Cloud Storage Costs – Online Backup

Breaking Down Cloud Storage Costs for SMBs and Entrepreneurs

As a small business owner, security will be high on your list of priorities. Ensure that you have access to the best encrypted cloud storage to keep your data safe without incurring unnecessary expenses. It’s essential to understand the structure of cloud storage pricing and plan your expenditures accordingly.

Let’s take a look at the various pricing options available in the cloud storage industry, as well as the benefits and security enhancements that come with each one.

Cloud Storage: A Crucial Expense

Generally speaking, every business’s expenses can be classified into essential and nice-to-have categories. With the risk of cyber attacks increasing each year, secure cloud storage is definitely in the essential category.

How Much Does a Standard Cloud Storage Setup Cost?

Secure cloud storage allows your important files and documents to be kept safe in the cloud using advanced encryption methods that make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for cyber criminals to access your data even if it becomes compromised.

In exchange for the peace of mind and security it offers, secure cloud storage is relatively inexpensive.

Let’s take a look at some of Soteria’s cloud storage packages for businesses (September 2024) as an example.

A small business may simply want a 20Gb storage package at the reasonable price of R99 – the equivalent of a few coffees to go.
Doubling this storage quota to 40Gb will cost just R160 – a significant saving per Gb.
A business with data-intensive processes and large storage requirements would still only need 100 – 500gb of monthly storage, ranging from R249 to R999 in pricing.

How to keep your cloud storage cost effective

Since cloud storage packages are usually quoted per Gb or Tb, the ideal approach is to back up your essential files and avoid filling up your storage quota with redundant files. This will also reduce the amount of internet bandwidth you use to upload and backup your files.

Clear out your storage regularly. Carrying out a digital spring cleaning is one of the best ways to eliminate files that are occupying space in your storage.
Compress then upload. Smaller file sizes mean smaller data quotas in your online storage.
Track your usage. Keeping an eye on your storage quota will help you avoid unnecessary charges.

To help your business gain the benefits of enhanced data security, we invite you to visit our product page today and discover a package that suits your organization’s needs.

Future Proof your business | Real-time Cloud Backup

Future proofing your business with cloud storage

With the rate of change in technology, including data management, every business with an ambitious growth plan needs to be a step ahead of the changes taking place in the digital realm.

As bandwidth continues to increase and companies’ data requirements reach new heights, the need to protect sensitive information has never been more acute.

With South Africa facing a wave of cybercrime that has caught many companies unawares, it’s essential to look ahead at what the future may hold and ensure that your business is ready to survive and thrive in the unpredictable years to come.

Bandwidth creates opportunities for real-time cloud backup

While 5G networks roll out around the world and high-speed internet becomes a minimum expectation for businesses, a raft of new productivity features are now within reach of every enterprise.

From video conferencing and cloud-based productivity software across all industries to the latest card storage solutions, increased bandwidth comes with increased opportunities.

As uncapped bandwidth and upload speeds soar, companies no longer have a reason not to back up their data.
It’s essential to use today’s high-speed internet to sync and backup files in real time so that your organisation’s information is stored securely in the event of a cyberattack.

Address privacy concerns and regulatory compliance

Data security and privacy have become rights that citizens and businesses around the world are demanding as our lives- both personal and professional – increasingly play out online.

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) places a strong burden on companies to ensure that their clients’ confidential information is kept safe.
This doesn’t mean that information could never be lost in the event of a cyberattack or data leak but it does mean that companies will have to prove that they’ve taken all reasonable measures to ensure data security.

POPI non-compliance could result in fines of up to R10 million and possible criminal prosecution, making it crucial to implement high level data security with a reliable backup provider.

Real-time cloud backup collaboration and data sharing

The days when teams would wait for a weekly report before moving forward with a project or making decisions are long over. As companies embrace real time collaboration, their data requirements are increasing exponentially – and so are the number of files that could be targeted by hackers.

