Why Your Backups Are a Goldmine for Training AI Models

In an era of expanding data volumes, the challenge is not just accumulating data, but extracting meaningful value from it. 

According to Salesforce’s Untapped Data Research, almost one-third (30%) of business leaders are overwhelmed by the amount of data, which is expected to more than double in size by 2026. What’s more, 41% of business leaders cite a lack of understanding of data because it is too complex or not accessible enough.

For many businesses, handling and maintaining vast datasets can be both expensive and resource-intensive, often leading to data summarization, aggregation, or deletion as cost-cutting measures.

However, this approach comes at a cost, particularly when it comes to AI. AI and Machine Learning predictions are only as good as the data used to train those models, as these algorithms thrive on extensive raw historical data to identify and predict trends effectively.

So, the question is, how can you access a substantial amount of historical data? 

The answer lies in your backups.

The Value of Backups in AI Model Training

When you think of all the reasons to back up your data, AI probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In reality, though, backups possess several unique qualities that make them ideal for overcoming the challenges associated with handling large datasets and fueling AI models. That’s what led us to build Own Discover, our new data service. 

Before we explain what Discover is, it’s important to understand why backups are valuable for training AI models in the first place.

The data is in a time-series format

Backups provide data in a time-series format, capturing information that evolves over time. This structure allows machine learning models to identify temporal patterns and dependencies, especially crucial for tasks like forecasting.

The data is organized

It can take a substantial effort to extract and prepare time-series data for training AI models. By using backup data that is already fully assembled, you eliminate the manual effort of preparing the data on your own and can start deriving insights faster.

The data is up to date

Data freshness is paramount for AI performance, as outdated data can lead to irrelevant or misleading outputs. Depending on your backup solution, regular backups, often performed every 24 hours or even more frequently, ensure that the data fed into learning models is always up to date.

The data is protected

To ensure business continuity, AI models must continue functioning even in the face of accidental data loss or breaches. Leveraging backup data for model training implies you have a recovery mechanism in place, ensuring the security and continuity of your AI initiatives.

Unlock AI-Ready Data with Own

As a leading provider of SaaS data protection solutions, Own empowers thousands of organizations to manage and safeguard mission-critical data. Within the historical SaaS data accumulated by Own customers lies untapped business potential and valuable insights, waiting to be unlocked through Own Discover.

With Discover, you can quickly and easily access your historical SaaS data in a time-series format for complex analytics and AI innovation without deploying costly technology or specialized technical resources. Discover also allows you to make the most out of your investments in Salesforce, Own, BI tools, and AI.

Download the datasheet to learn how Discover can help your organization activate historical SaaS data and amplify your business.