Symetrix offers business continuity solution based on Microsoft technology

Microsoft partner and IT specialist, Symetrix, has identified the need for the planning and provision of a business continuity model in the South African market and has introduced a solution to help minimise the risk to business through real-time onsite and remote replication of critical data.

Ready access to mission-critical data and applications is imperative in today`s rapidly expanding, technology-driven business environment. Recent events, such as 11 September, have resulted in a new focus on business continuity plans for IT departments and general business operations. Companies want to compete globally without the fear of data loss or downtime, which can be detrimental to an organisation.

"After looking at worldwide trends on how organisations are addressing the challenge of protecting networks and data, we realised there was a need to educate the local market and introduce a solution to ensure continuous data availability. The initial reaction by enterprises has been very positive since the benefits offered incorporate real solutions working 24x7," says David Sack, General Manager of (SBCS) Symetrix Business Continuity Solutions.

The solution is built entirely on Microsoft technologies, including SQL Server, Exchange Server and Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Active Directory - an essential component of the Windows 2000 architecture which presents organisations with a directory service designed for distributed computing environments.

The technology deployed by Symetrix is based on the patented NSI Software, Double-Take, which provides seamless configuration, control and administration of data availability, and protection. Replication occurs continuously over any shared or private IP-based local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or storage area network (SAN). In the event of a loss of data, Double-Take`s failover capabilities allow a secondary server to stand in automatically for the primary server, ensuring operations resume with minimal interruption.

Double-Take continuously captures the most recent data and makes it immediately available, without geographical limitations, across multi-platform environments. Double-Take`s real-time data replication uses the smallest amount of network bandwidth possible by only transmitting byte-level changes to datasets, rather than copying whole files across the network every time they change. Research shows that Double-Take ensures up to 99.99% system reliability, or less than 50 minutes of downtime every month.

To avoid exposure to unnecessary risks, enterprises should make business continuity planning a part of its culture, assigning a specific budget to this initiative which should be integrated at the beginning of the IT lifecycle. Companies can be assured of a competitive advantage that will manifest itself in fewer disruptions to its operations, and in greater confidence from customers, partners and suppliers.