Yesterday, I participated in a blog radio discussion with some folks from Google, another journalist, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at the Columbia Journalism School. The topic was how journalists use Google Docs and cloud computing, but the conversation took some interesting turns. In the aftermath of the Sidekick data failure, we were worried: How backed up is the data we store in the cloud?
People who rely on Google Docs often have a great deal of important work there. And as Gunner points out in the comments to my last post, "While it could be argued that a customer is still liable for their own backup, this 'cloud backup' is a service that is touted as being a backup -- not 'another' backup. For a vast majority of users, it was intended as their only backup, and why not?"
[ Also on InfoWorld: "Microsoft learns the hard way: Back up our data!" | Frustrated by tech support? Get answers in InfoWorld's Gripe Line newsletter. ]
I know that I don't back up the work I have on Google Docs. In fact, I consider it a backup of my own work. I assume -- as do many people -- that while my own computers are likely to fail, the data stored on Google's servers will be there.
Jonathan Rochelle, Google's group product manager, responsible for the development of Google Docs and the Google Apps product suite, assured us that the data at Google Docs is stored in several places and several geographic locations around the world. If a server fails, if an earthquake hits the Googleplex, or if there is a massive power outage, he says, Google Docs users might well experience a service outage. But when service is restored, the data will remain intact.
In other news, Microsoft says it has recovered "most, if not all" of user's data from the Sidekick crisis, and according to TG Daily, the Danger servers that caused all this trouble are not even owned by Microsoft.
I will have more on this topic of backing up in the cloud next week, so please stay tuned. Meanwhile, feel free to listen to our radio discussion. And follow me on Twitter so that I can let you know when you can join conversations like this one.
Got gripes? Send them to christina_tynan-wood@infoworld.com.
This story, "Should I back up data stored in the cloud?," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Follow the latest developments in cloud computing on InfoWorld.com.
Get the independent advice and expertise you need to support a virtual workforce.
The increase in Linux popularity has increased the frequency and sophistication of malware attacks. Read this 2 page white paper now to learn how you can protect your Linux environment with real-time protection that is certified by all major Linux vendors.
Download now »
Ensuring acceptable application delivery will become even more difficult over the next few years. As a result, IT organizations need to ensure that the approach that they take to resolving the current application delivery challenges can scale to support the emerging challenges. This handbook elaborates on the key tasks associated with planning, optimization, management and control and provides decision criteria to help IT organizations choose appropriate solutions.
Download now »
A common misconception is that mid-range storage requirements are dramatically different than that of a larger enterprise. Mid-range storage users may require less capacity, but they have similar functionality and management requirements. This ESG paper examines mid-range storage needs and reviews a new solution that adjusts size while retaining value, performance and functionality.
Download now »
Sign up to receive Web Services Resource Alerts
366 Recommendations
Very interesting debate. To backup data residing on cloud based solutions would be like backing up backed up data. Most of these SaaS companies do offer automatic backup of customer data and exercise all possible diligence to keep data secure (backup servers, physical security etc etc). Infact due to their experience handling data of multiple companies they provide more data safety than ever possible at the end users own premises.
But this is certainly not a universal which applies to all vendors and it makes sense to look at the vendor's record and experience hosting enterprise data.
Pankaj
http://www.hyperoffice.com