Tag: backup as a service

Hybrid Cloud
Cloud Services

Multi-Cloud vs. Hybrid Cloud – Know the Main Difference

Written by Layer One Networks Published

Most companies rely on cloud storage for their everyday operations. But different cloud computing models can be tricky.

Many companies turned to cloud computing when the traditional means of offline or on-campus storage started to become unfeasible and extremely challenging.

While cloud computing solves a good majority of the issues that businesses face with offline storage, the different models of the cloud can store endless amounts of data.

Initially, many companies started using the public cloud, where the infrastructure and support were provided by the likes of the top companies — Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. This cloud model quickly gained popularity and created revolutionary, affordable storage solutions for businesses of various scales.

However, this public cloud model doesn’t solve some issues where another storage option already exists. This was when the terms ‘multi-cloud and ‘hybrid cloud’ were introduced. So what exactly are they and what’s the difference between both? Let’s find out.

What is a Multi-Cloud Platform?

Cloud Computing Services

Unlike a hybrid cloud platform where two different cloud storage models are involved, a multi-cloud platform is when several cloud computing solutions of the public cloud environment exist together. 

For example, a company can use public cloud storage from Amazon to store data related to marketing and sales, Microsoft’s cloud solutions for finance data transactions, and finally from Google for the rest of it.

A combination of such various public cloud models used together in an organization is called a multi-cloud platform. When partnering with multiple cloud vendors for different tasks removes the dependency on the individual providers and chooses to pick the cloud platform based on the individual department’s requirements.

What is a Hybrid Cloud Platform?

Cloud Storage Services

Some organizations may already be relying on a private cloud for their data storage, primarily due to their security concerns. But because of the enormous administrative and maintenance tasks needed, they may choose to go for a public cloud platform and combine both the operations together.

This is when companies go for a combination of public and private clouds called the ‘hybrid cloud model’. Sometimes, a company can combine the public cloud with an on-premise storage system too.

Hybrid cloud models are more often used along with the traditional IT systems by organizations who wish to modernize their storage options.

What’s the Difference Between a Hybrid Cloud and Multi-Cloud?

While the distinction on the combination of two or more cloud models helps to identify if it’s a hybrid or a multi-cloud, there are also some important differences.

  • Inter-Cloud Operations

In a hybrid cloud environment, you can differentiate and allocate operations to be conducted on just one cloud. All of the functions in the hybrid cloud platform will be communicated to the platform as a whole. This means that the individual clouds need to communicate with each other.

However, that’s not the case with a multi-cloud platform. Each team can pick its choice of cloud inside the multi-cloud and conduct operations without any interaction with the other cloud. This benefits individualistic operations that are entirely independent of the other operations and cloud providers.

So, a multi-cloud platform cannot be a part of a hybrid environment, while a hybrid cloud can be a part of a multi-cloud.

  • Security & Maintenance Responsibilities  

In a public cloud, the providers are in charge of data security and maintenance. You, as a consumer, don’t need to worry about it.

In a private cloud environment, you should lead a team of employees or outsource to any IT services to maintain your cloud. You need to conduct regular security checks, employ the best-in-class security systems, take charge of the infrastructure needs, expand the storage capabilities, and perform every set of tasks related to the private cloud.

  • Cost of Operations

In a public cloud platform, the cost of operations is relatively cheaper than the total cost combined for a public cloud. This makes multi-cloud models cheaper than hybrid cloud models.

The overhead costs of maintaining a private cloud are high. Companies spend on  manpower to manage the infrastructure and build on the cloud whenever needed. On the other hand, since the cloud service providers take care of the maintenance efforts, as well as the infrastructure expansion needs, your costs will be considerably lesser.

  • Lock-In with Cloud Service Providers

In a hybrid cloud model, the dependency on a particular cloud vendor makes it difficult to migrate to other providers. While any IT consulting firm can help you with that, the amount of work involved is enormous. 

You need to take the help of a company offering Backup as a Service to back up all the information on the cloud. You should also plan for disaster recovery if things go sideways and plan for a considerable downtime in the operations of all teams that depend on the hybrid cloud environment.

However, the independence in a multi-cloud platform makes it easier to change vendors of individual clouds without any downtime for people using the other cloud systems.

How Can You Choose Between a Multi-Cloud and a Hybrid Cloud?

There are a few questions you can ask yourself when choosing the right cloud environment for you.

  • Do I have the staffing to maintain a private cloud?
  • Can I migrate my entire storage to a public cloud?
  • Can I afford to have considerable downtime?
  • Do I need to exercise complete control over my storage platform?
  • Do I have the budget to take care of the overhead costs of a private cloud?

When you answer these questions, you’ll find it easier to make a decision on which environment is best for your business right now.

