Imagine you're working like any other day when a sudden and unexpected outage hits. Your entire organization is frozen. Your data was supposed to be safe in the cloud, but now everything is at a standstill.
If you've followed the news, you know this isn't theoretical, and you may have even been one of the many unfortunate orgs affected by this recently.
Relying solely on major cloud providers for data storage isn't as foolproof as people used to think, especially not when it comes to your backups. That’s why third-party managed backup solutions have become so commonplace.
By choosing a reliable partner to handle backups, you avoid the pitfalls of relying solely on major cloud providers while gaining access to expert support. This approach not only safeguards your valuable resources but also keeps your business running smoothly, even during unexpected outages.
Let’s take a closer look at why you should consider a managed backup solution to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket:
5 reasons why a managed backup solution is the right move
Implementing a managed backup solution is one of the most critical decisions you can make to safeguard your IT infrastructure. Here’s why it matters:
1. A managed backup means your team can focus on core competencies
The key advantage of having a managed solution is that it allows your internal IT team to concentrate on their primary responsibilities (very rarely are high-managed backups part of their job title). With a partner handling backups, your team can focus on tasks like help desk support and strategic initiatives.
2. Your data stored in the cloud isn’t as safe as it seems
Many people mistakenly believe that storing data in the cloud with providers like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google negates the need for additional backups.
But relying solely on your major cloud provider is risky, in part because these big players’ SLA’s don’t say anything about actual preservation of your data — it’s all about uptime and availability.
You shouldn’t trust the same company with both your original and backup data — it’s a bit like keeping both your original and duplicate birth certificates in the same place.
In other words, if it’s in the same ecosystem, it’s not a backup.
Consider a recent example of a major incident, where Google Cloud accidentally deleted a customer account, including all its backups. The affected organization only recovered because it had backups with a different provider.
3. You safeguard your investments of both time and resources
The time and effort invested by engineers and team members in configuring your systems are invaluable. Losing data means losing countless hours of work, potentially setting your organization back by months or even years. Calling this loss “expensive” is a complete understatement.
4. You get access to deep expertise in backup solutions
When an incident occurs, having a managed service provider means you have access to experts experienced in handling thousands of deployments — rather than the experience you might have from deploying an off-the-shelf solution or two. Katalyst offers a deep bench of expertise, ensuring that your systems are managed by seasoned professionals.
5. You can continue with minimal interruption during outages
When a major platform like Azure goes down like it did recently, your data might be safe, but you’re still stuck waiting. That's where having a third-party backup really shines.
If your original data is on Azure and there's an outage, you can use a service like Datto to virtualize your servers in their cloud. This means you can be back online and working within an hour or two, rather than potentially being down for days. It keeps your business running smoothly even during unexpected outages.
Keep your data safe with the 3-2-1 rule
The 3-2-1 rule is a straightforward and effective approach to data backup, helping ensure your information is safe and recoverable. Here's what it involves:
- Three copies of your data: Always keep three versions of your data. This includes the original data and two additional backups. This redundancy reduces the risk of data loss if one copy becomes corrupted or unavailable.
- Two different storage mediums: Store your backups on at least two different types of media. This could be a combination of hard drives, USB drives, or cloud storage. Using multiple media types protects you against hardware failures.
- One offsite copy: Keep one backup in a different geographic location. This protects your data against local disasters like fires or floods that could affect all copies stored in the same place.
Outsourcing your backup doesn't mean you lose access
One common misconception about managed backup solutions is that outsourcing means you lose access and control over your data. This isn't true. When you hire a partner like Katalyst to manage your backups, you're not handing over the keys completely—you're sharing responsibilities.
With a co-managed solution like ours, you get to leverage our expert support while maintaining visibility and control, ensuring your data is both secure and accessible when you need it. For those looking for a full turnkey managed backup solution, our team will work closely with you to scope out your specific data and backup needs.
Partnering with Katalyst
Katalyst provides access to a team of experts in this space who are deeply familiar with the territory, so we can competently guide you to the most ideal solutions for your needs. We handle everything from onboarding and implementation to ongoing education and support, keeping you informed and assisting you with any issues, from recovering files to entire production systems.
In other words, we take the word “partner” very seriously, aiming to function as a true extension of your team — if you’re thinking of us as merely a vendor, we’re probably doing something wrong.
Ready to protect your organization and its data? Book a call with Katalyst today to discover how we can support your business with a reliable and secure managed backup solution.
