Before moving to a cloud data backup service, IT organizations should do a TCO (total cost of ownership) analysis and determine the payback period for moving to a cloud data backup service. Use a provider that can integrate archives, so you can move data sets from a backup plan to an archive plan and provides online search and retrieval functionality. And make sure your provider has good management processes, good quality reporting and a secure facility and connectivity.

Put the cloud data backup provision in place long before you need it.

Security is of prime concern in all forms of cloud computing and cloud services. To ensure security and privacy always use encrypted backups.