How Much Does a Credit Union Server Backup Cost?

Backup cost credit union server ongoing operations

Have you ever played a computer or console game? Have you ever forgotten to save? And then lost minutes or hours of progress? Did it make you want to scream?

Well, that can happen with credit union data, too. Except the stakes are a lot higher than with a computer game. That’s why you need to backup your servers. No, seriously. You need to.

But you knew that. That’s why you’re wondering how much it costs. Well, we can answer that. Sort of.

What Increases Server Backup Costs

Here’s the thing: most custom services for credit unions aren’t going to have a fixed cost. There are too many variables in play.

But in the interest of transparency, let’s explore some of those variables.

1.    Local vs offsite backup

Most credit unions use an offsite backup. Storing data locally is also common, but usually in combination with remote backup.

Storing data remotely will cost you a bit more than storing it locally. Or at least the service costs will be higher. Local infrastructure can get pretty expensive, though.

2.    Hot vs warm failover

When your servers go down, it might take a bit of time before you get your backups running. You’ve got two options:

Hot failover ensures that you’ll be running again almost immediately. Your backups are essentially ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Warm failover means your backup servers will need a bit of time to get up to speed. You’ll be running again after a little wait.

Hot failover is very uncommon for credit unions. It’s also much more expensive.

3.    Replication vs backup

If you back up your data to the cloud, that will cost you a bit of money. However, if you replicate, that will cost you much more.

Replication will significantly improve your recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs). It also means moving a lot more data.

4.    Speaking of RTOs and RPOs…

The faster your RTOs—and the more current your RPOs—the more things will cost. This is very related to the replication vs backup point above. However, there’s an additional layer:

Some server backup solutions will take a snapshot of your system a couple times per day. You’ll be able to failover to these snapshot points. This method is called asynchronous backup, and it’s a little cheaper.

Other server backup solutions back up data in near real time. This will significantly improve your RTOs and RPOs. This is called synchronous backup, and it’s more expensive.

5.    Encrypted vs unencrypted backup

You can see where this is going, can’t you?

Unencrypted backup leaves your data more vulnerable, but it costs less.

Encrypted backup protects your data better, but it costs more.

6.    Scope of the project

Here’s a big factor in the cost of server backups for your credit union:

Just how much data are we talking about here? How robust of a backup system do you need? The size of your servers and the resources associated therewith may affect your pricing as well.

Your Very Earnest Non-Answer

Any number of factors might affect the price of your server backup solution. It’s basically impossible to tell you what it would cost your credit union without hammering out a lot of particulars.

Usually, we see server backups cost somewhere between $100–200 per server per month. However, that number can go higher or lower depending on your credit union’s needs.

Contact us to get a much better answer about server backup costs for your credit union. Or if you just like reading our blogs, you might as well subscribe.

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