Today, more and more businesses are using virtualization technologies to derive maximum value from their software and hardware without expensive tech investments. But Hyper-V-powered VMs are susceptible to a completely new set of data threats, which you should anticipate, protecting sensitive business data stored on VMs. Thus, choosing a Hyper-V backup provider can make or break your business. Below are the leading factors to consider when choosing a backup provider.        

Your Backup Needs

Your business’s backup needs should top the list. Therefore, start your choosing journey here. You should ensure that the provider’s solution will accommodate the amount of data you want to back up. Also, consider the support level you need from your prospective provider. The rule of thumb is always 24/7 support availability. Lastly, consider if your company should meet industry-specific regulations.

The Provider’s Reputation

You have to consider the provider’s reputation. It’s crucial to find out its current or former clients and ask them about their experience with this supplier’s solutions. Most reputable vendors usually flaunt their customers on their websites. If the one you want to settle for has them, call some of those companies to get first-hand facts about the vendor.

Moreover, consider its historical transparency. Make sure it has the right certifications. If it has insider industry recommendations, you are in for a good time ahead. Otherwise, don’t trust a backup provider without these factors.

Your Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

Consider your recovery point objective when choosing a backup supplier. In short, your RPO is the maximum allowable time in which your information may be lost during a given disaster incident. So, determine how much information you can lose without losing your core business activities and sales.

Vendor Lock-in

Don’t just get excited because you are entering a deal with a backup supplier. You also have to consider your exit from the deal once the vendor’s services no longer meet your backup needs. It’s sad to note that some backup vendors still play Stone Age hardball by locking in customers. They deliberately make it difficult to exit their services.

If the provider doesn’t allow a smooth transition to another vendor, don’t enter their “box.” You have to ask the vendor about their minimum contract period. Also, clarify if they have any restrictions when terminating contracts. The provider must also tell you how they will transfer your data to your next vendor. Lastly, consider contract termination costs because some vendors intentionally make it costly to lock you in.

Server and Data Center Location
You must consider the supplier’s servers and data center location because they have legal implications. Some businesses in specific verticals could have agreements with clauses restricting how and where they store their data. Thus, they can only store their data in specific locations. Remember, a vendor’s physical location impacts your privacy protection because governments in those locations can access it.

Performance and Versatility

You also need to consider the vendor’s performance and versatility before settling for a vendor’s services. Their backup solutions should provide you with a faster backup that minimizes the amount of time for transferring backed up data. You should also factor in how fast the vendor can restore your backed up data after a disaster.

It’s also critical to ensure that the service provider supports different technological platforms. They should support Windows, Macs, and Linux. Their solutions should also support different apps like Hyper-V and VMware. It must also support any other applications you might adopt in the future.

The Cost

Cost is another factor to consider before choosing a backup provider. Ensure it’s reasonably affordable to sign up for the vendor’s services. You also have to factor in the cost of using and maintaining those services. So, check out all the finer details and implications of the provider’s signup price, especially “offers.” Otherwise, you could be stuck in a contract you can’t afford to maintain but still can’t terminate until it expires.

Lastly, check out the provider’s pricing options. Some offer flexible pay-as-you-go or fixed rates. The former option is the best for a small business since you only pay for what you use. The latter is ideal for businesses with large storage needs because smaller ones might end up with unused storage space they paid for.

There you go with the top considerations when choosing a backup vendor for your Hyper-V machines. The choice is yours to use them and make an informed choice.