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How to Protect from Malware Attacks

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How to: Protect from Malware Attacks

Protect from malware attacksProtecting your company data is the most critical task your IT department has. This team of specialists works tirelessly to keep out intruders only to have their coworkers inadvertently let them differently. While your business may have many safeguards in place to catch and clean up these mistakes, there are ways to prevent malware attacks before they happen. Protect from malware attacks ? How?

Additional Layers of Security

You may think your employees are the most vigilant in the world, and they may very well be. However, without a layered security system in place, cyberattacks can still break through. Your business needs an extensive security suite of antivirus, firewalls, and antimalware software to help keep out unwanted visitors.

Using Updates and Plugins

One of the easiest ways for a hacker to attack your infrastructure is through holes in your company’s software. Whether it is the operating system, internet browsers, or mobile devices, keeping titles up to date is one of the most important things you can do to protect corporate data.

Browsers, operating systems, and plugins often receive regular security patches from their manufacturers. It is easy for you to push them off and let them wait until a more convenient time for your employees. However, by doing so, you are cracking a door for intruders to exploit. Once the updates roll out, act immediately to ensure the best coverage. Immediate action is doubly true for mobile devices which often get up off due to low storage or battery power.

On web browsers, ensure all employees enable the click-to-play plugin. Many attackers use the ads to install their viruses on to unsuspecting computers. These ads autoplay and often found on well-known sites. The click-to-play plugin stops Java or Flash ads from running, unless the user clicks on them, helping to reduce the chance of accidental infection.

Safe Browsing

Companies often restrict their employees online browsing abilities. However, even sites that your business has deemed okay for workers to visit need to be used with caution. Employees should do the following every time they go on the internet.

  • Log out of websites when finished: It does not matter if it is a social media site you regularly use to update information for the company or a banking site you use to check your balance during lunch, always log out. Hackers with the right skills can use your browser’s cookies to gain access to places you remained logged into.
  • Use Secure Connections: Sites with padlocks to the left of the URL provide a secure connection between your system and the website server. This added encryption helps to protect against intrusions in the data stream.
  • Strong Passwords: Don’t use passwords that are easy to guess such as birthdates, pets’ names, or anniversaries. Passwords should contain upper and lower cases letters as well as numbers and special characters. For optimal protection, you need a different password for each site you log into.

Other Important Tips

Most employees defer to their local IT department in the event of a computer malfunction. It is the best practice because you know that the gurus of IT are going to clean the system without infecting it further. However, for employees who work from home, having access to the local IT department might not be a feasible option. These workers are more likely to be taken in by fake tech support numbers that may appear on the screen when their system gets infected. Corporations can help by making sure all employees, home-based and onsite, have access to the correct contact for software and hardware support.

Also, educate your workers on phishing and spoofing scams that may appear in their inboxes. It is essential that you remind them never to call the institution the message is from to verify authenticity before using links. Learning how to spot phony messages can protect both your company and individual workers from data loss.

Malware attacks can happen to any business, big or small. Taking steps to protect your infrastructure and training your employees on safe practices can curtail any malicious intrusions. Even the most secure systems can still be successfully attacked, so in addition to education and layered security, you should also backup your data. CloudAlly offers complete backup and recovery solutions for Office 365, G Suite and Salesforce, allowing you to quickly recover data in the event of a malware attack.

Microsoft Video: Malware Attacks

GDPR – Do you need to worry about it?

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GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation EU’s New Standard for Consumer Privacy

In April 2016, the EU decided it was time to update their current Data Protection Directive which became the standard in 1995. The outdated policy did not offer residents the level of protection so desperately needed in a world where information is available at the click of a button. The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets a stricter guideline and stiffer penalties for those in non-compliance.

New Requirements

GDPR’s requirements change significantly from the outdated directive of the 1990’s. The new rules focus on getting companies to follow stricter handling practices for customer data collected, specifically the following areas.

  • Removal: In the past, customers did not have the right to require companies to remove and delete their information. GDPR requires businesses to remove any consumer records upon their request. Corporations must wipe all personal information from their systems.
  • Portability: In addition to being able to request a removal from company databases, consumers have the right to ask their personal data be transferred from one company to another. Corporations must comply with the request.
  • Accessibility: EU residents have a legal right to request access to the information collected by companies with which they do business. Corporations must provide copies of all data collected upon request.
  • Transparency: Gone are the complicated end user releases used by companies. GDPR requires that businesses make their language easy to understand and detail exactly how they use personal consumer data.

