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ATNS chooses CommVault as data management solution


Johannesburg, 19 Apr 2010

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), the sole commercial provider of air traffic, navigation and associated services in South Africa, has implemented a data management solution to improve the way it organises, protects and accesses information. Local converged network provider KSS Technologies implemented CommVault, a complete data management solution with infinite scalability and unprecedented control over data and costs.

Providing a service to 20 aerodromes across the country, ATNS outgrew its previous system that could only be used to back up business-critical information. CommVault proved to be the ideal solution, it offered a truly modern data management approach and gave ATNS the ability to manage, access, and recover its data much more effectively, with less risk, and with dramatic reductions in storage-related costs.

Achmed Wadee, Senior Manager IT for ATNS, says ATNS required a centralised management system with modules that share a common set of back-end services and advanced capabilities.

“We needed a common platform without the need to purchase fragmented, expensive third-party tools. This truly unified, or singular, architecture performs all data management functions quickly, easily, and reliably from a single console. Managed data, content indexed into a single virtual pool, can be viewed across all applications, platforms, devices, and locations. Additionally, it provides highly optimised plug-ins for Microsoft Active Directory, SharePoint, Exchange and SQL Server.”

He says CommVault was chosen because it could be deployed to all its offices from a central point. “Research showed that CommVault is among the market leaders in data management, and more importantly, it is hardware independent. The fact that CommVault software is all built on a single unified platform is a huge differentiator and sets it apart from any competitor. It is the foundation of a truly revolutionary data management approach that solves a real problem and delivers real results, helping ATNS better manage, access, and recover its data, while reducing costs and risk.”

CommVault simplifies enterprise data management (EDM) with a unified software architecture that increases flexibility, scalability and security, allowing IT to regain control and focus on meeting business needs.

“The tremendous operational and cost advantages of a holistic approach to data management have become a reality with CommVault. It employs modules for backup and recovery, archive, replication, resource management, and search - all built on a single unifying code base and platform.”

KSS Senior Account Manager, Corn'e Sassenberg, says in enterprises worldwide, runaway data growth has gone underestimated, untamed and unaddressed or, at the very least, addressed insufficiently. “The consequences have been nothing short of staggering: spiralling costs, mounting complexity, excessive hardware, ever-dwindling storage space, rising head count, failed backups, inaccessible information and the list goes on and on.”

ATNS couldn't risk compromising any of its data considering that it is responsible for air traffic control in approximately 10% of the world's airspace. More importantly, its services extend further than the familiar air traffic control service, into the provision of vitally important aeronautical information used for all flight planning purposes as well as search and rescue activities and the maintenance of a reliable navigation infrastructure.

Wadee says CommVault software sets a new standard for what data management software can do. “Features that help ATNS solve many of its data management problems and helps improve business agility and drive down costs includes unsurpassed recovery management and smarter backup and archiving with embedded global deduplication.”

Aiming to move to a tapeless environment, ATNS has already started experiencing a reduction in off-site tapes and tape drives, CommVault reduces up to 90% of backup and archive data on disk and tape. CommVault has also reduced backup administration time considerably.

“It also offers consolidated protection across virtual infrastructure, array-based snapshot technology to complete backups in minutes, remote office and laptop/desktop protection, the ability to reduce spend on new storage space and the ability to proactively address compliance issues,” he adds.

“CommVault's holistic approach to data management eliminates the inherent inefficiencies, complications, and expenses associated with operating across multiple silos. From the beginning, CommVault designed its software from the ground up to share a single platform. The resulting technology streamlines the aggregation of enterprise-wide data for unprecedented data management functionality and efficiency, making it much easier to access the information you're looking for.”

“I didn't think that was possible. With paradigm-changing features and capabilities not found anywhere else, CommVault truly sets a new standard for what data management software can do. When we discovered CommVault, we also discovered a world-class team of service and support professionals that stand behind it. KSS Technologies are dedicated CommVault specialists and provide superior service and skills that was key to the success of this project,” Wadee concludes.

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KSS Technologies

KSS Technologies specialises in the design, implementation and support of converged networking solutions. The company's head office is situated in Midrand with support centres countrywide, providing a national support infrastructure. With a proven track record in the enterprise, mid-market and upper-end small medium enterprise (SME) market segments, KSS provides information communication technology (ICT) solutions that integrate with legacy systems or builds solutions from the ground up through “greenfields” installations. Its approach, methodologies and solutions add unique business value by streamlining processes and eliminating redundant steps for clients within the public and private sectors.

KSS is committed to sustainable human resources and skills development through its continuous investment in highly skilled sales and technical resources, thus creating confidence in our business partners, customers and employees alike. KSS has been committed to true black economic empowerment (BEE) since its inception in 2000 and has increased its BEE shareholding to 41% in 2006. BEE executive management represents 67% of the board.

Certification and alignment with strategic vendor solutions empowers KSS to deliver business value to customers. Certification programmes assist to achieve consistently high levels of service and expertise. This commitment to empowering the organisation is reflected in its quest for certification. KSS received Cisco Silver Partner status in March 2000, highlighting an early dedication to delivering converged network solutions - now a key consideration for businesses eager to leverage the considerable efficiencies and returns that this platform delivers. More recently, KSS was awarded Cisco Customer Satisfaction Excellence, the highest distinction a partner can achieve within the Cisco Channel Partner Program.

In addition, KSS has developed its technical strengths by aligning and complying with standards from world-class vendor programmes, including: Expand Value Added Reseller & National Support partner; Citrix Silver Partner; Microsoft Certified Partner; IBM Business Partner; HP Preferred Partner (Storage & Networking); AXIS Certified partner; CommVault Gold partner and SLi (representing Lenel).

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)

ATNS is the sole commercial provider of air traffic, navigation and associated services in South Africa providing a service to 20 aerodromes around the country including OR Tambo, Cape Town and Durban International Airports. Together over 685 000 aircraft arrival and departure movements are handled at the ATNS services aerodromes every year. Standing strong with over 900 employees ATNS strives to continuously provide safe and orderly management of air traffic navigational and associated services. ATNS is also responsible for the provision of aeronautical information used for flight planning purposes as well as amongst other search and rescue activities and the maintenance of a reliable navigation infrastructure.

Editorial contacts

Ivor van Rensburg
IT Public Relations
(082) 652 8050
ivor@itpr.co.za