Cloud computing is transforming the way companies manage and protect their data. Companies are now providing services to store data in the cloud for backup, archiving and other user cases. Of late many enterprises have started to use the public cloud to host their applications be it critical or non-critical. And the latest trend arising is-to go with cloud disaster recovery (DR) services. As more and more businesses are entering cloud for storage, data backup, hosting applications etc. there is a need for highly secure data systems in place to protect data theft.

Traditional Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR) Approach

Traditional DR and BC planning and implementation include setting of own sites with all the required IT and network infrastructure, direct and indirect cost, staff relocation, logistics services and more. DR involves business continuity plan where business can run as usual in case of disaster strike in the primary data center. But setting up BC and DR has some challenges in terms of complexity and cost. Executing a BCDR plan involve a complete management of processes where all the elements need to be tested regularly. Businesses also need to consider the cost of unplanned downtime. Habit of using old age method like tape recovery, human error or technology malfunction, lack of process automation, increases the overall cost to manage the DR.

BCDR planning also needs some challenges and questions to be answered before implementation like; if downtime occurs how much it will cost to business? How long recovery will take? How is the elements tested? How is the preparation for minor and major disasters?

Data Security and DR Planning on Cloud

Node4, the data center solution provider, recently revealed a report to International Data Corporation that for every downtime hour, companies lose an average of $75,000. As more and more cyber hacking incidents had occurred in recent past and systems and confidential data are compromised, organizations now have started emphasizing on the importance of placing a concrete disaster recovery plan. Most believe moving to cloud computing tool is the right step to plan for the DR as it provides access to critical and real time data anywhere. Traditional DR plan have physical servers to back up the data and it is not a full proof idea to recover original and backup data in the event of a disaster. Cloud based DR Service provides several benefits over traditional DR services as lower TCO and faster recovery.

Some Recommended Approach for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

Industry experts on data storage and enterprise services recommend several best practices to minimize downtime and accelerate speed recovery. Bobby Crouch, the product marketing manager at FalconStor, the server virtualization and data protection solutions provider, suggested some tactics for better disaster recovery:

1. Virtualization solution and simplification of deployments: Deploying and managing IT infrastructure in case of a DR to its full restoration is a cumbersome and complicated process where it requires involvement of various staff members. Virtualized desktop, server and storage technologies provide full mobility of systems and data. Virtualized desktop and virtualized applications can simplify the challenges of deployment and provide the ability for employees to work from home. Virtualization streamlines the challenges of BCDR planning that business face today.
2. Automation and remote copy practices: Automation practice can reduce the overall cost for maintaining the remote DR infrastructure and reduces downtime and increases a faster recovery process. Use of a WAN replication solution can also push DR cost down in terms of the monthly cost of bandwidth needed for replication.
3. Reducing the use of Tape recovery: Reducing the dependency of tape recovery mechanism and promoting the usage of newer technologies such as disk based snapshots and continuous data protection and cloud based tools implementation improves the recovery time and reduces tape production. This results in lower operating cost for both backup and recovery operation.
4. Right tool and technology implementation in DR: A complete DR solution is a replica of entire IT services and replicating application from primary to DR is one of the important aspects of IT operational business application model solution. This model reduces the recovery time and ensures a successful failover and failback solution.
5. Reducing the downtime: Recovering data from a tape backup takes hours or even days, leads to downtime and revenue loss. Use of the new tools such as virtual tape libraries (VTL), disk based duplication solutions, cloud storage and backup fast-tracked the backup and recovery process.

Opportunity for companies to take advantage of cloud storage

Cloud is the future. Everyone is talking about cloud storage. If you are worried about cloud outages, data loss, data security and cost  then more players are entering into the market with data de-duplication, data encryption and integration solution to offer you the required services. Data de-duplication saves costs and improves overall efficiency and reduces the size of data asset.

“Why everywhere? That’s easy: because data is everywhere. Dedupe (Data de-duplication) saves costs and improves efficiency, so it makes sense to deploy it everywhere it can make a positive impact your business,” said Wayne Salpietro, the director of product and social media marketing at Permabit, on data de-duplication technique. He further said, the flexibility that data de-duplication technique offers can be used across all area of IT.

Riverbed Technology’s Whitewater appliance cloud storage gateway provides data de-duplication, local NAS services, data encryption, and integration with leading cloud storage services. The software collects the backup, dedupes and encrypts the data and then broadcasts only the required bits to your cloud service. The appliance is capable of feeding up to 250GB of data per hour to 1TB per hour and encrypts the data using 256 bit AES.

Nimble Storage, the storage and backup solutions, offers data storage and backup appliances to small and medium sized enterprises. It’s suite of appliances offer storage, backup and disaster recovery into a single solution, instant backup and restores, data protection, and offsite disaster recovery. Nimble’s solution help business to lower equipment costs and simplify cloud storage management. Add to the list, Kroll ontrack, provides cost-effective migration, duplication, extraction and conversion services.