Got Data?
– Bill Carey, is Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Siber Systems
No matter what size company you run, if you have valuable data that you use to manage products, collaborate with colleagues, develop customer relationships and analyze performance, it’s important to make sure it is backed up and synchronized regularly. That’s because as data is received and updated, everyone needs access to the latest, most accurate information to operate at peak efficiency and effectiveness.
As more business is conducted using cloud assets, company leaders may think they have a handle on data storage and protection since they provide a central repository, but research shows that over half of enterprise data is actually stored on users’ laptops or desktops. Add to that the BYOD – bring your own device – phenomenon and an increasingly mobile workforce, and the data silos multiply as vital company information is kept on smartphones and tablets.
An enterprise synchronization, backup and data protection solution can resolve the problem of unprotected data silos. With a sophisticated file-based synchronization and backup solution, companies can synchronize work folders and files automatically to ensure that they are protected and current. Synchronization operations can cover desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices and external drives to ensure completely protected and up-to-date files.
But what kind of synchronization system works best? That depends on your company’s unique needs and where your users are located. An enterprise workstation solution allows your IT team to backup and synchronize files from user workstations to the destination you choose. It can be configured to sync numerous workstations to each other or to a cloud storage site.
When evaluating enterprise workstation solutions, make sure the provider offers a level of customization that fits your needs and a user-friendly interface. You’ll need a solution that allows you to quickly and easily sync data on and off the cloud, plus a system that works in multiple environments with a variety of protocols. It’s also important to make sure the solution enables deployment across the workforce with minimal disruption.
An enterprise server solution is another option: It not only helps you keep server files up-to-date, a good enterprise server solution also makes data retrieval quick and easy. When assessing your options, look for a sync solution that allows you to integrate users through Active Directory and Group Policy. Also ensure that your solution preserves the original file format so you and your employees can conduct a search and quickly recover the files you need in their native format.
A robust enterprise server solution should address sync size and bandwidth usage issues by using Delta synchronization at the block level. It should also facilitate collaboration with a location that syncs multiple workstations to enable sharing of document changes, provide multiple recovery points to allow data replication to additional server sites and maintain Windows permissions and settings during syncs for security.
Another option is a management console solution, which enables you to centralize backup and synchronization via a single web interface. This approach allows you to grant administration access and manage users no matter where they are located. An advanced system also makes creating and distributing sync jobs easy with grouping functions and can provide reporting tools to aid in analysis.
One advantage to a management console approach is that a well-designed solution enables the IT team to distribute and run jobs in the background without providing training to users. It also proactively identifies issues and alerts IT if there’s a problem before and during syncs, allows multiple authentication methods and empowers IT with reporting and management tools.
Making sure your data is properly synced, backed up and protected will help you ensure you use vital business information to its best advantage. When evaluating possible solutions, make sure the option you select enables backup across all device types, including mobile phones and tablets, and supports public and private cloud syncing.
Look for a solution that best fits the unique needs of your business, including reporting and administrative tools if you’re managing backup and synchronization across multiple sites and users. When you find the right solution, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your data is in good hands – plus the competitive advantage of seamless access to accurate, updated information.
Bill Carey is Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Siber Systems Inc., which offers the top-rated GoodSync software.