In addition to these areas, companies must adopt stricter breach notification policies. In the event of a data breach, corporations must notify their customers within 72 hours of the intrusion.

Increased Fines – GDPR

Under the new GDPR system, companies found in non-compliance with the regulations face stiff fines. While the penalties are tiered, it still costs a significant amount for those affected. Companies who do not keep their paperwork in order may see a penalty 2% of their annual global turnover. However, if a company experiences a security breach, they see fines of up to 4% of their annual worldwide turnover or €20 Million, whichever is greater.

Fining companies experiencing security breaches is not unheard of under old EU policy. However, a loophole protected businesses that process data to another firm. New regulations do away with this protection. According to Article 32 of the GDPR, data processors are just as liable for security as controllers. Corporations that process data receive a smaller penalty, under the new regulation with fines of 2% of the annual global turnover of €10 Million, whichever is greater.

Data Recovery and Security

All EU companies must employ a disaster recovery plan. GDPR not only requires a plan in place, but companies must also test it at regular intervals. Under these new protocols, the data recovery plans must give companies the ability to restore any information lost due to technological or physical issues.

Companies must instill policies which restrict access suppliers and staff have to consumer information. Policies are just the beginning, management technology such as multi-factor authentication, granular passwords, and role-based privileges need to be in place.

While Windows is one of the most popular operating systems, as a North American based company, EU corporations cannot rely on built-in securities to bring their business into compliance. Instead, using third-party intrusion detection systems and virtual private networks can help bring EU corporations into line with the new rules.

In the event of a breach, quick response is necessary. Regulations require not just an immediate response to fix the issue, but also a plan of action to prevent future violations. An analysis log and subsequent management assist IT personnel in locating the source of the breach. The record gives insight into why the violation occurred and is a starting point for problem resolution.

GDPR

Not Just Limited to EU

The GDPR is the new privacy policy of the EU. However, that does not mean that it does not affect contractors and providers in outlying areas. Thanks to the worldwide nature of the internet, businesses work together across the oceans. For countries outside the EU, ensuring their practices line up with GDPR regulations is essential.

EU residents expect the same protection whether their data is collected and retained by a local company or a foreign entity. Corporations outside of the EU should review data protection and privacy policies to ensure they match up with GDPR standards. Hiring a Chief Protection Officer (CPO) familiar with GDPR requirements can consult with legal counsel and help others in the company understand legal obligations to EU clientele.

GDPR is the standard for consumer privacy in the EU. However, companies still have time to adapt these protocols before they face the hefty penalties called for under the new guidelines. With a deadline of May 25, 2018 looming, it is time for businesses to complete their updates to comply and not wait until the last minute to do so.

For more information read our blog post on: The Importance of Regional Data Centers for Office 365 Backup

Google Drive Down Worldwide: Averting Problems with Google Drive Backup

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Google Drive Down Worldwide: Averting Problems with Google Drive Backup

Google Drive Down WorldwideHere’s the scenario: you get to work, ready to pull up the spreadsheet you’ve been working on from Google Drive. But there’s a problem: Google Drive is down. You wait. Check again. Google drive is still down, and it stays down. For over an hour. What are you going to do now? The answer: keep waiting, even as you waste time. While there is certainly nothing wrong with using Google Drive to back up your G Suite apps, recent issues like this one prove that Google Drive alone is not reliable enough to be your only backup. CloudAlly’s G Suite/Google Apps Backup gives you the security that your data will be protected, even if Google Drive fails.

Right now, Google Drive aims to simplify G Suite users’ storage and file sharing in the cloud, but the program regularly has its snafus.

Case in point about Google Drive’s unreliability: on the morning of September 7, Google Drive users started receiving error messages from the file storage service. Users around the world could not load their files.

At 10:37am EST on September 7, 2017, Google announced that it was working to resolve the issue:

“We’re investigating reports of an issue with Google Drive.” Google Drive was down for an entire hour. By 11:38am EST, the program had been restored for some users, but it was still down for others.

Google issued another message that users could “expect a resolution for all users in the near future,” but the company could not provide a concrete timeline. Only by 12:24pm EST – nearly two hours after Google started working on the problem – was Google Drive restored for all users. The tech giant apologized for the inconvenience and said that it planned to develop “continuous improvements to make our systems better.”

Sure, Google says they’re working to make Google Drive infallible, but what if they don’t deliver on their promise, like they most likely will? If Google Drive fails when you need important data, you’re stuck, waiting until Google recovers. Without a third-party program, there is nothing you can do about Google Drive’s unreliability.