LayerOne Networks is a popular IT consulting firm in Corpus Christi, TX, that helps companies maintain their cloud storage while guiding them with migration and backup. With our IT consulting services, you can make the right choice between a multi-cloud or a hybrid cloud environment. Reach out to us now to book a consultation call.

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Managed IT Services
Security

Stop Ransomware with Effective Backups

Written by Layer One Networks Published

It’s no news that ransomware is becoming one of the top issues in data security.

Ransomware is almost impossible to trace and so, once the hackers gain access, there’s very little we can do to restore without paying the ransom. Since it can potentially bring the organization down, many give in to the ransom demands.

So then, how can you stop the ransomware from wrecking your organization and gain access to sensitive information? Let’s find out.

What Can You Do in Times of a Ransomware Attack?

Stop Ransomware with Effective Backups

There are a few things you can do when you have become the victim of a ransomware attack.

  • You can take the matters in your hands and try to crack the ransomware code, delete it and save your information. This is the rarest solution. You will have to use a malware detection tool to find out the source of the attack and delete those files and leave the encrypted files out of it.
  • You can bring matters to the attention of law enforcement officials. The cyber cell would’ve seen many such instances of ransomware attacks and can, therefore, give you great pointers to handle the situation.
  • You can get an external agency to help you, like an IT consulting firm or a company specialized in ransomware prevention.
  • You can plug out the infected computers from the network and prevent the ransomware from spreading to the other systems. 

In many situations where you handle ransomware attacks, you would often be compelled to delete your computer’s information. So, what would happen when you lose out all your essential data?

This is when having a data backup pays off.

Protecting Your Important Data from Ransomware Attacks with Backups

At LayerOne Networks, we’ve seen many companies manage such cyberattacks in the best way possible due to our managed backup services. When you have all your essential information backed up, you needn’t worry about losing these data in the time of a ransomware attack, or for that matter any cybersecurity threat.

Our backup as a service (BaaS) will help you to create a foolproof strategy to keep your sensitive information safe and away from the hands of the hackers. Here are a few important tips to protect yourself from ransomware attacks.

  • Go by the 3-2-1 Backup Plan

This is one of the most effective and proven backup strategies that has been used over and over by many companies.

What is the 3-2-1 backup plan?

  • Have 3 copies of data; one is your main data storage while the two more are backups.
  • Have two different types of media storage.
  • Have one offsite backup storage.

When you have your data on two separate backups, both of which are in different formats and locations, you have high chances of accessing and restoring the information even when you’re attacked.

The offsite backup should be saved in a location that isn’t anywhere near your office. This is to ensure that your backup will still be safe in the events of any physical calamities.

  • Keep Your Backup Separate from the Main Network

If you want to protect the backup during a ransomware attack, you shouldn’t save your backup on the main network. This is one of the very first things you must take care of. 

In any cyberattack, the virus tries to branch out more to the other storages in the network. So when you have your main storage unit as well as the backup storage in the same network, it can lead to adverse consequences like losing all of your data, including the ones in the backup.

So always make sure to save your backup data in a separate network.

  • Provide Sufficient Recovery Points 

Backup Server

Generally, when you want to recover the data from backup storage, you should be able to access it in the same state it was in before the attack. However, in the worst case that your backup is also affected by the virus, you need to position numerous recovery points through which you can restore and access data at previous stages.

You can ask your IT consulting firm to provide multiple storage blocks and create a storage memory that can’t be altered once the value is set.

  • Implement High Security for the Backup Server

This is an area that many organizations avoid. While you enforce maximum security possible for your main server, you should also give equal importance to the backup server.

Why so? The hackers generally do not know what a particular server is until they hack it. They go by the server which is most easy to crack. And when your backup server doesn’t have high security than the main server, it’s more prone to be attacked. 

There have been many instances in the past where ransomware targeted backup files like the Ryuk ransomware.

  • Backup Often

The backup frequency will determine the data you can access if you’re attacked by a ransomware. When you’re backing up the data once in a few weeks, you’ll lose out on loads of work that you’ve done during those weeks. 

Depending on the importance of your work, increase the backup time to at least once in a few hours to make sure that your recent work is saved and kept safe.

Read More: Ransomware Vs. Malware: What is More Dangerous?

Summing Up

While there are several security measures to prevent the ransomware attacks, it’s best to always have a backup plan.

  • Follow the 3-2-1 plan for a multi-layered backup.
  • Your backup storage should be on a  separate server and should have multiple recovery points.
  • You should enforce high security for the backup plan to prevent the backups from getting attacked.
  • Make sure to increase the frequency of your backup to save your recently worked data.

If you’re looking to hire an experienced company providing managed IT services in Corpus Christi, then reach out to us now. Our IT experts will help you decide the best strategy for backing up your important data and protect it even during ransomware attacks.

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