Cloud Backup: A Complete Guide to Secure Backup in the Cloud

Cloud backup is one of the most important types of backup for businesses. It provides protection against local disasters, access from anywhere, and unlimited capacity. In this article we’ll explain what cloud backup is, why it matters, how to choose a provider, and how to implement it properly.

What Is Cloud Backup?

Cloud backup is a backup stored on cloud servers, outside your business. The data is sent over the internet and stored on the secure servers of cloud providers.

How Does Cloud Backup Work?

The backup process:

Backup software scans the files
The data is encrypted
The data is sent over the internet to cloud servers
The data is stored on secure cloud servers

The restore process:

Backup software connects to the cloud servers
The data is downloaded over the internet
The data is decrypted
The data is restored to the computer

Why Is Cloud Backup Important?

Advantages of Cloud Backup

Protection against local disasters:

Protected from fires, floods, and earthquakes
Protected from theft
Protected from local failures

Access from anywhere:

Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection
You can restore remotely
Suitable for remote work

Unlimited capacity:

You can increase capacity as needed
Not limited by local hardware
Suitable for large amounts of data

Automatic:

Automatic backup with no intervention
No need to remember to back up
No physical maintenance needed

Flexible costs:

Pay as you go
You can start small and grow
Predictable costs based on usage

Automatic updates:

The cloud provider updates the system
Always on the latest technology
No need to update it yourself

Disadvantages of Cloud Backup

Depends on the internet:

You need an internet connection
Restore depends on your internet speed
Can be slow for large amounts of data

Monthly costs:

Monthly payments add up
Costs can grow over time
Less predictable in the long term

Depends on the provider:

You depend on the cloud provider
If the provider fails, you fail
You have to trust the provider

Less control:

Less control over the data
You depend on the provider’s settings
Less flexibility

Security:

You have to trust the provider’s security
Data travels over the internet
You need to make sure encryption is strong

How to Choose a Cloud Backup Provider

Selection Factors

Reliability:

What is the uptime?
What is the provider’s track record?
What guarantees do they offer?

Security:

What encryption do they use?
Which security standards?
What access controls?

Performance:

What are the upload and download speeds?
What is the response time?
How does the system perform?

Costs:

What is the price?
What is the price per GB?
What are the additional costs?

Support:

What support do they provide?
What are the response times?
Support in Hebrew?

Leading Cloud Providers

Microsoft Azure Backup:

Powerful and reliable
Suitable for large businesses
Integration with Microsoft 365

Amazon S3 / AWS Backup:

Very powerful
Suitable for large businesses
Very flexible

Google Cloud Storage:

Powerful and reliable
Suitable for large businesses
Integration with Google Workspace

Backblaze:

Built for backups
Relatively inexpensive
Simple to use

Acronis:

Built for backups
Powerful and reliable
Suitable for mid-sized businesses

How to Implement Cloud Backup Properly

Implementation Steps

1. Choose a provider:

Compare providers
Choose a suitable provider
Check reliability and security

2. Set up the account:

Create an account
Set up billing
Set up permissions

3. Install the software:

Install backup software
Set up the connection to the provider
Set up encryption

4. Configure the backup:

Define what to back up
Define the frequency
Define version retention

5. Test:

Check that the backup works
Test a restore
Check that everything is in order

Encryption

Encryption at rest:

Data is encrypted on the cloud servers
Only you can decrypt it
Protection against unauthorized access

Encryption in transit:

Data is encrypted while it’s being transferred
Protection against eavesdropping
Secure communication

Encryption keys:

Who controls the keys?
Where are the keys stored?
How are the keys protected?

Backup Frequency

Daily backup:

Recommended for most businesses
You lose at most one day
A good balance

Hourly backup:

For businesses whose data changes all the time
You lose at most an hour
Requires more resources

Continuous backup:

For businesses with highly critical data
You lose at most minutes
Requires a lot of resources

Combining with Local Backup

Cloud backup alone isn’t enough. We recommend combining it with local backup:

Local backup:

For fast restores
For day-to-day work
Doesn’t depend on the internet

Cloud backup:

For protection against local disasters
As a safeguard backup
Accessible from anywhere

The combination:

Local + cloud backup = maximum protection
There is always a way to restore
Fast restore + maximum protection

Cloud Backup Costs

Factors That Affect the Cost

Amount of data:

How many GB/TB are you backing up?
How much is the data expected to grow?
What capacity do you need?

Backup frequency:

How often do you back up?
Daily or hourly backup?
How many versions do you keep?

Type of service:

Basic or advanced service?
Additional features?
Professional support?

Sample Costs

Small business (up to 500GB):

About ₪50-100 per month
Basic service
Daily backup

Mid-sized business (500GB - 2TB):

About ₪200-500 per month
Advanced service
Daily/hourly backup

Large business (2TB+):

About ₪500-2,000 per month
Highly advanced service
Continuous backup

A Managed Solution with Rtek

At Rtek, we provide a fully managed cloud backup solution as part of our backup setup. More on all types of backup is available in our backup guide.

What’s Included?

Planning:

Needs assessment
Choosing a suitable provider
Planning backup processes

Deployment:

Setting up the account
Installing the software
Setting up backup processes

Ongoing management:

Backup monitoring
Regular testing
Ongoing maintenance