Before you share a file internally, you need to know that it’s safe from prying eyes and won’t fall into the hands of cybercriminals.

Secure cloud storage has become an essential part of every company’s IT requirements, and it will only increase in the future.

Stay ahead of the game with secure cloud storage

Maintaining your competitive edge in a fast changing world is a lot easier when you can rely on the safety of your data. To learn more about our data storage packages and how they can help your business, visit our product page today.

Best Cloud Practices | Sustainable Cloud Business Practices

The Positive Impact of Cloud Backup on Sustainable Business Practices

Sustainability has gone from a trendy buzz word to nonnegotiable business strategy as the effects of climate change start to mount.

With businesses finding new ways to work sustainably, the amount of data that every enterprise produces and stores must be reduced for the sake of the planet’s future.

Secure cloud storage has an important role to play in sustainability, because it allows organisations to free up storage space, and streamline the use of servers across the global IT industry. Here are some ways that cloud storage can contribute to efficiency and sustainability in any business.

Counting the climate cost of surplus data

The huge number of files that we all generate instantaneously can easily distract us from the fact that information is not only a virtual entity. Files also exist in physical space – be it on a storage medium or in the cloud.

Data requires electricity in order to be stored, and as our data requirements soar our energy bills are following suit.

Current estimates indicate that 1% of all electricity is used to process data. This figure is only likely to grow in the era of cryptocurrency trading and the widespread adoption of AI which uses a huge amount of data.
As we experience ongoing electricity supply problems related to Eskom, it’s easy to imagine how our global electricity supply would be constrained if unnecessary data continues to be produced and stored at the current rate.

Secure cloud storage is an effective way to free up extra storage and ensure that essential files are kept safe. At Soteria we use energy efficient data centers, eliminating the need for our clients to invest in less energy efficient computers and small servers.

Traditional storage methods represent major climate risks

With billions of internet users around the world, businesses and private individuals in almost every country have become consumers of computers, electronics and storage devices.

This is placing huge pressure on natural resources and is creating a pollution problem as recycling efforts fail to keep up with the mountain of hard drives, flash drives and other physical storage that are piling up in dumps around the world. To make matters worse , some of these discarded devices – like old routers – can pose a major security risk if they fall into the wrong hands.

Cloud storage can help to eliminate this wasteful and environmentally polluting practice by ensuring that fewer small storage devices need to be produced on an annual basis.

Localisation favours regions with sustainable energy

As businesses become more discerning about the electricity usage practices of their suppliers and choose partners who value sustainability, sustainable cloud backup services located in areas known for sustainable energy will enjoy the upper hand.

This should put some friendly pressure on data centres and other tech providers to invest in solar technology and other sustainable forms of energy generation at their facilities.

Final thoughts

Overall, secure cloud storage has the potential to support the push towards sustainability that has become so popular in the business world and is crucial for the planet’s future.

If you’d like to move away from traditional hardware and embrace a planet-friendly, economical, and safe backup storage solution, browse our range of packages for sustainable cloud businesses of all sizes today.

Best Cloud Practices | Role of cloud backup

The Role of Cloud Backup in Modern IT Strategies

The modern tech landscape has shifted predominantly to risk mitigation over the past few years.

While IT consultants had spent the 1990s and 2000s trying to convince businesses to go online, the current era, especially during and after the pandemic, has exposed some of the many risks involved with being connected to the internet. Cybercrime and ransomware attacks are of major concern to businesses around the world as losses from these crimes exceed $700 billion annually.

As a tech forward South African business, you certainly can’t afford to miss out on the opportunities that the interconnected digital world has to offer. On the other hand, avoiding the risks that come with connectivity is absolutely essential. That’s where cloud storage comes in.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of storing your critical data in the cloud in the context of modern best practices in the tech sector.

Cloud backup for instant digital migration

The days when a single physical backup was enough to keep your data safe are long gone – but many businesses still rely on an external hard drive (or even a USB stick) to keep essential files safe.

