SMEs need to ask tougher questions about cloud

1 min read

Commenting on the fact that MSPs (managed service providers) are increasingly required to provide off-site DR (disaster recovery) services, self-styled IT expert Richard Tubb is warning SMEs not to assume that cloud computing is the magic bullet.

"The key element many SMEs typically forget about in a DR strategy is testing their backup plan," he explains. "Taking the steps to backup data is one thing, but having the reassurance that, in the event of a real disaster critical data is actually available, is another," he insists. The principal problem is that testing phases are are often overlooked. "From the MSP's perspective, testing often falls within their responsibilities and testing backups can be a laborious task," he says. "Testing needs to be undertaken not once, but on a frequent basis to provide peace of mind to both the MSP and their client so that, in the event of a disaster, the client is protected," he continues. In a whitepaper authored by Tubb and sponsored by cloud platform provider Doyenz, he provides an overview of the issues as well as practical steps to better educate both customers and resellers around the processes of evaluating a cloud-based backup and disaster recovery solution. For more information, use the link below: