Best Backup and Recovery Solutions

Data recovery is meant to protect an organization from suffering potential losses related to the loss of data. It ensures that an organization maintains the ability to restore any critical data that is lost for one reason or another.

There are several types of recovery systems that users can choose to use when they suffer from a loss of data. These types include:

• Bare metal recovery system. This recovery system type enables users to back up their entire systems, including their applications and data. A bare metal disk drive is used to make an image of an organization’s system, which can be used to quickly recover everything if their data is corrupted or lost. Users save a lot of time using this type of system and do not need to rebuild their systems from the ground up.

• Online disk backup. This recovery type saves the data to a cloud server of some kind. It is a highly flexible, time-saving, and cost effective method. It enables users to constantly save their data so that there is little possibility of something being truly lost.

• Continuous data protection. This recovery type backs the data up both to a location within the local area network and to an offsite location. It also takes a log of the backed-up data, which consists of various snapshots of the data. When using a recovery system of this kind, users can quickly recover their data.

Backup and recovery software function by either copying data and exporting it to a location where it can be accessed when it is needed, or by reconstructing the lost data so that it is returned to the state that it was in before it was lost.

The requirements for backup and recovery tools, as well as their actual implementation and performance can vary widely. As architectures grow more complex, so too can the demands on backup and recovery packages. PeerSpot members comment on what selection factors are best to consider when looking at the purchase of backup and recovery solutions.

PeerSpot members cite performance as an important selection criterion for backup and recovery software tools. Reviewers explain that they want their backup and restore to be fast and easy to use. Instant recovery is prized. Users want a simple GUI, too. Many members put forth a powerful, simple idea, though, which is that backup success is all that counts – that no number of features can ever compensate for a failure to restore missing data.

Other members express a desire for reads that are nearly instantaneous. People want zero downtime backup. A good backup and restore solution should eliminate latency from long distance replication, making synchronous and asynchronous unimportant as descriptors. The backup system should also ideally ensure that all information is backed up continuously across multiple locations. The rationale for this requirement is the goal of providing fail over to get continuous high availability of operational systems.

The ability to perform backup recoverability tests in a virtual lab or on-demand sandbox is considered valuable, as are backup from storage snapshots, de-duplication and simple integration with all operating systems. Application specific selection criteria include item-level recovery for Active Directory, Exchange, SQL Server and SharePoint. Members prefer software that can recover user-specific data such as a mailbox or a file server.

Backup and recovery has to map to specific architectural styles. For example, instant VM recovery is valued because it is known to help speed up recovery objectives (RTOs). Backup managers expect backup and recovery tools to offer useful and easy reporting.

Backup and recovery policies tend to overlap with data management and disaster recovery, which are separate work streams but often rely on the same tools. To this point, some PeerSpot members prefer software that provides long term archiving / retention options. For example, certain types of files can never be purged, by policy. Others want their backup tools used for replication for disaster recovery between data centers.

Backup and recovery software solutions typically offer users access to a wide array of features. These features include:

• Malware protection. This feature enables users to protect backed up or recovered data from being attacked by malware. It will encrypt the data and keep it secure.

• Storage reporting. Users can receive reports that allow them to keep track of how data is being stored.

• Integrations with other solutions. These integrations make it possible for the backup and recovery software to utilize the features that other solutions have to offer.

Backup and recovery software can offer users various benefits. These benefits include:

• Data security. Backup and recovery software solutions can toughen the security that keeps an organization’s data safe from being lost.

• Cost control. Users gain the ability to control just how much money they will end up having to spend as a result of having suffered a loss of data. Investing in backup and recovery software can prevent costs from mounting if data is lost. A business can recover the crucial data that it needs in order to operate and make money. It can also stave off lawsuits stemming from the loss of customer data.

• Ease of recovery and replication. Backup and recovery software solutions make the process of recovering and copying their data simple. Instead of having to rebuild their database manually, organizations can almost automatically recover and or copy lost data.

When selecting a Backup and Recovery solution, consider features like automation, ease of use, scalability, and speed. Look for solutions that offer incremental backups, data deduplication, and seamless integration with your existing IT infrastructure. Security features such as encryption and ransomware protection are also crucial. Ensure the solution supports multiple platforms and has a robust reporting and alerting system.

Effectiveness is measured by factors such as Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). Assess how quickly data can be restored and how much data you can afford to lose. Evaluate the solution’s reliability and test the recovery process regularly. User satisfaction and data integrity after recovery are also important indicators of effectiveness.

Common challenges include data growth, limited budget, and complexity of the IT environment. Ensuring compliance with various regulations and securing data from threats like ransomware add to the difficulty. It's also challenging to minimize downtime during backups and restore operations efficiently. Interoperability with existing systems can pose additional challenges.

Cloud-based solutions are popular because they offer scalability, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility from anywhere. They eliminate the need for large investments in hardware and reduce maintenance costs. With built-in redundancy and automatic updates, cloud solutions enhance reliability. They also provide better protection against local disasters since data is stored off-site.

To ensure data security, use strong encryption methods for both data in transit and at rest. Implement multi-factor authentication and regular security audits. Use solutions with built-in ransomware protection and constant monitoring for unusual activity. Regularly update and patch your Backup and Recovery systems to protect against vulnerabilities.