You might think, Google Drive was down for a few hours. So what? The problem speaks to a common issue of unreliability with the service. Just a few days after the first issue, on September 11, nearly 3,000 people reported issues with Google Drive again.

Sure, Google Drive is helpful. But it is by no means complete.

Google Drive’s Unreliability?

Google Drive does back up your files and data. However, the protection it provides is not enough.

Take malware and ransomware. Does Google Drive protect your files from these malicious viruses?

Nope. Even if your files are stored on the Google Drive cloud, your data could be infected. Only a third-party software like CloudAlly can protect your Google Drive files from corruption or ransom.

But, you might think, at least Google Drive will be around forever, right?

Again, the answer isn’t certain. Google Drive’s future is at risk. In early September 2017, users feared that Google Drive was shutting down altogether. While this turned out to be hype, Google is shutting down its Google Drive app for Windows and Mac, replacing it with a new backup up.

Right now, though, take a breath. Google Drive is still accessible to all users through browsers on all devices, but this replacement demonstrates Google doesn’t love Google Drive enough that they’ll never change or replace it. Google Drive may not be around forever, and while Google Drive will likely not shut down without notice, it still makes sense to have a third-party software like CloudAlly to back up all your data.

CloudAlly’s G Suite/Google Apps Backup

Returning to the interruption of Google Drive on September 7.

Google Drive users without third-party backups just had to wait. And click to see if Google Drive had come back online. And wait. And click.

But if you were using CloudAlly, you could have exported critical documents instantly. You wouldn’t have wasted any time. CloudAlly lets you export your data to any and all of the programs or devices you need using efficient zip downloads. Instead of waiting for Google to repair Google Drive on September 7, you could have kept on working like nothing was wrong.

Besides, CloudAlly’s Google Apps Backup does more than protect your Google Drive files, too. It backs up all your G Suite apps, including Gmail, calendar, contacts, tasks, and chats on an automated, daily basis.

Don’t put your data safely entirely into Google’s control; take matters into your own hands! Want to see for yourself how CloudAlly is more reliable than Google Drive? Try our free backup for 15 days.

How to Recover Missing G Suite Files

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How to Recover Missing G Suite Files

It’s always frustrating to loose a file, but as a G Suite administrator, recovering and restoring missing files and emails is basic part of your job.  Users may restore their data for up to 30 days or until it’s permanently deleted, whichever comes first. However, if they permanently delete a file or email, it’s probably up to you to restore it. How to Recover Missing G Suite Files ?

Lets re track;  Of course G Suite has limitations on the restore such as the time limit of 25 days to restore permanently deleted files back to the user who created them, but it does provide basic restore functions including:

  • A date range search to locate deleted items
  • Verify restoration via inbox or Google Drive check
  • Restore data to a team drive
  • Restore a deleted team drive
  • Restore data for up to 10 users at once

Restoring Deleted Files

To restore either Gmail messages or deleted Google drive files start by signing into your Google administration console. From here you can restore information to an individual user or multiple users at a time.

Single User Restoration

For single user restoration, after you have logged into the administration console, navigate to the Users panel.

  1. Locate the user and click on their name to open the account page.
  2. Once on the users account page, click the More icon and select Restore Data.
  3. Indicate the date range for the data you wish to restore. Restoration is only possible within the last 25 days.
  4. Choose the type of data you wish to restore either Drive or Gmail. An error message appears if you do not select a data type.
  5. Click Restore Data.

Once restored, you can navigate to the user’s inbox or Google Drive to verify restoration occurred.

Multiple User Restoration

As G Suite administrator you may restore files to multiple users. As with a single user restoration, you must first log in to the administration console.

  1. Navigate to the Users panel.
  2. Put a checkmark in the box to the left of each user whose data you wish to restore. You may only restore up to 10 users at a time.
  3. On the toolbar, click the More icon and select Restore Data.
  4. Select the date range for the data you wish to restore. This field only covers the previous 25 days.
  5. Choose the data type you wish to restore, either Drive or Gmail. Leaving this criteria blank results in an error message.
  6. Click Restore Data.

You can now verify if restoration was successful.

A Complete Backup and Recovery Solution

Google restore functions are limited to approximately 30 days, so your business is at risk if data has been deleted or corrupted without detection for more than 1 month. You can protect your data an eliminate this risk by using CloudAlly’s automated  daily backup service for G suite including the ability to recover or export data from any point-in-time.

