Improving Data Protection with Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery

Improving Data Protection with Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery

The Software-as-a-Service market (SaaS) market continues to experience rapid growth, with surveys suggesting that almost all organizations now use at least one cloud application. According to the 2023 State of SaaSOps Report from BetterCloud, organizations use an average of 130 SaaS applications. Research from IDC indicates that 80 percent of all new applications are being deployed in the cloud as organizations seek easy and affordable access to sophisticated software.

In their rush to gain the operational benefits of SaaS, many companies fail to consider the data protection challenges it creates. While SaaS providers host applications and their related data on their own servers, they only promise to maintain the uptime of their platforms. Customers are responsible for protecting their own data.

Unfortunately, few companies have adjusted their disaster recovery (DR) strategies to accommodate growing amounts of cloud-based data. A Dimensional Research study finds that only about a quarter of companies have updated their DR plans since they began using SaaS applications. More than 40 percent of companies surveyed by IDC report they lack the IT skills, knowledge and resources to manage a modern DR environment.

Expertise and Infrastructure in the Cloud

Luckily, a solution to this conundrum can also be found in the cloud. DR-as-a-Service (DRaaS) solutions allow companies to extend data protection across the entire organization — including cloud platforms — without the need to maintain in-house hardware, software and expertise. As with any “as-a-Service” offering, you purchase access to systems and services from a third-party provider through a subscription plan or a flexible pay-per-use model.

Easier and better data protection capabilities are driving widespread uptake of DRaaS. The market is experiencing year-over-year growth of nearly 45 percent and is expected to reach a total value of more than $40 billion by 2025, according to the latest analysis by Technavio.
Growth will likely be sustained for some time due to the rising complexity of hyper-distributed data environments. Organizations increasingly have critical data in data centers, branch offices, cloud repositories, edge servers and various endpoint devices. According to IDC, more than 70 percent of IT and business leaders aren’t confident that their existing backup and DR processes can ensure recovery from ransomware and other data-related disruptions.

The challenge is particularly acute in smaller businesses that lack the in-house resources to maintain a reliable DR environment. Faced with tight budgets and staff shortages, they simply can’t afford to develop, implement, update and regularly test a disaster recovery plan. Surveys routinely find that more than half of small to midsized businesses (SMBs) don’t have any kind of DR plan at all.

The Benefits of Managed DRaaS

Some DRaaS plans can still require a degree of customer expertise. For example, you may need to manage the connectivity between your offices and the provider’s infrastructure. A managed DRaaS solution that provides a more hands-off service is often ideal for SMBs. In this model, a third party handles all disaster recovery responsibilities, including planning and testing, real-time data replication, data security, and ongoing management and support.

Managed DRaaS also offers enhanced protection from ransomware attacks. Research indicates that more than three-quarters of ransomware attacks target small businesses that lack the ability to restore data. Leading providers that offer continuous data protection can restore data to near-real-time status to minimize the impact of such attacks.

Organizations of all sizes and across all industries achieve immense operational efficiencies through the use of cloud-based infrastructure and applications. In the process, they must take steps to ensure the security and availability of their cloud-based data, along with all other data across the extended enterprise. Contact Verteks today to learn more about using cloud-based disaster recovery and managed DRaaS to protect your critical data assets.


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