The Backup Conundrum: Can We Speed This Up?

Norton defines data backup as “a copy or archive of the important information stored on devices such as a computer, phone, or tablet and it’s used to restore that original information in the event of a data loss.”   

All companies, no matter the size, should be concerned with data loss, no matter what the cause of this loss might be.  Backing up your devices, networks, and systems is a critical process for all enterprises.  However, this is always a time-consuming process that can, at times, cause great frustration.  However, when a disaster occurs, that backup, no matter how long it takes, is also a source of great relief! 

So how long should a system backup to the cloud take?

That is the million-dollar question!  Sadly, there is no great answer to date.  A typical backup can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.  Initial backups always take longer than more routine backups down the road.  However, once you have done it several times and worked out the “kinks”, it always goes more smoothly and faster. Several variables can impact the time it takes to upload your data to the cloud. 

First, you must consider the size of your backup. 

A single laptop or comparable device will take much less time than a multi-device network.  Add printers, copiers, and several personal devices, putting a drag on resources, and you add even more time to an already lengthy process.  Backups for a large enterprise take significantly longer than those of a small business.  Choose carefully what really matters in the event of data loss! 

Your network speed and that of your cloud service also is a consideration. According to Speedtet.net’s global index, uploads take twice as long as downloads with upload speeds averaging around 20.36 MPS, while download speeds average a speedy 41.88 MPS.  So, the upload speed, or bandwidth, of your internet connection is a huge factor.  The ratio of bandwidth to backup size will also help determine if it will take more or less time to fully complete a system backup. 

Many businesses invest in a cloud backup provider to handle the heavy lifting of the system and network safeguarding.  Depending on how many others share the data servers or better yet, data centers, there may be limited servers, which may slow down the speed of your uploads, impacting backup time.  Moreover, each provider’s cloud system utilizes algorithms to support the backups.  To make the size of the backup smaller, files are often compressed and, depending on the algorithm used, backup times can be negatively impacted by compressing your files.  To complicate the time further, encryption, meant to protect your data, also employs algorithms that may slow things down even more. 

It is important when choosing a cloud backup service provider, to find one that has adequate upload speeds. 

They vary so choose wisely.  Some providers offer Infrastructure as a Service, and this can aid in speeding up backups.  A mirror image backup can also reduce the need for compressing files, therefore speeding up the backup process.   

Backup speeds vary depending on all the factors discussed.  Unfortunately, it is a necessary evil in this world of computer networks that drive the business world today.  If you are in the market for a managed cloud backup provider, Klik Solutions is there with your cloud backup solutions. Reach out and you can secure fast backups to protect your important computer assets and information!