The false sense of security of physical storage quickly evaporates when the unthinkable happens and a business becomes the victim of a cyber attack.
Unfortunately, with more than 40% of local businesses having been targeted by cybercriminals this type of crime is hardly unthinkable. In fact it’s becoming the norm.

Moving to cloud storage is not only quick and simple but also eliminates the risk of data corruption and theft associated with physical storage.

Cloud storage aligns with the 321 rule

The 321 rule is a gold standard in the IT industry where data backup is concerned.

Simply put, companies should have three copies of every file that they can’t afford to lose: two of these copies should be on different mediums and one should absolutely be in the cloud.

In the event of a data breach or cyberattack, there’s no telling what condition your physical files may be in even if the ransom is removed.
By contrast, the copy of your files kept safely encrypted in the cloud should remain uncorrupted, especially if you opt for immutable storage.

Cloud storage is scalable and accessible to all enterprises

One of the cornerstones of modern IT strategy is to extend access to digital services and data resilience to small and medium size businesses and not only large corporations and government departments. This ensures that the digital safe zone surrounding business data remains wide enough to keep businesses and their customers safe from cyberattacks.

One of the major benefits of secure cloud storage is that it’s accessible at competitive prices on a subscription system that gradually scales up as the data requirements of your business expand.

Soteria Cloud’s range of secure cloud storage packages are easy to integrate with your existing software and hardware setup, making them ideal for businesses of any size that are enhancing their IT strategy.

To secure your files without delay, browse or range of packages for businesses of all sizes.

How to Choose Cloud Storage

How To Choose The Cloud Storage Solution That Suits Your Needs

Choosing the right data storage package can make the difference between a smooth backup process and major headaches caused by data leaks and breaches.

Whether you need to choose cloud storage solutions for your family or business, there are a few key factors that you should consider when weighing up your options.

Let’s take a look at five crucial angles to consider before you make your choice.

Reliable Security

With data security incidents skyrocketing around the world, South Africans can no longer afford to be complacent – in fact we currently rank number one in Africa for cyberattacks.

A cloud storage solution that features encryption and using advanced algorithms is an essential weapon in the fight against cybercrime. Make sure that your provider’s security is up to scratch before you sign up.

Scalable as you grow

If you’re shopping around for a business data storage solution, you’ll need a package that grows with your enterprise.

Your monthly backup requirements may only be one gig or less currently, but in the years to come your business may generate 10 or even 100 times that amount of important data per month.
It’s always best to opt for a cloud storage provider that offers a range of packages with increasing data storage capacity so that you never have to read the words “your storage is full” ever again.

Great Customer Support

Every tech product experiences a bit of downtime now and then – plus there’s always a setting that needs to be changed or a feature that you’d like your provider to explain better.

Reliable and well trained customer service representatives are an essential link between you and your data backup provider and it’s essential that they offer online chat support as well as a call centre so that you’re able to get in touch with them and resolve any issues that arise.

Backup enabled

Having a digital storage option to replace your physical hard drive or other devices is one thing, but making sure that your sensitive information is regularly uploaded is equally important.

When you choose a cloud storage provider, make sure that the products have an automated backup feature so that you can specify how often you’d like your files to be stored in the cloud.
This will help ensure that you have a copy of all your important data and will help you to bounce back from a data leak or cyber attack.

Designed for business and personal users

Some cloud products are well-suited for companies with large budgets and significant data security concerns while others are more suitable for individuals and families.

It’s important to check the specific features of your provider’s backup solution before you make a final purchase decision so that you don’t end up with too many features for a home set up or a package that doesn’t offer the functionality you need for business data backup.

We’ve got your ideal cloud storage solution right here

Soteria’s range of secure cloud storage packages are suitable for both household and business use. Whether you’re backing up your personal files, photos and videos, or looking for secure, encrypted cloud storage and backup system for a medium to large size business, we can help.

