The IT needs of small to midsize businesses (SMBs) often are the same as for their enterprise counterparts — even if their budgets and staffing capabilities aren’t. Nowhere is this more apparent than in data backup requirements.

Just like large corporations, SMBs need a fast, scalable backup solution for day-to-day data protection. Unfortunately, many SMBs struggle with backup and recovery processes that are inadequate, time-consuming and overly complex.

“Smaller organizations and branch offices generate vast amounts of data that must be safeguarded to ensure productivity and business continuity,” said FusionStorm CTO Vince Conroy. “These organizations need to know that valuable data can be recovered quickly. However, safeguarding this data should not have to be a difficult and complicated process requiring human intervention. It should not require that someone swap backup tapes or transfer backup media offsite.”

Hands-Off Solution

To fill this gap, FusionStorm has developed a new managed service that helps take the worry away from server backup, recovery and archival. FusionStorm’s Data Protection Service (DPS) provides a powerful, hands-off approach that is simple, reliable and cost-effective.

DPS is based on backup technology from Symantec, the market leader in data protection software for enterprises. No additional hardware is required at the customer’s site. A small piece of software, installed on the customer’s Windows, Linux and Unix servers, backs up the data over the Internet during non-business hours, taking advantage of normally unused bandwidth.

“One of the features that differentiates DPS from other solutions is the Symantec NetBackup PureDisk software,” said Conroy. “PureDisk performs file-based backup across a broad range of server platforms, and includes Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server agents. It’s a bulletproof, rock-solid solution based upon proven technology.

“DPS allows customers to take advantage of this best-of-breed backup software, but is priced starting at just $250 per month. And customers can have data retention of up to seven years or longer.”

Comprehensive Protection

In addition to simplifying backup, DPS eliminates security and regulatory compliance concerns. Data to be backed up is encrypted using a 256-bit encryption algorithm, and stored in encrypted format in the FusionStorm data center.

DPS also includes advanced data-reduction technology that minimizes the numbers of files that must be transmitted over the network. If the same data exists on multiple servers — a common occurrence — it is only backed up once. Also, if only 2 percent of a file is modified from one day to the next, only the changed blocks within the file are transmitted.

“Source-based de-duplication optimizes bandwidth and minimizes the backup window,” Conroy said. “And because it stores only one copy of a file, DPS reduces disk space requirements and therefore the cost to the customer.”

Most organizations focus on backing up critical data without fully considering how that data will actually be restored. However, DPS enables data to be recovered quickly and easily through a Web-based, self-service portal. If a customer needs to restore a large amount of data, FusionStorm will copy the files to a USB external drive or NAS appliance and ship it overnight.

“We call this feature Dataship,” said Conroy. “It takes care of those situations where it would take too long to restore the data over the wire.”

Ideal for SMBs

DPS is a component of FusionStorm’s comprehensive managed services offerings, which include remote monitoring and management, managed hosting, managed security and managed database administration. Each of these solutions is designed to leverage FusionStorm’s unmatched engineering and technical skill sets to resolve common IT problems simply and cost-effectively.

The proliferation of data generated by applications such as e-mail, customer resource management and financial applications, and the data retention guidelines of new government regulations, have taxed the backup and recovery capabilities of many SMBs. They need a backup system that’s scalable, easy to manage and operates in real time. DPS meets their requirements affordably.

“Organizations need a backup solution that doesn’t interfere with their daily operations. They also need to be able to restore lost files quickly and easily,” Conroy said. “DPS simplifies and automates the backup and recovery process, while improving security and ensuring compliance with government and industry regulations. It’s a cost-effective, comprehensive solution that eliminates the headaches associated with backup and recovery.”