Why this question is more complex than it seems

Most online comparisons pit cloud backup against local backup as if it were a binary choice. In reality, for the vast majority of companies in 2026, the right answer is “both”, but we still need to understand why, and especially how to intelligently combine them.

The debate has also evolved: the question is no longer simply “Where should I store my data?” It is “Can I restore it within the required time, even during an attack?” This paradigm shift completely modifies the selection criteria.

On-premise backup: advantages and limitations

An on-premises solution is based on physical equipment (NAS, dedicated server, specialized appliance) installed in your premises or your private datacenter.

  • Advantages: fast local recovery, no dependence on internet bandwidth for large restores, complete control of hardware and data, predictable costs without volume charges.
  • Limits: exposure to physical disasters (fire, water damage, theft), no off-site copy by default, infrastructure to be maintained and keep operational, risk of encryption by ransomware if permanently connected to the network.

Outsourced backup (cloud): advantages and limits

When you use a cloud solution you store your data with a third-party host, accessible via the internet from any site or workstation. However, file-storage and synchronisation services are not, by themselves, independent backups and may not provide the required recovery point. To do this, you must use a cloud backup:

  • Advantages: automatic off-site copy, accessibility from anywhere (including in the event of a physical disaster on your premises), no infrastructure to maintain, immediate scalability.
  • Limits: dependence on the quality and bandwidth of your internet connection, extended recovery time for large volumes, questions of sovereignty (where are your data hosted? under what jurisdiction?), variable and potentially increasing costs with volumes.

The point that is often missed: in the event of a ransomware attack, a cloud backup permanently accessible from the company network can be encrypted in the same way as your production data. Whichever deployment you choose, at least one copy should be logically or physically disconnected.

Backup 3-2-1-1: a practical model for cyber resilience

The 3-2-1-1 backup strategy recommended by ANSSI is precisely a hybrid approach: 3 copies, stored on at least 2 different media, including 1 off-site and 1 offline. In practice, this typically translates to a local appliance for speed of recovery, coupled with a sovereign cloud for off-site copying.

This model offers:

  • rapid recovery from the local appliance for common incidents (accidental deletion, disk failure);
  • protection against physical disasters thanks to off-site cloud copy;
  • a disconnected copy beyond the reach of ransomware operating through the production network;
  • protection across a broad range of incidents.

Choose according to your environment

  • Data volume and frequency of changes: if you manage several terabytes with frequent changes, a local appliance will remain essential for short RTOs.
  • Regulatory constraints: healthcare, finance and public-sector workloads may impose specific certification, location or jurisdiction requirements.
  • Internal IT resources: an SME without an internal IT department will benefit from a turnkey solution, with no infrastructure to manage.
  • Budget: the TCO (total cost of ownership) of a physical appliance may seem high upon purchase, but often remains lower than usage-based cloud pricing over 5 years for large volumes.
  • Disaster recovery plan: if your target RTO is under four hours, a disconnected local copy is non-negotiable.

What Oxibox offers

Oxibox supports these deployment scenarios, enabling public cloud, private cloud, hybrid or on-premise deployments, with the same patented disconnection technology and the same level of security.

Oxibox appliances (Compact, Fireproof, Rack) are deployed on-premise and natively interface with the Oxibox sovereign cloud hosted in France, to create a complete 3-2-1-1 architecture aligned with ANSSI guidance, managed remotely in real time, with no infrastructure skills required.

In summary: don't choose between cloud and on-premise. Choose a solution that combines the two securely, with one copy always disconnected from the network. This gives you a recovery path across a broader range of incidents.