UK ISP Fasthosts Launches Online Backup

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a web hosting provider, launched a new online storage solution especially designed for archiving business data.

Priced from only £19.99/month+VAT, the service provides secure off-site storage space within a state-of-the-art UK data centre. The service is designed for all levels of business user, with multiple methods of uploading data, and functionality for sharing documents between teams on and off the premises. ‘Cloud-based’ services, such as Fasthosts Secure Online Storage, offer businesses substantial cost, scalability and security benefits.

Significantly, new research of 209 UK firms, conducted by IDC on behalf of Fasthosts, shows 60 per cent are still not leveraging any cloud-computing and missing out on important benefits. Whilst 82 per cent recognise the need for data backup, 69 per cent have no plans to explore cloud-based storage options, and 1 in 5 believe they will side-step cloud-computing all-together.

Fasthosts Secure Online Storage addresses the challenge businesses face in coping with the off-site storage of increasing amounts of valuable electronic data. The solution uses a highly scalable ‘cloud-based’ model to deliver easy-to-use, fast and highly secure storage on demand. Users can utilise the storage as a primary file store, or as a location for back-up copies. Storage capacity is selected according to requirements and can be increased dynamically from 50 Gigabytes to a massive 2 Terabytes. As a cloud solution, the user is not limited to specific hardware for utilising the service and can up- or downscale at any time and pay only for their required usage.

All data uploaded and downloaded is transferred with SSL, is backed-up automatically and is stored securely. The solution offers flexibility in how data is uploaded – Drive Mapping (which maps the storage as a drive on their computer), web browser access (which allows drag-and-drop transfer of files), and FTP access (easily configured for advanced users). Furthermore, the solution enables users to share documents across teams and locations.

All storage packages feature the same high level of quality and 100Mbps connectivity. Fasthosts Secure Online Storage pricing comprises 50GB for £19.99/month+VAT, 100GB for £29.99/month+VAT, 250GB for £49.99/month+VAT, 500GB for £74.99/month+VAT, 1TB for £119.99/month+VAT, and 2TB for £199.99/month+VAT. Customers are offered flexible contract options and significant discounts for annual payment.

Steve Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd., said: "Our new secure online storage solution is ideal for ensuring that valuable business data is always backed up securely and on-hand 24/7 from any computer. The speedy transfer and flexibility for access means increased efficiencies and easier remote working. There has never been a better business case for cloud-based data storage".

Fasthosts Secure Online Storage utilises its latest server hardware on the Fasthosts’ Data Center on Demand (DCoD) platform. Designed in collaboration with Microsoft experts using Microsoft Dynamic Data Centre, DCoD releases the full power of the hardware and is the latest in agile, secure and highly reliable server infrastructure. As a storage provider, Fasthosts guarantees swift transfer for both uploads and downloads from any Internet enabled computer.

Data from Fasthosts’ Cloud Attitudes study, conducted by IDC, finds that 60 per cent of UK businesses still do not leverage any type of cloud-computing service and so miss out on key benefits such as increased performance, scalability, and cost savings. Whilst a pleasing 82 per cent of firms recognise the need for data backup off-site, only 16 per cent are using flexible cloud-based storage options for this, and over two thirds (69 per cent) have no plans to explore cloud-computing in this way. A total of 1 in 5 believe they will side-step cloud-computing all-together. This is in contrast with attitudes to web hosting, where 57 per cent of firms are comfortable with having this hosted externally by a third party. A key reason for reluctance to embrace new cloud computing technologies is a lack of staff expertise, with 1 in 4 firms admitting this is a primary concern for them.

Holford added: “All types of business could have much to gain from exploring the cloud-based solutions open to them. Workflows can often be transformed by the better performance and flexibility these deliver, and investment costs slashed significantly. For some business owners, it may seem daunting to shift their trust in a boxed solution to a hosted one, but the latest generation of online storage is highly robust, reliable and can be an excellent way to manage their data requirements".

All data is stored within the company’s UK data centres, where all operations are protected against compromise by hardware, power or network failures or site access.

As a web host, Fasthosts offers a range of web solutions including domain name registrations, email solutions (including mobile email services), shared web hosting, virtual servers, dedicated servers, online payment services, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages.