Single v. Multiple Backups: Pros and Cons
Today, numerous backup software providers are flooding the market with different backup solutions to assist users in backing up data efficiently. Data backup is critical in preventing breaches, cyberattacks, and other external disasters that might cause data loss. It is essential to have a data backup strategy and security measures to avoid falling victim to cyber-attackers. If you lose data without an efficient backup plan, data recovery can be challenging, expensive, or you may end up losing your business. You can try the ESXi backup solution and protect your data with ease.
In this article, we take a closer look at single vs. multiple backup setups and the pros and cons of each solution. We shall discuss the major differences to assist you in selecting a suitable option for your business setting:
Single-tier Backup
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With a single-tier backup, one machine is used in the process of data backup. The computer system reads from the primary source and proceeds to write to the destined location. It is a standard option for small businesses since it is suitable for a close-knit environment where the backup source system and target are within the same network vicinity, such as a USB flash drive or external hard disk. You cannot access single backups through the Internet since file sharing online is not permitted. The backup storage device is only for backing up data and not sharing.
It is an option where single-users can access the data at a time since the source must directly connect with the target system for data accessibility. For instance, employees with work laptops can only schedule backup processes in the office since the target location is within, but the process cannot be done while away from the office. If you want to coordinate multiple computers to access data on a single backup, a manual setup will be necessary.
Pros
· It is a simple backup option for individuals and small businesses.
· No need for advanced encryption technology, which is quite costly.
· Affordable and readily available backup storage devices for single backup options
· Data recovery is much faster compare to multi-tier backup.
· Offer the users an efficient data storage management due to the single machine in use.
Cons
· It does not allow file sharing since it is a single-user backup.
· The destination server is meant for backup purposes only.
· The backup process is static due to the nature of one destination and source.
Multi-tier Backup
In a multi-tier backup, the setup uses two machines to communicate and transfer information. One computer system reads data from the source, and the other machine writes to the target location. It is an efficient solution that is suitable for large organizations that use the cloud storage. Here, the source machine is far from the destination and is accessible through an Internet connection. You can access the backup data, regardless of time and location, using a web browser. Whether you are traveling the world or working from home, it is possible to schedule backups and retrieve data quickly. In this backup option, data encryption is paramount since other end-users can also access the information.
Apart from acting as backup storage, it can also be used for file sharing between employees since the synchronization of multiple computers is automatic.
Pros
· You can easily access backup files remotely.
· It is compatible with numerous devices as long as you have Internet access.
· Multi-tier backup has advanced reporting features, unlike the single backup; the administrators can receive notifications in case of failed backup processes from any computer.
· Administrators can schedule remote backups and diagnose anomalies in the system
· Allows system synchronization, which increases efficiency and productivity.
· Allows file sharing among colleagues.
Cons
· It can be quite expensive to set up the infrastructure unless you are using Managed IT services.
· Susceptible to cyberattacks due to multiple users accessing the backup files in the target location.
Ultimately, you need to select a reliable backup option to secure your data, depending on your backup needs. If you want a solution for a small business that does not have virtual machines and a large workforce, you can use the single-tier backup. But, if you want an efficient backup for a large corporation, a multiple-tier backup option will meet and exceed your expectation.
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