Data dilemma

Walt Thomasson details recent changes in the options available for data backup and recovery.

“Researching your options will allow your company to have the benefits of a sound data backup and recovery plan”
-Walt Thomasson

As we advance technologically and things become more streamlined, how important is it to have a backup plan when it comes to a company's data?
Walt Thomasson. A backup plan is an absolute must. In fact, some industries, such as financial, healthcare and banking, are required to have a data backup plan. Companies must have a good plan to not only back up, but also restore their data. Many companies rely on tape to restore their critical data during a disaster or significant business disruption.

What factors should be taken into consideration when trying to decide how you should back up your data?
WT. The budget size and the amount of data to be backed up are primary concerns. For companies that need real-time access to backup data there is the option to mirror the data to an off-site location. This is a very expensive method. Many companies rely on tape because it is inexpensive, but tape does not allow them to restore their data as quickly as needed. Some companies have turned to data vaulting services, but when you go from Gigabytes to Terabytes, data-vaulting is not cost effective. Companies must find ways to meet budget constraints but also have a realistic approach to restoring data - many are finding that tape is not the answer.

Companies can also identify which data is critical (on-line), necessary but not critical (near-line), and what data is rarely accessed and needed for archive (off-line) purposes. This measure can help to reduce the amount of time and money spent on data backup and restoration.

So what options do companies have to back up and restore their data, other than tape?
WT. Take mirrored-data off the table due to the sheer expense, and also assume that you have several Terabytes of data to back up, store and restore in the event of a disaster.

More and more companies are looking at Virtual Tape Library (VTL) solutions to de-duplicate and then back up data. This provides not only a quick way to back up data but also reduces the amount of bandwidth and storage space needed to transmit and keep the data. The real benefit is in the restoration of data. Since the VTL sends the data to an off-site VTL the critical data is kept in the same format, allowing for a disk-to-disk restore. This method has allowed companies the opportunity to not only have an efficient and cost-effective way to back up their data, it has also allowed them the ability to meet their Recovery Time Objective (RTO) as stated in their disaster recovery plan. Previously, they could not meet their stated RTOs due to slow restoration times with tape. There are also inherent production benefits to using a VTL solution, such as local caching of data, allowing for quick retrieval of backup data files.

What should companies consider when they look to outsource a VTL backup and recovery method?
WT. Many companies look to outside vendors to handle data backup and recovery. Companies must do their homework and really look into those vendors to make sure that they not only save them money, but also minimize their risks. When choosing a vendor, companies must make sure the vendor provides an adequate facility to house the data, the ability to monitor the data, support staff services and finally the logistics to deliver the data when needed. Many vendors give little attention to logistics but this is the most critical. Look for a vendor who has built an in-house production, support and delivery infrastructure. These vendors do not need to rely on outside technicians or third party carriers to deliver your critical data. Vendors who provide other recovery services, such as workspace, typically provide the most value of services. Researching your options will allow your company to have the benefits of a sound data backup and recovery plan.

Walt Thomasson serves as Managing Director for Rentsys Recovery Services, Inc. With over a decade of experience in the BCP/DR industry, he is a leading expert on mobile communications and temporary facilities for regional recovery strategies.

For more information, go to www.rentsysrecovery.com or call 866.294.1249.