Tape backup solution was opted by many organisations in order to protect the data. However, it requires ongoing maintenance and staff to take care of them. Though offsite backup is a latest development, it is a confirmed and verified solution to this critical process. When the data is stored offsite, no one could access it easily; whereas if it is stored in tapes, it is highly vulnerable to unauthorised access. As they are compact, they could be carried off easily without any detection. The onsite backups are likely to be unencrypted giving a chance to the employees and hackers to misuse them.



The offsite backups are a great relief from the complex backup routines. It does not require any investment for the backup tapes and other IT resources. The offsite backup service providers would monitor the entire process. Therefore, no special training shall be given to the organisation's staff and their precious time would also be saved. It is cheaper and faster. The organisations have to make monthly payments to the service providers and there is no capital outlay.

A small software would be installed into the computer and it would help select the data that is to be backed up. Before sending those data to the centres, the software would encrypt them. There are also provisions to select and restore the backed up documents. One can restore the data from any computer or server and can also schedule the backups to occur automatically at any time. An encryption key can also be selected that is known only by the authorised user. Confirmation about the backups would also be sent to the clients through email, everyday.

The best way to safeguard the data against the loss is to adopt an offsite backup. This software has been used by a number of top business concerns. It is highly essential in this competitive business world. The digital transactions in the business badly depend on the customers? database. If there is any problem in accessing those databases, the loss would be severe. Disruption in services will spoil the reputation of the company and would also result in poor customer relations. No organisation would have the guts to keep the data precariously. Unless and until the business information is kept under safe custody the business cannot be run smoothly.

The number of offsite backup service providers is increasing day by day. If the clients have chosen the best company, then they can be sure that they will be able to restore the data. The general tendency that prevails is, leaving the backups carelessly near the system; and the tapes on which the data is stored would be kept just a few steps away. It makes the tape more vulnerable to all sorts of physical threats.

Though the optical disks are replaced, the tapes and the medium for the purpose of backups are often given raffish treatment. At some point of time, the organisations would regret for not having offsite backups properly. It is advisable to keep the backups outside the computer room and also in a fireproof place. Sensible move would be to get the media entirely out of the building and offsite backup services provide rooms for that.

The software requires an internet connection to work as they have the quicker tansmissions. Initially, the backup process will consume more time as they have to copy all the data that is to be encrypted and copied to the centres. At a later date, it would be a routine work and the daily backups are notably faster as the changes in the files are only to be transmitted. If a change is required to the third set of documents, then a change to that document would be sent and accepted.

Offsite data centres are made with secured socket connections. A 128-bit level i.e. military grade encryption would be given to the data which would not turn unencrypted even at the time of restoring process. The centres would be equipped with security cameras, backup generators, high-end fire walls, multiple ISPs and also tier-1 facilities. Password and account number would be given along with encryption key that would ensure that only an authorised person could access the data.