Among the many changes in the IT industry currently facing South African business, one of the most dramatic is unfolding in the electronic data storage industry. Can you afford to ignore the value of business-critical data and as the volume of electronic information booms? It has thus become essential to develop disaster-tolerant storage and recovery strategies that address the increased reliance on computerised data.
A sound disaster recovery plan considers the most effective way of handling any business interruption and according to an article in `Contingency Planning`, the U.S. Labour Department reports that 43% of the companies that have experienced a disaster never reopen. 29% of them that do reopen, close within two years.
Off-site data storage practitioners, Backup Storage Facilities (BSF), have since their inception 14 years ago been the only specialised data storage and retrieval operation in the country.
"Although storing backups at an off-site location is imperative to any disaster recovery plan, there are certain very important points that need to be in place to ensure the maximum security of your data," states BSF General Manager, Kendall Williams "We advise that you implement each of following as part of the off-site portion of a sound disaster recovery strategy:
* If you have staff that have access to the data centre must not have access to the off-site facility and vice-versa. (i.e. IT staff)
* Security seals must be used to ensure no one has had access to data during transportation to the off-site location.
* It is imperative that a number of cycles or generations, (not less than 2) are stored off-site, and that they are not all transported at any one time.
* Never have all cycles of the back-ups brought back to site, leaving nothing off-site.
* Rotate backups in their cycles, avoid movements of tapes that don`t need to be moved and ensure proper record keeping.
* Make sure you have sufficient backups including system files programmes.
* Store your companies` tested Disaster Recovery Plan off-site, too.
Backup Storage Facilities is a specialised, off-site data storage company that ensures the secure, safe and confidential storage of data stored on tape, CD ROM, DAT, DLT or any other media. Costs start from as low as R300-00 per month.
"Electronic Data Storage - A Leap Into the Unknown"
To stay ahead, more information needs to be stored, protected and managed within an ever-shrinking recovery window, when the inevitable system crash occurs. Having monitored how market demands have shifted in this electronic age, BSF have after careful assessment of the market, introduced a range of e-storage solutions to supplement the mix of off-site services they offer.
To meet the increased demand, BSF have developed an entire division called e-Storage Direct (e-SD) specialising in electronic data storage, retrieval and management.
"As a specialist in e-storage, online backup and recovery solutions, e-Storage Direct is providing an additional level of solutions to backup and recover data," states Paul Muller, Special Projects Manager for e-SD.
"We see our services as supplemental to BSF`s current services. We believe the timing is right now for online backup, e-storage, server mirroring or replication that are recovery options few companies would have considered even five years ago. With the increase in data stores and dangerous cost of business interruption, it has become imperative that we address the changing demands of today`s market."
Muller also stated his concern with the increase in the number of operations whose core business is not data storage but are now offering solutions.
"Businesses are being targeted by a broad range of players in the IT world expanding into the area of online backup and storage. The risk we see is that a growing number of non-specialists, knowing little about disaster recovery are offering high-priced solutions to eager clients aware of the need for workable e-storage solutions," opines Muller. "The ultimate goal of what we offer is to provide a range of tailor-made solutions that address the specific needs of each client, offering a flexible product line-up that analyses the priorities of time versus cost trade-offs and then implements the right tools for the resumption of critical business processes."
Traditionally installed for only the high-end solutions, the concept of e-storage in the disaster recovery industry has become an increasingly important factor on the business survival agenda. Competitive pressures have called for reductions in downtime and smarter, more flexible methods of organising data across non-specific operating platforms.
The fundamental decision for most companies about the degree of sophistication required from online backup or e-storage will depend on an objective assessment of the value of the data that needs to be managed and preserved. E-Storage Direct`s initiative will highlight the dual requirement of a storage solution that protects information whilst reducing severe time frame limitations.
"We don`t believe in being all things to all people," states Walter Hex, Chairman of BSF. "We`ve created our e-data storage and retrieval undertaking as an extension of the business we know. Our knowledge of the off-site storage business has given us the know-how to make electronic backup and recovery a logical next step. An increasing number of our clients have expressed concern at the pace at which they have to maintain their data. We provide clients with five separate product levels to ensure that a solution is available for a small network through to large corporates. With our 14 year history in off-site storage, we believe we understand the nature of a data storage environment."
Share
Editorial contacts