Remote backup approaching a 'tipping point'

Remote backup solutions are reaching a ‘tipping point’, Connect said this week, with half of UK business IT departments planning to move their file backup system online within the next three years.

IT support company Connect surveyed IT managers and directors at 151 companies, and found that 22% are already using a remote backup service.

An additional 28% said they will change from traditional digital tape-based backup to a remote service within the next three years.

The public sector is the most keen to switch to remote backup, with 69% transferring to online backup in the next three years.

Property and construction firms had the most reservations about remote backup, with 75% sticking with digital tape backup.

For those continuing to use tape backup, the biggest reservations about remote backup were increased costs (19%) and security (14%).

Other concerns included a slower internet connection (7%), the hassle of changing (5%), and worries about the unproven nature of online backup (5%).

Mark MacGregor, Connect CEO, said: “One of the key factors holding people back from moving to online backup is cost – which is obviously even more important in the current economic climate.

“However, with the costs of storage falling dramatically, we have found that the price for many online backup services are now significantly lower than they were even six months ago.

“We are probably approaching a tipping point where tapes – at least for enterprises with relatively small amounts of data – rapidly fall out of favour in the market.”