One fifth (22 per cent) of UK SMEs are opting for online backup software and gradually ditching tape, according to figures from IT support firm Connect.

Conducted by an independent research company on behalf of Connect, 151 UK companies in a range of sectors were questioned.

As well as finding that double the amount of SMEs use online backup compared to last year, Connect also found a further 20 per cent of companies were expecting to make the switch within the next three years.

In addition the research revealed a 12 per cent decrease in the use of traditional backup tapes compared to last year.

Mark MacGregor, chief executive of Connect, said: “The end of the backup tape has been predicted many times in the past. But the rapid switch to online backup providers by SMEs surely heralds the end of this distinctly dated technology.

“The three main drivers for companies ditching tapes are the dramatic falls in costs for offsite storage, improvements in technology and increasing internet line speeds. These research findings suggest that the tipping point for online backup has been reached and we expect tape users to be in a minority within three years.”

Other findings included that 76 per cent of SMEs still use backup tapes to store their data. However in the event of a server failure or data loss 73 per cent of firms that still use tape would have to wait a least a day to restore their data and get their business back up and running.