Your organization needs to back up its network. What software should you use?

CrashPlan is a cloud backup solution that offers automatic backup and easy recovery. It offers unlimited storage for a low price, and it supports multiple devices and platforms. One of the most important features of backup software is automated backup scheduling. This feature allows you to schedule backups regularly, ensuring that your data is always up to date. With automated backups, you don’t have to worry about manually backing up your data, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

In my experience, all of the major player in backup systems, that are worth their pricetag, offer these backup types. Start by learning your data to determine which backup types work best. Some data may need hourly backups while other will only need twice daily or daily. Learn the details of the backup types available in your system. If you do an image backup, can you restore individual files from that image or do you need to add a file level backup to your strategy as well? If you perform an image backup of a physical server, learn the limits of where it can be restored. Some systems can only restore an image to identical hardware. If you can't purchase identical hardware because of age, then this backup type doesn't help you.

Organizations should adopt a three-way backup strategy for robust data protection. Firstly, a local backup on NAS or a storage server for quick access and recovery. Secondly, a cloud backup with services like Backblaze or Wasabi, offering off-site security and safeguarding against local system failures. Lastly, a monthly off-site physical backup on portable devices, stored in a safe location to protect against physical disasters such as fires or natural calamities. This comprehensive approach ensures data safety and accessibility in various scenarios.

Selecting and optimizing backup destinations is a vital part of a business's risk management and IT strategy. A well-planned backup system not only provides peace of mind but also forms a critical line of defense in preserving the integrity and availability of business-critical data.

Drawing on my backup solution experience, I recommend HornetSecurity (formerly Altaro VM Backup) for Hyper-V and VMware, notable for its reliable full and granular restores. For physical servers, Veritas System Recovery is exceptional, ensuring trouble-free restorations. For database backups, especially Exchange and Active Directory, Veeam excels with its Application Aware feature, adept at restoring specific elements like individual emails or calendar entries. These solutions have proven consistently reliable in various scenarios.

In addition to the solutions mentioned, Unitrends and Carbonite are also good solutions. Reliable. Stable. Good support. For archiving to cloud storage, I have used Cloudberry Backup (I believe it is now part of MSP360).

Based on my experience, it's important to recognize that having backups in multiple locations is not a foolproof safeguard, especially in the event of a ransomware attack. In such cases, all local backups can be compromised. Even with Continuous Data Protection (CDP) enabled, restoring from a cloud backup can result in significant downtime. Therefore, it's crucial to complement backup strategies with robust network security measures. Implementing Zero Trust solutions is an effective approach. This involves allowing only essential services to run on servers and blocking any unauthorized modifications or actions. By focusing on both secure backups and stringent server security.