Remote Backup Service Providers: Clarifying the Value PropositionWritten by Tommy Gardner
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•Remote Backup Service Providers – These are specialists within data backup and recovery field. Typically using locally-hosted client and server software and owning their own storage servers, these companies can extend a completely automated and secure data backup service while maintaining an active role in deployment, configuration, service, and support of product. These providers have a significant capital investment and many hours of education and product testing behind them prior to offering service commercially. Remote Backup service providers are usually technically proficient consultants and are also typically experienced in areas of technical support, networking, and even software development. Many local remote backup service providers, after a review of many options, have added online backup to their existing portfolio of technology services. This allows them to offer qualified, professional expertise and a more diverse range of services to their clients. Many companies have signed on as resellers to avoid cost of supporting their own solution, or to ‘keep up with Joneses’ in their respective markets. It is much easier and less expensive for many tech firms to become a sell-through point for another company instead of hosting their own solution, especially if their core business isn’t related to data management. Remote Backup providers who host or supervise their solutions locally tend to offer more personalized service; a stronger, more configurable and mature product, and enhanced comfort for client because of their availability for onsite interaction and consultation. Customer Service in Online Backup Marketplace – What Does It Mean? Perhaps most important difference between types of companies discussed above is availability and level of customer service they offer to their clients. Customer Service is a major cost center for larger-scale operations, especially considering that company’s revenues may not be directly tied to product they are supporting. Support at larger companies is frequently outsourced, and can result in overwhelmed tech support numbers that ring directly through to voicemail, ‘whisper-down-the-lane’ effect on basic support information, little if any trending or analysis of incoming tech issues, and staff that are simply not responsive or knowledgeable about product or processes involved in service. Clients of larger online data companies are typically required to choose from prepackaged service offerings and, due to attempts at automated sales processes, often receive limited direction or assistance from a qualified individual at point of sale. Depending on specifics of contract, many clients are also left to deal with restoration of bulk-delivered data alone, or to discover and negotiate terms for this service during a critical data-loss period. In case of one very prominent ‘Data-Mart’ type company, cost per gigabyte to restore data is a whopping 20 times cost of backup of that same amount of data. On other hand, customer service is hallmark of most remote backup service providers and typically begins during sales process. The provider has opportunity to become familiar with business processes and network architecture of an organization, and is able to tailor service offering to fit specific needs and budget of individual client companies. Remote backup service providers frequently bundle other valuable services within pricing of their online backup service. These services can include physical re-installation and configuration of operating systems, application software, as well as supervision of actual data restore and placement procedure in event of a major data loss event. For small and medium businesses without a dedicated IT staff, this is an especially critical consideration. When researching and contacting backup service providers take note of whom, if anyone, answers phone and what they know or are willing to learn about: •Your business and business processes •The value and configuration of your data and networks •Your staff, location, clientele, and customer baseCost/Benefit Analysis of Remote Backup Services – Don’t Believe Hype As with most cut-rate professional services, budget data service outfits tend to offer a mass appeal marketing approach and a lower level of service. The ‘get what you pay for’ concept has been proven time and again in many technology sectors. Don’t believe marketing hype. If it sounds too good to be true, it IS too good to be true, and it is extremely difficult to uncover critical shortcomings of a bargain-basement service until after a data loss event. This industry like others is rife with concepts that are more myth and legend than reality. Internet-based ‘bare metal restore’ utilities and companies offering to backup a ‘full’ 50 gigabytes every night are designed to grab a shopper’s attention – not to hold it. Limitations in source or destination bandwidth, proper scanning and file preparation, and basic storage and security protocols typically undermine utility of these whiz-bang products in an actual business setting. As with any business, these services have to generate cash flow in some way to make up for fire sale pricing they stamp on their services. Many low-cost data service companies actually derive majority of their revenue from selling advertising space on their service’s website or product user interface, or by making their clients’ email addresses available to advertisers and partners. An organization needs to consider long term when shopping for Remote Backup service. Are trendy, ultra low-cost pricing models sustainable? What would it cost your organization to support a sudden move to a different provider or service? Will there be a backup blackout period during changeover? Remote Backup service providers offer a sustainable, cost effective approach to data backup services, and have longevity in marketplace to prove it. When evaluating companies, contact tech support lines, ask questions about security, automation, and version control. Request a restore session during your demo period and find out in what format data will be delivered after demo. In other words, spend some time evaluating technical competencies of both product and staff to ensure that you are getting service that your organization needs, not just flavor-of-the-week at a low price
Tommy Gardner is Director of Sales and Marketing for Memphis-based Remote Backup Systems, Inc. With a diverse background in data management, compliance, and regulatory software sales and marketing, Tommy is a leading proponent of owner-managed software and services companies. He can be reached at tommy (at) remote-backup.com
| | What you need to break into the billboard marketWritten by Granny's Mettle
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Try new ways to compete with existing market Despite your capability of being able to produce quality work with quick turnarounds, you still have to depend on new ways to offer service to your clients. One provider relates that he dropped his prices to be competitive with existing providers of large format digital printing. And he went after volume of jobs to keep press running. Sooner or later, he found himself with a steady source of clients with volume jobs. Be ready to face challenges… with a dedicated purchasing agent Large format digital printing is full of challenges and complexities. Despite having polished and planned everything, there will come a time when you will overlook some elements. A provider cautioned that you have to be ready to face challenges along way. Trial and error is required particularly with identifying inks and media that you’re going to use for your printer. Aside from time, best way to work out this part of business is to hire a dedicated purchasing agent. For issues on materials, a good and reliable purchasing agent will help you get loads of hassles and problems off your chest; so much so that you’ll be able to dedicate more of your time to more pressing matters. Breaking into billboard business needs careful planning and management, as any business would. To be successful, one requires a focused sales effort. People have come to a point where price don’t matter much. And at end of day, clients will always look for quality and on time delivery first, and price second. About Digital Printing Company Digital Printing Company offers high impact digital printing solutions from prepress scanning and graphics design to customizing documents using Variable Data Imaging technology. They specialize in short run printing of books, manuals, and flyers, as well as large format printing of posters and trade show graphics. For more information, visit their website at www.digitalprintingcompany.com.
Granny's Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.
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