To choose a secure cloud storage package that ticks all the boxes above, browse our range of packages today.

Embracing the cloud | Cloud storage solutions

Hybrid workforce enhancing the need for cloud backup services

The rapid development of Africa’s overall economy continues to create new business opportunities.

With a GDP five times bigger than it was in the year 2000, trends like hybrid working are sparking a new wave of data creation across the continent – and the demand for cloud storage is set to soar.

In the 21st century, the stark reality is that prosperity comes with the risk of cybercrime. According to a recent research report from PT Security, Africa lost up to 10% of GDP to a lack of digital security preparedness in 2022.

Migrating to a hybrid cloud approach may be the ideal security solution for companies from Cape Town to Cairo.

Growth, hybrid work, and an explosion in data

As African businesses expand and embrace modern working practices, one of the inevitable results of a hybrid working model is the large amount of data that every modern company produces.

This sensitive information is not only crucial for the running of the business but is also a prime target for cybercriminals who carry out hacking and ransomware attempts.

Businesses that were established more than 10 years ago are likely to fall into the category of data users that store information on servers and physical hard drives.
These off-line backup solutions have their benefits but relying on physical storage alone is a major security risk, not to mention that company data is vulnerable to corruption or loss if the hardware fails.

As organisations grow and modernise, combining traditional storage with a cloud-based approach – a practice called hybrid cloud storage – is the ideal way to secure data that has been on the company’s system for years and keep newly minted information safe too.

Follow the 32110 approach for best results

If you’re wondering how to keep your company data safe with hybrid cloud storage, we’d like to share some industry best practices with you.

The 32110-cloud storage method is a handy way of scheduling and maintaining data in the cloud as well as offline using traditional storage.

Following this approach, companies should have three copies of their data on hand at any given time.
Two copies are kept on different media, one copy is kept in the cloud, and the final copy is kept in special storage like an air gapped computer with no internet connection.
The zero represents zero errors, a prerequisite for uncorrupted data storage.

Embracing the Cloud

Adopting a hybrid storage model is an extremely flexible solution that is especially useful in Africa where cost sensitivity is high.

An affordable cloud storage solution can be added to existing physical storage methods to provide an additional layer of data security at competitive rates.

Soteria’s range of secure cloud storage solutions using advanced data encryption are the ideal solution for businesses of all sizes that are serious about data security. Browse our packages today to find the solution that suits your data requirements and budget.

Laptop Security Tips | Security

Keeping your laptop secure

There’s hardly a business in operation that doesn’t own numerous laptops and IOT devices. But what some business owners don’t consider is that mobile productivity devices – and laptops in particular – can be a major cybersecurity vulnerability.

If you and your team use company laptops, you need to take steps to secure them. Let’s have a look at the risks involved in managing your portable devices and how to mitigate them.

Your laptop is the door to your data – Keep it locked

Take a moment and consider just how much sensitive information there is on your work laptop. From email passwords to internet banking credentials and highly confidential company documents, you’d be guaranteed sleepless nights if your device was stolen.

Considering how much crucial information is stored on laptops we’re always worried when clients tell us that they haven’t secured their devices yet. Here are some ways you can keep your laptop safe from cybercriminals.

Location Finding

Setting up and enabling a location-finding service can be a big help if you ever lose your laptop, but it can also be a slight privacy risk. It’s a trade-off between how much you value your laptop vs your privacy as these location apps can also track you.

Passwords and encryption

If you haven’t set a password on your laptop yet, take a moment and get it done now. You’ll be taking one of the biggest steps on the journey to predicting your data.

In addition to a password, you’ll want to encrypt your hard drive and password protect important files so they can’t be read if someone steals your laptop or uses it without your permission.

Password protected screensaver

We all need to take a break from our laptops every now and again or get side-tracked by someone or something else happening around us, leaving our devices open and exposed to snoopers. To ensure that others don’t have access to your laptop make sure that you activate an automatic screensaver that requires a password to exit.

