Onsite server backup is useful for disaster recovery but itself also needs to be protected. After a long time, companies find that offsite server backup is the double insurance of production data. When onsite server backup is damaged, offsite server backup can recover the production environment.
Updated by Nick Zhao on 2025/08/22
Disaster recovery is indispensable in IT environment and backup is always one of the solutions.
Onsite server backup used to be the only disaster recovery solution for many companies, but as time goes by, offsite backup is accepted by more and more companies. It is regarded as a good complement to onsite backup.
Offsite server backup is storing data backup in a remote secondary data center. This backup method is often used together with local backup. Companies will generate local backup first and then store the backup in both local data center and remote data center.
There are two kinds of data transfer modes, synchronous and asynchronous replication. Synchronous replication can replicate the backup files to remote server in real time. Companies will have two completely same backups in the primary and secondary data center. Asynchronous replication will transfer the backup data from the primary site to the secondary site after an acceptable anticipated delay.
How fast the backup copy is sent to the secondary site depends on the bandwidth and the distance. With higher bandwidth and shorter distance, the backup copy will be transferred faster.
Compared with onsite backup, companies need to put more budgets into IT environment building, but offsite backup can be another layer of protection for business systems.
Offsite backup is not always unaffordable. Companies can choose the proper plan according to the actual needs. The basic facility is storage to store backup data. Additional servers can support business systems restarting on remote site. Complete replication of the primary site will support the whole business systems restarting when the primary site is severely destroyed by natural disasters or other disasters.
Offsite backup has been used by many companies in the world for years and has been proved as a very effective method for disaster recovery.
3-2-1 backup rule is also a widely-acknowledged method for disaster recovery. The content is having 3 copies of data, storing data on 2 different media, and storing one copy off site.
Local backup is often the first choice for disaster recovery, but there is also the chance that local backup is broken. Local backup is often stored in local IT environment along with production data so it is easier to incur disaster.
Local IT environment is used and maintained by many users. All kinds of errors might appear because of frequent operations. The precious production data might attract attackers so local IT environment is more likely to be attacked by ransomware. Therefore, local backup files might be unavailable for many reasons.
Enterprises will have several secret data centers in different cities. When local backup is not available offsite backup can be used to rescue business. Small businesses should have offsite backup, too, because small businesses are easier to become the targets of ransomware.
Offsite copy is a free feature for Vinchin Backup & Recovery (Standard License or higher) users. Companies can replicate local backup files from the primary site to the secondary site. The backup files can be transferred back to local IT environment for system recovery or directly recovered on the secondary to recover systems.
Step 1. Add offsite backup storage
Log into Vinchin Backup Server via web browser > expand Resources > select Storage > click Add > input the credentials of offsite storage
Step 2. Select Copy Source
In Vinchin Backup Server > expand Backup Copy > select Copy > select the backup source from the created backup job > click Next
Step 3. Select Copy Strategies
If you want the backup copy to run regularly when the backup job runs, please set Copy as Scheduled, otherwise set Once-off Copy to run the copy job only once > click Next > select Off-site Storage as the destination > select the added offsite storage > click Next > review the job and click Finish
Data transfer can be encrypted and compressed during the process with related options enabled.
Disaster recovery will be more effective with Vinchin Instant Recovery and Offsite Copy working together. The failed VM can be restarted on the second site in 15 seconds to quickly recover business system.
You have a 60-day full-featured free trial to experience how effective Vinchin Backup & Recovery is to make offsite server backup.
Q1: How often should I test offsite backups to ensure disaster recovery will work?
A1: Run full recovery drills at least annually and quick restore tests quarterly, verify RTO/RPO objectives and document any failures for remediation.
Q2: Will offsite backups consume my internet bandwidth and how can I minimize impact?
A2: Yes; schedule transfers off-peak, enable incremental/deduplicated backups, use WAN acceleration and set BANDWIDTH LIMIT or THROTTLING in your backup settings.
Q3: Can offsite backups meet strict data residency or compliance requirements?
A3: Yes if you select providers with local data centers, enforce ENCRYPTION in transit and at rest, keep audit logs, and include compliance clauses in contracts.
Offsite server backup means copying data from primary location to a secondary location for disaster recovery. It has been used in many companies for years and has helped them recover business systems when the primary data center is seriously damaged.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery can help easily connect the local and remote IT environment to transfer local backup copy to remote site securely. You have the chance to make your own offsite disaster recovery plan with Vinchin Backup & Recovery. Don't miss the free trial.
Share on:
