Did you know that over 164.68 million sensitive data records were leaked last year in the USA alone? These figures sound threatening and they only apply to one country! Everybody across the world is at risk of data leakages and the subsequent data losses.
Therefore, businesses and other organizations should prioritize VMware backup efforts. Otherwise, any business could make it to the list of victims. If you run virtual machines, you should remember that you are a target for hackers. Remember, hackers are like business people; they go where their customers move to. Likewise, the bad guys follow their potential victims wherever they go-virtual or hardware.
Irrespective of whether you run physical or virtual machines, you should get ideal solutions to back up your data. Fortunately, the market is full of different options you can enjoy for free and at a fee. Therefore, there's no excuse for not backing your data. You can store your data safely whatever the size of your business. It's your choice to use either premium or freemium editions.
But which one should you choose among these free and paid plans? What circumstances necessitate the use of free or premium data backup solutions? Let's explore all the details to help you make the right choice for you.
When Do You Need Free Backup?
Yes, the market is full of free tools you can use to beat hackers at their game. The challenge here lies in when exactly you should use them. Here are the leading conditions that necessitate the use of a freemium data backup tool.
You are undecided
You can opt for free backup tools as a bridge to paid versions. If you are not sure which offers on the market would work well for you, it's fine to try them. The good news is that many companies have free editions intended to give users a taste of what they could enjoy in the paid versions. These editions assist you in evaluating them based on your need before buying.
You want to save money
Free tools are excellent for saving money. If you are not ready for a paid subscription, you can use freemium editions.
When your storage needs are minimal
Lastly, you can opt for free data backup if your needs are still low. For instance, the market has tools that can store between 2 and 50 GB of data free of charge. Thus, they can serve the needs of small businesses or individuals. For instance, you can use Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Unitrends. Unitrends offers 1 TB, Google Drive has 15 GB, OneDrive offers 5 GB, while Dropbox has 2 GB.
When Do You Need Premium Data Backup?
So, when do you need to transition from freemium to a paid subscription? Here are the reasons to choose a premium data backup solution.
More storage space
You have to exit the freemium club after your storage needs exceed the capacity of free software. The reason is that limited space could limit your storage capacity. Also, you might end up losing precious data due to limited space.
Greater accountability
It's prudent to choose a paid subscription when you need someone to account for your needs. The challenge with free tools is that you can't hold anyone accountable for a breach because you are not in business with them. However, a paid subscription is more secure because the vendor wants to protect their name and money. Thus, they will do anything possible to please and satisfy their clients.
Tiring limitations
Yes, it's great to enjoy freebies. However, all free editions are limited. All of them have limited features their developers designed to frustrate users, urging them to upgrade to the premium edition. Paying for your data backup grants you unlimited services and solutions that meet your needs.
What to Look for in a Data Backup Tool
Whether you are going for a free or premium tool, the fact remains that both of them serve a common purpose. Here is a unified standard of selecting a tool.
Current and future needs
First, you have to choose a tool based on your current backup needs. Consider its ability to meet those requirements as they scale up and choose a program that will remain relevant to your storage requirements without disrupting you financially.
Mobile integration
The world has gone mobile. Thus, the ability of tools to integrate with mobile platforms and gadgets is mandatory. It's wise to select a storage tool that will let you access and modify your information anywhere and 24/7 using any mobile device. Otherwise, a solution that confines you to your laptop or PC is a step in the wrong direction. This feature helps foster team collaboration within your team since you can collaborate from anywhere.
Cost matters
The tool must also align with your budgetary limits at every moment. Everything valuable will cost you money. However, it should not be a strain on your budget, taking you backward. Thus, choose a tool the cost implications of which can reasonably and comfortably help you to advance.
Ease of use
A good backup app should help you and your team to work better. It should be complete enough to serve its purpose but still simple enough to use. It must not complicate life and things for you. Instead, it must supplement your operations.
Integration with your current systems
Lastly, the app should fit within your current technological backup framework. For instance, if you use physical servers, mobile devices, or any other tool to back your data, the solution should fit in them. This way, it will be easy to grow up with the technology.
The debate on whether to use free or premium backup tools is valid. Different business circumstances determine whether it will choose a premium or free tool. Use our comparison to choose the right tool that meets your needs and address the challenges of the modern online world proactively.