Screen guards

Have you ever sat down on an airplane or at Starbucks and felt a strange presence, only to find the person next to you reading your laptop screen? Your typical screen reader may just be an innocent, busybody, but guarding your personal information is still hugely important.

A laptop screen guard makes it difficult to read your screen from the side, helping to endure data privacy when you’re traveling or working remotely.

Virtual private network (VPN)

Public Wi-Fi spots are everywhere and unless you hotspot your own mobile device or carry a router with you your security can be easily compromised. Data traffic on public connections is usually not encrypted and you never know who might be monitoring the connection you are linked up to.

Here are some of the things you can do to stay safe when a public connection is your only option.

Use a VPN that encrypts your data
Disable Wi-Fi auto connect
Don’t login to sites that are password protected such as online banking, social media etc

Data Backup

It’s always a smart idea to be ready for the worst-case scenario. If your laptop is stolen, you need a place to store and retrieve your business data. That place is the cloud.

Laptop Security and Cloud Storage

Soteria’s range of secure cloud storage solutions for businesses and households offer fully encrypted backup to ensure the safety of your files. Browse our packages today to find the one that suits your needs.

Cyber Winter, Mitigating the Risks | Cybersecurity Threats

Priming for a Cybersecurity Winter

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent around the world, particular only to the area in which you live. The latest floods that affected many parts of South Africa are a powerful reminder that it’s essential to be prepared for the unexpected.

Another danger that is not dissimilar to the risks of winter that has increased hugely in recent years, is the threat of cyber attacks – and preparation is just as important to combat this online scourge.

Just as you would safeguard your home against the threats of winter, here are the steps you can follow to safeguard your business data as online threats persist.

Get your data ready for “cyber winter”

You wouldn’t leave your house vulnerable to extreme events like flooding and severe rainstorms – yet many businesses are still unprepared for a cyberattack.

Here’s how you can prepare your company for the deep winter that could follow a major data breach or ransomware event.

Like winter, cyberattacks are coming

Every autumn, homeowners across the country have their roofs checked for leaks and their wooden doors and windows oiled in preparation for the coming rain and cold.

Cybersecurity is no less important, and getting your business ready for this year’s onslaught of ransomware and social engineering attacks is crucial.

Every department in your business will need to do a data audit and compile a full inventory of sensitive information, divided into the following categories:

customer data
employee data
payment credentials
proprietary business data

Once you know exactly how much data your business has in storage, it’s time to estimate the potential damage that could be caused if it were to be compromised in a cyber attack.

A business impact assessment of this kind will help you estimate the response requirements that your organisation will have to carry out in the wake of a cyber attack.

In any scenario, you’re safer with secure cloud storage

When it comes to cybersecurity, it’s always best to prepare for the worst. Keeping your company’s data safe in the cloud will give you peace of mind as you navigate the freeze outs that can happen in this sometimes scary online world.

Our range of secure cloud storage packages for businesses of every size will help ensure that you have an uncorrupted copy of all your data available for rapid restoration.

Backup Awareness | Data Backup

Data Backup Awareness Month

June was backup awareness month, and the cybersecurity industry urged internet users around the world to heed its call for heightened vigilance. The warning comes at a time when ransomware and other online attacks continue to threaten privacy and data security.

What’s the true state of cybersecurity implementation at companies around the world – and are managers being proactive enough in protecting their data? Let’s take a look at the latest numbers to gain insight into the situation from a global perspective.

cyberthreats persist, but some managers are slow to act

The harsh reality of an online space that is becoming increasingly risky for businesses and individuals who value their sensitive information often makes headlines. Unfortunately, the magnitude of online data threats seems to contrast strongly with managers’ willingness to secure the very same data that’s under threat.

Arcserve, a prominent online security provider, carried out a comprehensive data loss survey recently across several countries. South Africa wasn’t part of the research as such, but many of the insights gained from over 1 200 IT professionals responsible for data security implementation may be applicable to the local market.

