9 Enterprise Backup Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The challenges around data backup and storage are manifold. As global reach and competition accelerate, few companies can risk even a short period of downtime and data loss. Such events can create not only short-term costs but also long-term reputational damage. Companies need a cost-effective, enterprise-scale backup and restore solution that keeps their data secure and accessible.

The following are some of the barriers to achieving that goal:

• Cyberthreats – As data grows more valuable, malicious innovations such as ransomware as a service make it easier and more attractive to hijack. At the same time, a proliferation of endpoints—including IoT devices—multiplies risk. Organizations are vulnerable to data loss, hacking, ransomware attacks, and human error.
• Data sprawl – In an age of hybrid multicloud, data can be anywhere and everywhere—on premises, in the public cloud, in private clouds, at the core, or on the edge. Securing and backing up this data while maintaining data governance and regulatory compliance can quickly become a nightmare.
• Inaccessibility – Data stored on premises across multiple media is unavailable for analysis that can lead to insights and innovation. This makes data migration and technology upgrades difficult and leads to significant downtime during the restore process.
• Lack of scalability – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.

• High and unpredictable TCO – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.
• Cloud vendor lock-in – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.
• User complexity – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.
• Legacy storage media – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.
• Wasted data – Enterprises are generating petabytes of data, complicating any means of storage not built for such scale. In the case of backup, that volume is multiplied by as many copies needed to support a complete data protection strategy. For example, the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy maintains three copies on at least two media with one copy stored offsite and one copy air-gapped—i.e., offline, disconnected, and inaccessible from the internet.

Introducing Lyve Cloud

Seagate® Lyve™ Cloud offers a simple, trusted, and efficient cloud backup
storage solution with a simple pricing structure and zero charges for API
calls or egress fees. Designed for use with the most common backup
applications, Lyve Cloud provides S3 compatibility and end-to-end data
encryption at rest and in motion. Utilizing Lyve Cloud for backup, with
scale-out object storage as a service, makes it easier and more cost
effective to manage exponential data growth while creating a single, easyto-
access data repository to fuel advanced analytics.

Here’s how it tackles every challenge:

Security

Lyve Cloud adheres to the most stringent, globally recognized
data security standards and is ISO 27001:2013 and SOC2 certified.
Safeguard data with ransomware protection, enterprise-grade identity
management support, automatic data replication, and data encryption at
rest and in flight. Seamless integration with leading industry backup software
providers offers an additional layer of security that allows enterprises to
seamlessly back up, scale out, and protect their data from cyberthreats

• Ransomware Protection - Lyve Cloud S3 storage features object immutability—the ultimate feature for ransomware defense—delivering tape-like air-gap data protection. This, combined with automatic replication, provides ultimate protection for stored backups.
• No Vendor Lock-In - Users can utilize Lyve Cloud with whatever backup regime and/or software provider they prefer. Lyve Cloud’s S3-compatible interface is certified with leading backup software providers, including Veritas, CommVault, Rubrik, Veeam, IBM Spectrum Protect, Cohesity, and many more. See our software partner list for complete details.
• Ease-of-Use - Lyve Cloud provides one repository for all cloud/colocation and archive backup copies while also giving users greater flexibility to back up and restore data on premises or in the cloud (hybrid cloud or multicloud), including disaster recovery.
• Accessibility and Availability - Unlike most cloud providers, Lyve Cloud does not charge for API calls or data egress, so users can access more data without getting hit with additional fees. In addition, Lyve Cloud’s multi-regional availability, paired with industry-leading data durability (always on with four nines uptime and 29 nines data durability) and encryption, ensures data is always on and available without costly delays. Lyve Cloud enables enterprises to use S3-compatible storage—even for primary backup data. Built-in object immutability protects it from cyber security threats such as ransomware.
• Scalability - Lyve Cloud’s simple, capacity-based pricing supports limitless scalability without breaking the bank. With zero charges for API calls or egress fees, bill anxiety gives way to predictable economics based on usage. This allows backup capacity to scale on demand without financial risk. Expedited data access and deletions are included as well. When it comes to business continuity, restores can’t wait. With Lyve Cloud, there are no costly delays and users have the full data management flexibility required for efficient data protection and disaster recovery.
• Data Consolidation and Analysis - Lyve Cloud helps businesses migrate all backup data to where it’s needed for activation. This allows organizations to regain access to their data and turn a stagnant cost center into a valuable business asset. Once data is ingested, it becomes available for data analytics, empowering organizations to exploit the inherent potential and worth of previously inaccessible data.
• IT Transformation and Data Growth - Lyve Managed Migration services provide a simple, streamlined process for migrating high volumes of data from any aging storage media and data format directly to a private, hybrid, or public cloud platform in a secure and methodical way. By consolidating data in a centralized digital repository, organizations can protect it from physical deterioration, theft, and other security risks. Furthermore, they can unlock the potential to access, restore, mine, analyze, monetize, and deploy it in ways never before possible.

1. The Digitization of the World from Edge to Core, IDC, 2018
2. “Companies are Drawing from Over 400 Different Data Sources On Average,”  Data Integration Solutions Review, 2019
3. Rethink Data: Put More of Your Business Data to Work – From Edge to Cloud, A Seagate Report with Research and Analysis by IDC, 2020