you? Have you set up an outsourced backup system? If so, which one? If not, why not?