The survey’s biggest takeaway probably won’t surprise many cybersecurity professionals: most companies can and will be hit by some form of data loss eventually.

For business owners, this means making peace with the inevitability of a cybersecurity breach and shifting their focus to mitigation and recovery. This strategy is justified by some of the survey’s highlights:

76% of medium sized companies have experienced data loss in the period 2018-2023
45% of respondents said that their lost data was unrecoverable
Only 24% of respondents have a comprehensive cyberattack response plan in place
77% of medium size companies haven’t developed a data resilience plan

secure cloud storage puts the 1 into 3-2-1-1

Data security experts recommend implementing a 3-2-1-1 strategy to prevent irretrievable data loss:

Three copies of company data should exist,
Two of them should be on different physical media,
One should be off-site,
The final copy should be in the cloud in immutable storage so that it can’t be altered by hackers.

Since the final copy is the one that could restore your company’s data in the event of a major cyberattack, we’d like to help you store it securely in the cloud in case you need it.

Soteria Cloud offers secure backup and offsite data storage with the latest encryption technology, including immutable storage. To secure your data and gain an edge over 77% of businesses globally, browse our range of cloud storage packages today.

Ransomware Attacks | Cloud Backup

Why are ransomware attacks so successful?

Ransomware has become the number one worry on the minds of IT security experts, and company owners, and it doesn’t show any signs of disappearing.

South African companies and individuals have been hit hard by cybercriminals over the past few years. The country ranked eighth in terms of ransomware attacks in 2021, with the cost of cybercrime overall exceeding R2 billion the year before.

There’s little doubt that ransomware is an extremely damaging online phenomenon, but why are ransomware attacks so successful and how can you avoid becoming the next victim?

weak defences and smart attackers: a dangerous match

Like any kind of crime, a successful ransomware attack relies on criminals bypassing your data security to gain access to your computer network.

As cyber defences improve, hackers get smarter and find ways of bypassing them.
The easiest target of all is a business that isn’t using the latest cybersecurity solutions or hasn’t updated them recently enough.
Cybercriminals are using advanced social engineering and exploiting vulnerabilities in companies’ online defences to break through and execute ransomware attacks.

As a business owner, you and your staff will need to be on the lookout for suspicious emails and other messages while keeping your antivirus, firewall, and secure cloud storage up to date.

There are two types of ransomware that you need to be able to spot:

Random penetration attempts sent to thousands of email addresses and phone numbers (these are more obvious and usually easier to spot).
Targeted attacks which involve hackers researching and infiltrating a specific business. These are more dangerous because they read like legitimate communications.

are you dealing with a hacking hacker or a cybercrime mastermind?

If you receive a generic email or text message that looks suspicious you probably know what to do already: delete and forget.

Messages like this are usually easy to pick up because they sound fake. Vague wording, promises that sound too good to be true like lottery winnings or other kinds of free money are signs that you’re just one of many hundreds of thousands of people who have been targeted by a hacker.

On the other hand, if you receive a message that seems to be addressed to you, and could be from a legitimate business or even someone you know, you’re less likely to think that it could be a ransomware attack.

But if it is, your data could be in jeopardy.

Cybercriminals have taken to researching companies and even individuals in depth to identify easy targets. If this sounds scary, it really is.
Your privacy may have already been invaded by cybercriminals and your details could be doing the rounds on the dark web. Usually this happens after data leaks compromise your personal information.

Keep your data safe with high-tech cloud storage

Ransomware may be all over, but you don’t need to be its latest victim.

Updating your online security, including antivirus, firewall, and secure cloud storage solutions are the best ways you can make your information harder for hackers to access,

Soteria’s range of encrypted, secure cloud storage solutions are an ideal starting point for any business or family wanting to stay safe online. Browse our range of cloud storage packages to get started.