10 questions for your data storage provider
The 10 questions
- Who makes the backups? How long are they kept?
- Is there liability insurance?
- Is there an employee, software package, or supplier on whom continuity depends?
- What happens if a data centre goes down? What still works and what doesn't? How long do things not work? How much data do you lose?
- Is the company 100% EU? Are the sub-processors also 100% EU and do they also have 100% EU sub-processors?
- Is IPv6 included as standard?
- Are there policies for privacy, security, sensible use, workplaces, and management? May I see them?
- Is there an Open Source first strategy? (see continuity)
- Are you doing things for a better internet? Building software, peering, IPv6?
- Can I come for a coffee?
Of course, these questions have a reason. A brief explanation:
1. Who makes the backups? How long are they kept?
You just want to be sure about this.Assumptions are a bad ideaand quickly done
2. Is there liability insurance?
Something can always go wrong and the damage can quickly add up. A litigated provider no longer provides services.
3. Is there an employee, software package, or supplier on whom continuity depends?
Even with larger suppliers, this can happen. That one engineer who really knows or a piece of software that cripples the company in case of failure or bug.
4. What happens if a data centre goes down? What is still working and what isn't? How long do things not work? How much data do you lose?
The longer the answer, the worse it is organised. There are only three answers: Everything is down until the data centre is back up, Everything goes down but after a certain time we can start everything up elsewhere, Some things will go down for a while but will quickly restart in the other data centres. And it doesn't have to cost more if done smartly likehere.
5. Is the company 100% EU? Are the sub-processors also 100% EU and do they also have 100% EU sub-processors?
Doing business with non-EU companies is a business risk in terms of privacy. Readthis articlefor a moment. You don't want that hassle.
6. Is IPv6 included as standard?
IPv6 is becoming the standard. Not doing anything with it now can beexpensivein the long run. And if it is too difficult for the provider, then... furthersearching?
7. Are there policies for privacy, security, sensible use, workplaces and management? May I see them?
This is a look behind the scenes and the policies should not be a secret.
8. Is there an Open Source first strategy? (see continuity)
In addition to the hidden costs that closed source brings, the provider can also do nothing if there is something wrong with the software and the supplier does not provide support.
9. Are you doing things for a better internet? Building software, Peering, IPv6?
The internet exists, of course, because many companies and people are committed to it. An enormous network where much is recorded and arranged, but little is regulated by law. A supplier who is dedicated to keeping the internet stable and fast deserves to score some points for that, in my opinion. You at least know that it is a committed supplier with knowledge of the matter. Not a hard requirement, of course.
10. Can I come and have coffee/tea/juice?
You want someone to listen to your situation so that not too much is purchased and you can discuss the above 9 questions and answers.
Of course, that is possible.Click here.