Admins can drill down through date snapshots or use the granular search function to quickly locate and restore data to the original user or another user if needed. Data can be exported in Outlook compatible .pst for onsite use, and mailboxes can be archived as needed when off-boarding employees.

Give us a try for 15 days no risk. If you like our services, G Suite backup starts at three dollars per user per month or $30 per user per year.

Protect Your Data: The Difference Between Malware, Adware, and Spyware

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Protect Your Data: The Difference Between Malware, Adware, and Spyware

Short for malicious software, malware comes in many varieties of forms. Viruses and worms, named because of their ability to quickly spread through your system by digging in deep and making copies of themselves, are probably two of the best-known malware types, which is why malware protection is needed.

Malware vs Ransomware

Another well-known malware is the Trojan which infects your computer secretly, coming in through a perceived safe link or website. Like viruses, this malware infects your computer sometimes to the point of having to reset the entire system.

Malware began with the dawn of the internet. In the past, software creators of this nature were a few high school computer gurus blowing off steam and playing pranks on unsuspecting visitors. However, criminals who are looking for ways to make easy money engineer today’s malicious software.

Some ways malware infects your computer are:

  • Visiting an infected website
  • Clicking on an infected pop-up
  • Opening an unknown, infected email attachment
  • Visiting an infected link sent via email
  • Downloading files off the internet without running an antivirus scan on them first

A new virus, known as ransomware, locks users out of their systems entirely. Once locked out the infected party must either pay the infector a fee to resume use of their computer or completely reset the drive, a complete reset results in loss of all data and applications that were not initially on the unit at the time of purchase. Failure to pay the ransom results in the same damage.

Adware

Adware is slightly different. While benign in comparison to other malware, this software can still be an annoying leech on your computer’s resources.

Companies across the globe use Adware to track your movements online and display ads that are relevant to your browsing experience. In most cases, adware will not do any damage to your computer nor will it steal personal information. It is merely a tool used by marketing consultants to put relevant ads where you see them.

In most cases, adware works with your knowledge. Most sites alert you to the fact they are collecting information about your interests for this purpose. However, on occasion, sites install this software without your knowledge. When this happens, the benign software has crossed into malware territory and leaves you vulnerable to further attacks.

Programmers sometimes use adware to fund their program development. They bundle ads with free software and deactivate the advertisements once the user purchases or registers the title. Use of ads is standard practice for free mobile applications.

Adware is tricky to remove. As most titles are only marketing tools, antivirus software sometimes overlooks these programs.

Spyware

A type of malware, spyware is far more insidious than most other types. While viruses and trojans are problematic and can shut down your system, spyware tracks your every move. Each keystroke and mouse click is then relayed back to a third-party without your knowledge.

The big problem with spyware is the fact it is hard to detect. Anti-virus software may be able to stop installation or remove already installed versions. However, if your anti-virus does not have an anti-spyware bundled with, it may overlook these programs.

Spyware can infect your computer many ways. In some cases, it is installed by visiting an infected website or opening an infected link or attachment sent via email. Most spyware comes from downloading software from file-sharing sites. Hackers who put free movies or music files on these websites bundle their spyware alongside so you do not know it is downloading.

Indicators that your system has a spyware infection include:

  • Searches redirect you to a different search engine
  • Random error messages during routine operations that previously worked
  • Unidentifiable or new icons appearing on the taskbar

Spyware allows the third-party owner not only to see what you are doing, but gain access to your usernames, passwords, and bank and credit card account numbers.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself – Malware Protection !

Companies often have several layers of protection to keep malicious files out using firewalls and anti-virus software. However, from time to time, an email or website can get through the company shielding allowing malicious software through.

The first step for both large and small businesses is to educate employees on the different methods a malware, spyware, or adware infection occurs. Employees need to know how to spot a suspicious email and whom to contact within IT to prevent future attacks.

In addition to education, your company should have backup redundancies in place to protect sensitive data. Having a backup of essential files allows IT technicians to reset infected computers without worrying about losing information.

Storing files locally is one option. However, the local backups must be kept off the internal network to prevent potential corruption or infection from malicious attacks. The use of cloud storage helps protect documents while keeping them off local network which could potentially be damaged through a single computer infection. When choosing a cloud service provider, check for their security protocol to ensure the safety of your data from hackers who may use rants somewhere to attack your company in this manner.

