It might seem that remote data backup is just one more thing to add to your company's expenses, but the service could provide more value than initially perceived. Here are seven reasons why off-site backup might be worth mentioning at the next board meeting.

1. Security is tighter. No matter what your company's niche or industry might be, you still probably handle data that must be kept secure or confidential. That's a little harder to do if your storage is exclusively on-site; human factors and physical proximity add to the risk. Storing data at an off-site facility in an encrypted state with solid physical access controls is exactly what the auditors ordered.
2. Emergencies aren't such a big problem anymore. Whether you're afraid of tidal waves or terrorists, you have the assurance that there's at least a copy of all your data somewhere out there. And because there are hundreds of miles between you and the storage facility, it's highly unlikely that your main office and your backup data will be facing the same threats.
3. It improves productivity. Sure, IT productivity is improved because they’re not rotating tapes or chasing down a tape to perform a backup job; but what about the users that are waiting for that file recovery? If a tape has to be retrieved from an offsite facility and catalogued before the restore can take place, you’re talking an average of 4-6 hours. With remote backup services, a single file can be restored in a matter of minutes and your people can go back to work.   
4. Less maintenance worries. Keeping and maintaining local data storage is a big expense for any company. Power has to be continuously fed to the hardware, the software must be regularly updated, the facility itself must maintained– the list of necessary tasks goes on and on. With off site data backup, however, the service provider takes care of all those concerns for your company.
5. Accessibility is improved. Because data transfers are done over the Internet, remote backups make it easier than ever for executives, systems administrators and IT employees to access crucial data even outside the office. In the event of a disaster such as a fire, information can be accessed and restored to another facility.
6. The technology is mature. You won't have to worry anymore about losing out as an early adopter. And because both the hardware and the software have matured as technologies, finding remote backup services on a less-than-abundant budget shouldn't be too difficult.
7. Overall costs are lower. When you look all the various tasks and responsibilities undertaken by the remote data backup service provider, you'll find the equation very favorable. Instead of focusing so much money and effort toward creating and maintaining your own backup system, you're handing the job over to someone who can do it much more efficiently.

Obviously, off site data backup comes with a cost. But most successful businesses look at ROI, not cost alone.