Tape-based Backup vs. Cloud-based Backup: Which Is Better?
Linear Tape-Open-based storage, or LTO, has long been the economic favorite for data backup and archiving. Much of the world’s backup data resides in portable, remotely stored tape drives, at the ready in case disaster should strike. So it’s highly likely that you have existing investments to protect your data in LTO infrastructure, software, and processes. If it isn’t broken, why fix it, right?
While a case can certainly be made for leveraging your existing investment, it is also worth considering that LTO is beginning to show its age. Although the LTO standard continues to evolve, the basic concept of backing data up to tape has changed very little over the last few decades, and is ill-equipped to handle today’s rampant data growth.
Because the latest iteration of LTO technology is limited in its compatibility with previous LTO generations, now might be the perfect time to start building a migratory bridge from your LTO environment to the latest iteration of cloud storage: Cloud Storage 2.0. This technology generation has introduced unprecedented economics and simplicity to using the cloud as a storage medium, with the added benefit that all cloud-stored data is immediately retrievable.
Testing Cloud Storage 2.0 for a subset of your data storage needs will help you start paving the way to a more affordable future in which data is readily accessible; a future in which it’s far easier to meet the recovery point objectives (RPOs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs) of your disaster recovery plans.
Advantages of Cloud Storage 2.0
Cloud 2.0 offers numerous advantages over backing up data to LTO tape, starting with the fact that there are no capital expenditures to make. Backing up to the cloud frees you from having to purchase new tape drives every time the LTO standard changes. Let’s go over some of the chief advantages
- Cloud 2.0 backups have low operational expenditure (OpEx) costs, including ancillary costs such as power and cooling.
- Cloud 2.0 also allows you to scale your data protection infrastructure on an as-needed basis, without having to make changes to your physical infrastructure. You will never have to worry about outgrowing your tape drive.
- Cloud 2.0 helps you to future-proof your data protection operations, while also protecting you from the costs associated with hardware obsolescence.
- Finally, leveraging the cloud for data protection may make it easier to comply with applicable regulations, while also improving your organization’s security.
Not All Clouds Are Created Equal
But, having made the decision to move to cloud, it can be intimidating to find the right provider. Many cloud storage providers have complex, tiered offerings that make simply deciding what tier to use for any given need a project unto itself. Choosing which tier to use is not a decision that can be taken lightly, since your decision will determine cost, performance, and even how easily you can access your backups.
Even if you choose the optimal storage tier initially, potential problems loom. Your requirements may change over time, making it difficult to know whether your data is in the “right” tier at any point in time. That will certainly impact your budget.
Using less expensive, slower tiers forces you to give up your ability to gain instant access to your data. And when you do want to download your data, which you’re already paying to store, most cloud storage providers charge an egress fee just for the privilege.
Wasabi doesn’t do any of these things. All storage is “hot,” meaning instantly available. They offer a single pricing plan per gigabyte per month, with no egress fees. You can get your data whenever you want it, and you can get it fast. After all, you shouldn’t have to worry about being hit with financial penalties just for moving your data.
Achieve Your Business and Technical Goals with Cloud Storage 2.0 from Wasabi
Using the Wasabi cloud to protect your data results in lower data protection costs, while also reducing your physical datacenter footprint. You may even find that you can get better overall protection for your data than you can achieve through your current on-premises solution.
Business benefits include:
- Continuous data availability and business uptime
- Lower total cost of ownership
- Reduction of the physical data center footprint
- Freeing up budget for strategic initiatives
Technical benefits include:
- Speedier retrieval time of archive or backup data
- Retaining existing workflows while reducing hardware and physical storage infrastructure
- Finding a non-disruptive entry point into cloud storage
- Creating an interoperability “bridge” between on-premises LTO and cloud object storage
Considering these factors, moving to a cloud-based solution seems like the obvious choice, doesn’t it? And sometimes, choices are obvious for a reason.
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This article is sponsored by Wasabi. Wasabi is enterprise class cloud storage at one-fifth the price and up to 6x faster than Amazon S3, while offering the same 11 9s of durability. Wasabi’s low cost, high speed, fully secure storage blows away the competition, including Google and Microsoft. Disruption starts here. Do the math for yourself and start a free trial at Wasabi.com. For more information on how Wasabi’s Hot Cloud Storage can speed your recovery should the worst happen, read more at: https://wasabi.com/backup-and-recovery/ |
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