It is also a good idea to back up your backups. If you store items locally, you should also store them in the cloud. Cloud providers should also be backed up using services such as offered by CloudAlly. Our service allows you to backup files stored in OneDrive, Box, and Google Drive. It also enables you to backup sensitive emails for those using G Suite or Office 365.

Education, protective software, and backups are essential to protecting your company from malicious attacks.

Making the right choice: Amazon AWS storage Vs Azure Vs own Data-center”

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Make the right choice:
Amazon AWS storage Vs Azure Vs own Data-center

Cloud backup or on-premises backup the decision is not an easy one. With Cloud data centers, of course, you are concerned with keeping your data safe from the loss, but you also want to ensure that you are abiding by compliance regulations within your geographical area.

Local data servers provide you with the physical control you need. Cloud providers Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services offer you the convenience of doing the hard work for you. To help you decide what the best choice for your business is, we’ve put together this handy guide showcasing the benefits and downsides of using a local data server, Microsoft Azure, or Amazon Web Services.

Local Data Servers

There is some comfort in keeping all your data stored in on-site servers. You have little to no need to worry about internet connectivity to these servers. A simple network with local devices allows users to connect, retrieve and store information. With the data physically controlled, you remain in compliance with all local and international privacy laws.

Upgrading your servers is as simple as purchasing new hardware and installing it. You have the flexibility to grow or shrink your server bank as needed. This ability allows you to change your equipment to meet the demands of your company without an increased monthly service fee.

There are some aspects of housing data locally of which you may not be fully aware. To build your storage center, you must purchase the hardware and software infrastructure. Additionally, you must hire staff to keep the servers up and running.

Pros:

  • Complete control
  • Easy upgrade/downgrade capability
  • No need for Internet connectivity
  • You control security

Cons:

  • Higher cost to initially install
  • Cost of staff to maintain
  • Possible uncontrolled downtime
  • Manual Software updating/patching required

Azure Cloud Storage

When it comes to off-site, or “cloud,” storage Microsoft’s Azure service is easily on of the two biggest names. No surprise, here. The software giant has worked hard over the last seven years to build a service that is stable, secure, and scalable to meet customer needs.

Azure’s cloud backup solution is designed to work well with Microsoft Windows, Visual Studio, and TFS. The Active Directory integrates in a way that allows you to use the same Active Directory account to sign into cloud services such as Azure SQL and Office 365.

Like most cloud storage service providers, Azure provides basic service categories such as Computer, Data Management, Performance, and Networking. Service security relies on a combination of Active Directory, both Azure and Federation Services models, and Multi-factor authentication. Microsoft also employs a role based access control for companies in which Group Policies wouldn’t apply.

However, not everyone, even cloud providers, is ready to put their trust solely in the cloud. You may want some physical on-premises backup servers to feel like you are still in control. That is where a hybrid solution may be your best choice. You can have some files secured locally while everything else hangs out in the cloud. When considering hybrid capabilities, Azure is no slouch.

Per Microsoft’s Azure website, “True hybrid isn’t just about infrastructure and connectivity – it offers consistency across your infrastructure, applications, identity, and data.” Microsoft has answered the needs of their customers by offering platforms such as Hybrid SQL Server and Azure Stack. Both programs allow users to run complex applications and deploy infrastructures on the cloud while seamlessly switching to local servers for some processes.

As with all cloud backup options, licensing may be an issue. While this may change in the future, there may be instances where you pay twice to use a product, especially if you are running a hybrid situation. For example, if you run Windows Server on your local system and then spit up a virtual machine on Azure’s server running the same stack, you may end up paying for the additional Windows Server license. Not all licenses don’t transfer into the cloud. SQL Server licenses can be used in both locations, for example.

For those interested in storing massive volume, Microsoft Azure’s Blob storage solution is best. It is cost effective and offers tiered storage. Long-term backup can be placed in cool storage, which costs less per month to utilize. However, if you have a hot on-demand video that all your clients and employees need access on a regular basis, you can do that too. Hot storage, which is only slightly more expensive, is for frequently accessed files.

With Blob storage, you have the option to edit an object in place. Once a data set is changed, the service then checks all areas to ensure that the latest version is available for consumer usage. This cloud backup solution allows for an image, video, audio, and document storage.

