Cloud Backup vs Local Backup
Which is better for business continuity? Understand the 3-2-1 backup strategy.
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Executive Overview
Should you back up your files to a physical drive in the office or send them to an offsite cloud vault? For Alaska businesses, the answer involves balancing recovery speeds with physical building safety.
| Factor | Cloud Backup (Offsite) | Local Backup (NAS/USB) |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration Speed | Dependent on internet speed (can take hours for massive files) | Extremely fast over local office cables (minutes) |
| Physical Hazards | Protected from local fires, floods, earthquakes, or theft | Vulnerable to office building disasters or equipment theft |
| Internet Dependency | Requires active bandwidth to upload new backups | Works fully offline without using office bandwidth |
| Cost | Subscription-based pricing per gigabyte stored | One-time hardware purchase, minimal ongoing costs |
| Ransomware Risk | Secure if storage is immutable (cannot be deleted by malware) | Vulnerable if the local drive is mapped as a network share |
Our Recommendation
You should not choose between them. We recommend the 3-2-1 backup rule: keep 3 copies of your data, across 2 different types of media (local NAS and cloud), with 1 copy located offsite in a secure cloud vault. This guarantees fast recovery for minor server failures while protecting against building disasters.
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