A Real Storage Guarantee -- and the Need for a Backup Guarantee

A couple of entries ago I wrote about the problems I had with some vendors promoting 30 day money back guarantees. There is a better way, and programs from companies like NetApp and Isilon are leading the way.

Both NetApp and Isilon are offering longer term commitments to their customers about their products. These are really more like Service Level Agreements (SLAs). NetApp will guarantee, for example, a certain amount of capacity savings in particular environments with their deduplication functionality. Isilon announced on Thursday (May 14t) that they will provide a long term commitment around cost, scale and utilization.

These SLA style commitments are really more functional for customers. I'm sure that neither Isilon or NetApp feel they are taking much risk when they make these commitments -- they know that their products will meet these service levels and they're just putting their money where their features are. Essentially stating that if their products don't do exactly what they say it will do at any point in time during the business relationship, you have some recourse.

This allows you to roll the product out on your timeline, not on a 30-day "see if it passes the sniff test" situation. Most companies that are going to make these types of commitments are going to require something of you as well. You'll have to use the product the way it was designed and in an environment that will let you reach those SLAs. There is nothing wrong with that, and in fact can help you make sure you use the product properly so that you do get maximum benefit.

Where I would love to see this SLA Guarantee model extended to is backups. How about a 100% recovery guarantee from backup vendors? We see repeated surveys indicate that a high percentage of recovery attempts fail; a smart backup vendor that makes and can stand behind this claim would be welcomed.

Certainly the backup software supplier would want to lay out reasonable best practices and make sure you follow those. There are more moving variables in the backup process so they would need the ability to verify the data written to the backup target is valid, but I think there is a way to get there. Reducing recovery failures is going to be a joint effort but the time has come to put that one to rest.

112027 Newswire

2009-05-19T16:30:16Z 2009-05-19T16:30:16Z

2009-05-19T16:30:16Z

Advanced technology enables remote backup of Exchange, SQL Server databases via MSP "private clouds" in a fraction of time required by other solutions. ptravis Data Protection

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, May 19, 2009 -- DataPreserve, an established national provider of online backup solutions for small and medium sized enterprises, today announced the immediate availability of DataPreserve Pro, a complete software suite of enterprise-level, cloud-based data protection software and storage designed to help small and mid-sized businesses keep their data from multiple locations safe with minimal effort and cost and maximum reliability.

In announcing the software, DataPreserve noted that it is designed to be utilized by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), who offer data protection services to their clients without incurring the expense of establishing and maintaining a data center. DataPreserve provides the software to the MSPs, as well as delivers secure data protection at data centers with state-of-the-art equipment. In doing so, the company enables data to be stored in so-called "private clouds," seen by many industry influencers and end-users as more trusted than larger "cloud computing" implementations, where data is stored at any number of undisclosed locations.

DataPreserve Pro, powered by ROBOBAK, provides businesses with the advanced block-level backup and storage solution required for protection of files such as Microsoft?? Exchange and SQL Server databases. Data is compressed and encrypted from multiple remote locations through one central administrative point, then transmitted securely via the Internet to DataPreserve's servers for storage in a high-availability, Tier 4 data center. With capacity-based pricing starting at $37.50 per month for up to ten gigabytes of compressed data, DataPreserve Pro combines the reliability, safety, and budgetary flexibility companies are increasingly seeking.

Industry reports indicate that solutions such as DataPreserve Pro are on target. A recent IDC report on cloud storage reports that small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) expressed a preference for data protection suppliers like DataPreserve, whose focus is on online services and who possess a strong technical background. Another report, from the McKinsey consulting firm, indicates that cloud computing "are very cost-effective for SMEs."

"There is a steady drumbeat of news regarding cloud computing which both interests and concerns companies at the same time," said Patrick Hanley, GM of Field Operations at DataPreserve. "They want the money-saving advantages offered by the cloud, but want that extra level of dependability. In short, our customers tell us they're seeking a trusted partner who can help them implement a cloud strategy; there's no better, more efficient way to do that than with DataPreserve Pro."

DataPreserve Pro features ROBOBAK's Thin Backup and Restore (TBR), an industry-first feature that cuts the time needed to complete File, Exchange and SQL Server backups to mere minutes, even for very large databases. It also offers enterprise-class reporting and management functions, and is priced and packaged for organizations with 5-50 computers and servers at multiple locations.

Hanley noted that DataPreserve tested a number of alternatives from other companies, putting them through a rigorous process, before choosing ROBOBAK. "We're pleased that DataPreserve has chosen to partner with us," said Ron Roberts, ROBOBAK's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Their selection proves the business value that we deliver, especially when working with valued partners such as DataPreserve."

About DataPreserve

DataPreserve is a national provider of online backup and storage solutions. Based inScottsdale, AZ, the firm delivers reliable and secure enterprise level data protection solutions for small and medium sized enterprises. For more information, call Mike Garland at (480) 422-1600 or visit their Web site at www.DataPreserve.com.