Pros:

  • Hybrid capabilities
  • Seamless use of Active Directory accounts
  • Simple scale up/down solutions
  • Multi-factor Authentication for greater security

Cons:

  • Not all licenses qualify for mobility meaning you may pay twice
  • Not as open source friendly as Amazon, but is becoming more so
  • Not as familiar in government settings

Amazon Web Services

When it comes to cloud backup solutions, Amazon Web Services, better known as AWS, is king. They have the crown for a good reason. They were the first in the game, utilizing idle computing power the company had invested in for their e-commerce business. With that experience comes state of the art cloud which includes not just computation and data management, but also storage and content delivery and networking.

Amazon is no slouch when it comes to security. While Azure uses multi-factor authentication and Active Directory based security services, Amazon utilizes their own security and identity services. AWS does host Active Directory for those who want to have the freedom of combining their cloud backup options with their other Active Directory accounts. However, they also use and AWS Identity Management and AWS Certificate Manager to allow you to manage all SSL/TLS certificates. You can also use the AWS CloudHSM for hardware-based key storage.

In addition to the AWS Certificate Manager and Identity Manager, AWS employs multilevel security on the operating system level. Virtual instances, app-level API, and virtual guest OS keeps computational data safe. The Xen hypervisor enables different permission levels for each user or guest. Amazon also uses isolation instances to ensure there are no data conflicts while data is moved on their virtual machines.

Per the AWS site, “The AWS infrastructure puts strong safeguards in place to help protect customer privacy. Security scales with your AWS cloud usage. No matter the size of your business the AWS infrastructure is designed to keep data safe.”

Being HIPAA, ITAR, DISA, CJIS, and FIPS compliant is an important step for any cloud service. Both AWS and Azure have security compliance standards in place to meet these needs. However, AWS has been employing these standards from the beginning. Their longevity in this arena has given them the edge when it comes to procuring government contracts. In fact, AWS hosts two cloud locations within the US for United States government services only.

Across the globe, AWS currently has 42 data centers with more planned in Paris and Ningxia soon. Customers can choose which region their data is stored in when setting up their account, however, once the data center is chosen it is may be difficult to change later.

The newest wave of technology is containers which allow smaller virtual machines to spin up without having to utilize a larger virtual overhead. While containers are still relatively new, their Linux-based operation has allowed Amazon to be one of the first to take advantage of the Docker technology. With the code finally spilling over into Windows, Azure is slowly beginning to accept some container like data centers.

Like with everything else, Amazon’s open source policy has been in place for far longer than Azure. The company’s infrastructure was built on Linux-based technology making it more user-friendly for those wanting to run open source applications. AWS comes with a host of integrated open source tools to help your company continue to grow.

What does all this mean for storage? With Amazon, their S3 service offers durable, scalable cloud offerings. The AWS S3 service gives customers geo-redundancy to protect their stored data. This cloud backup solution is designed to support databases including Oracle and SAP in addition to lumps of data, images, or videos.

Pros:

  • Open source friendly
  • Database storage available on the same tier as blob storage
  • Longest in the Business
  • Government approved security
  • Docker-friendly
  • Choose your storage location

Cons:

  • Not as hybrid friendly
  • No visual studio online
  • Pricing not as streamlined as Azures

Conclusion

Amazon is king, there is no doubt. The service has been around for over a decade, leading the way in cloud technology. They continue to integrate newer technologies to make their services better than before. While they still need to work on hybrid system cloud backup, their offerings can’t be beaten.

That doesn’t mean that Azure is a service to be avoided. Windows users can find seamless integration with the cloud backup solutions offered by Microsoft’s cloud computing branch. The biggest downside to using Azure is their lagging in government compliance. They are compliant across all major areas of governmental concern now. However, their lack in the past has made them not as popular in gaining key contracts.

Both companies offer the freedom that using a local data center does not. Automation with backup is a key component and having servers that are guaranteed active over 99.99% of the time is crucial. Local data centers require attention and staff that smaller enterprises may not be able to give them. Patching servers require them to be brought offline while updates are installed, meaning there are times where users cannot access information. This could adversely affect productivity. Furthermore, redundancies for on-premises backup, which is a given part of cloud backup solutions, require the added cost of hardware, software, and personnel.

Cloud backup pricing is always a concern for those interested in the bottom line. However, when weighed against the cost of purchasing and maintaining a local bank of servers, the cost savings are apparent. Yes, there is an ongoing monthly, or yearly, service fee. However, it is often negligible when compared to costs for personnel, hardware, and software. Both Amazon and Azure have pricing charts to help you find the right level of protection.

At CloudAlly we provide unlimited Amazon S3 storage and makes it available for restore or export. It takes only one click to backup/restore your cloud data.  Start with a 14 day FREE TRIAL