Backup Anytime

Data deduplication is the new sex but some people don’t want to take part. This is particularly the case at small business level. In a busy small business office where I.T. is the domain of an executive or owner manager who has significant other non I.T. responsibilities, the whole concept of not having multiple copies of data scattered around the network is difficult to accept. 

Many small business owners take solace in having multiple copies of data left on different systems in an adhoc manner. This however is simply a case of being disorganised and having a fear of depending on systyems rather than ones self.

Data deduplication not only reduces the number of copies of data but more critically identifies absolutely necessary data volumes and together with a quality online backup system ensures this data is managed, backed up and archived to ensure availability and efficiency. If there is a compromise it is that all parties involved must replace their paranoia and associated paradoxical self confidence with a functioning system and outside of monitoring and management should leave that system alone.

The problem here is that many small business do not see data management as a function beyond data backup and data availability. This can only lead to serious I.T. expense and risk of data leaks.

This step is ironically more easily  taken by large companies. Four of the reasons for this are;

1. I.T. staff issue ownership:
2. finance availability:
3. Compliance requirements:
4. Understanding of TCO (Total cost of ownership) efficiencies.

Small businesses (outside of very innovative companies) look set to stay a step behind and will likely benefit from data deduplication initially on a piecemeal basis as third party applications come shipped with embedded data deduplication benefits.

This market is set to expand rapidly. Given that online backup initially had a slow small business following and has now become a standard component of responsible backup systems, it is believed by many that not only will this happen with data deduplication but that the now not uncommon merging of online backup and data deduplication will become a standard MSP offering.

Poorly organised, technology sceptics at small business management level may want this feature switched off and see the step to online backup as a step far enough during their tenure. The next generation will understand that data deduplication is not just of great benefit but in time will be a must as systems (particularly email) are filled with duplicate content, some of which zero copies are required. When writing a reply on Irish blogs recently I found that deduplication was seen as a miss spelling. I then checked it in word, open office and word press and low and behold all of these application saw deduplication as a miss spelling. Technology is moving faster than language, whats new. The issue is that deduplication is not new, it has been out for some time and is here to stay.