Computer Storage Services (CSSI) has launched MyData, www.mydata.co.za, an electronic data backup facility for businesses, corporates, government organisations, private individuals and for mobile or home users to securely backup their data into a Category-5 biometric data vault based in Midrand.
The data vault, codenamed CipherVault, and headquarters for CSSI was a direct result of a R27 million investment into developing a unique offering for the South African business market to comply with legislature and best business practice for storing and archiving critical data. The centre has taken 28 months to complete, and is the base location for server hosting, virtual environments and offsite data storage with direct Internet and fibre connectivity nodes.
CipherVault has a server hosting capacity of approximately 1 500 servers, cartridge capacity in excess of 200 000 DLT/LTO tapes and has two 480Mbps fibre optic links directly connected with redundant connectivity between service providers over DSL, ADSL and wireless media. The data centre is housed in a first of its kind Category-5 biometric data vault, with humidity, temperature, fire and smoke detection system, coupled with redundant air-cooling, UPS arrays, generator standby systems and surveillance security.
CSSI has grown its market presence significantly with its policy of zero-obligation contracts while guaranteeing uptimes of 99.9% and higher depending on customer requirements.
The MyData launch is being offered with free trial accounts for users to test the performance and capability of the new MyData/CipherArchive software. The trial offering is available for 30 days and offers each user a 10GB (Gigabyte) account with all the encryption, security and functionality of the software at the user's fingertips.
Thereafter users could ideally choose from a 10GB to a 100GB off-site data storage account from R80 to R180 per month respectively. The maximum size offered to the South African market will be limited to 12TB (12 000GB) for corporate customers.
According to the GM, Sandra De Oliveira: “MyData is designed as an offering tailored for the needs of South African users and businesses with the peace of mind that for less than R100 per month their data is safe from the risk of theft, system crashes, hard drive failure or any disasters that could arise. Our success has been in making our company offerings attractive and affordable and at the best quality possible where customers can host servers, run their exchange and virtual environments and their disaster recovery solutions in this secure data facility for under R2 000 per server with all the extras included in this price.”
One key differentiator according to CSSI with MyData in respects of electronic backup software and today's market offerings is that all the data stored for each customer in the data vault is replicated to the European data centre as a value add service. The South African consumer will now for the first time have peace of mind that their data is also replicated on another continent and they will have access to their data at high speeds from any location in the world.
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