backup-your information insurance < click here to visit the main Advanced Group Web Site > 

Backup is essential for key data, applications and, if you want to restore very quickly, operating systems. For situations where it is essential to continue operations and minimize data losses replication and high availability solutions provide a better alternative.

Tape backup

Traditionally backup has been performed by tape devices. Where speed and reliability of restore is not critical, these remain a viable option. Systems are more reliable than they ever have been, but are still laden with inherent faults. There is also a growing problem - file storage requirements are growing at an average of over 70% per year - tape backup systems and the time window they require are becoming increasingly unable to cope.

Autoloaders, jukeboxes, multiple servers & operating sysems - legality

To manage this autoloader, jukebox and multiple systems are required - all increasing possible points of failure in tape systems. Additionally, tape technologies increasingly 'move on' - in the last 10 years there have been several changes in physical formats. Tapes are NOT inter-compatible, most would not physically fit into the other drives. This is now a major problem as HMI Customs & Excise, FSA and other regulations require that files are stored and retrievable for several years. Not that tape is an ideal long term storage medium; it degrades unless stored in a professional environment that is temperature, humidity and light controlled and magnetically shielded. This excludes off-site sheds, garages, homes, offices - everything except professional tape storage facilities.

Restoring from tape

In addition restoring from tape is difficult - finding and recovering an individual file can take hours or days
searching through individual tapes. Worse, over 30% of full restores from tape fail. Which means, if you are lucky,
that you will only partially restore.BC Vault is a comprehensive
offsite backup program
providing secure, resilient
backup for multiple servers
& multiple operating systems
over data and internet
connections.
Click the logo above
to download a brochure If not professional expensive data recovery experts may require days to work
on your tapes - and may still not be able to retrieve your information. In summary tape backup systems have
their place, but should not be relied upon.

Offsite backup

Offsite backup offers a much better solution for critical systems and data. It offers better control, better reporting and more reliability. It also has an inherent benefit - being off-site it immediately creates a disaster recovery facility. Click here for more information.

Replication

Replication is also a consideration for key systems - on site - for immediate and lower cost recovery, offsite for disaster recovery potential and, when combined with bandwidth, high availability solutions. In the latter scenario it is possible to offer your business and customers a seamless service.

For further details, please contact us