A remote backup is also called an online backup and it is a valuable service. Should you choose the remote backup option, this article covers the advantages of using an outsourcing company for remote backups.

The online system remotely backs up your data and then stores those files on their system. You decide which files need to be backed up, you schedule the backup, and they do the rest. Companies that offer online backup services are in the business of storing millions of files on their servers.

This has been a popular choice for large companies, but due to recent price reductions small businesses are now able to take advantage of these services.

Generally what occurs is that once a day a software program initiates a backup to the remote server. The program not only initiates the backup, but also encrypts, compresses, and transfers the files to the remote backup server.

There are more options coming to market. For example you can now take advantage of CDP (Continuous Data Protection), which is targeted at small to medium size businesses. This uses a lot more bandwidth but does exactly as it says - provides a continuous backup.

Services offered include:

1. Multi-platform, which allows for the backup of many different platforms such as Linux, Apple, or Windows. Be aware that many of the newer providers only backup up Windows XP.
2. The "open file backup" means it can backup open files - files that are currently being used.
3. Multi-site allows for backing up of the original site plus remote branches, or other websites on the same server.
4. Continuous backup allows for a constant connection with the backup provider to duplicate (backup) your files simultaneously or when they are changed.

A remote backup is an excellent competitive choice for a backup solution. Like many other backup solutions, remote backups can provide you with mirrored data, scheduled backups, offsite storage (fire or theft protection), and customer support.

The major advantages to outsourcing your remote backups are:

• Costs less due to lower upfront costs, compared to buying the hardware
• Saves time spent on setup and maintenance
• Scalability - the ability to grow or shrink without buying more hardware or running out of space in the office for the hardware.
• Paid employees - a professional staff whose costs are spread across several clients instead of just your company. This of course is the beauty of many outsourcing services today.

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