Recolitus Managed Network Services (RMNS) is well aware that your server data is the cornerstone of your business. We also understand that catastrophes ranging from hardware failure to storms, fires, or floods can strike at any time. To protect your most valuable business asset, RMNS has developed a comprehensive suite of Online Data Vaulting solutions that safeguard your data and help ensure your business security.

Server data requires special consideration. The nature, volume, and volatility of the information housed on network servers necessitates a solution suitable for the enterprise but priced to fit a small to mid sized IT budget. RMNS Online Data Vaulting is that solution, with all the features required to make sure that your data is completely available when you need it most.

Various Business Needs, Various Levels of Vaulting

Alternatives to Offsite Storage Services!

Do you store your backup media, in a fire safe in your building, another office, the local bank branch? How about at home!

Environmental issues:

Ø  Computer media should be stored in an environment with “computer” air conditioning. Normal office air conditioning does not have humidity control, required for the storage of computer media.

Ø  Does the home, office or bank air conditioning run all night?

Ø  Fire detection. Most companies install early warning smoke detection systems for their computer equipment and associated media. The type of detection is used in the home, office or bank, typically if there is any at all, will be the slow heat detection units, ie; sprinklers that activate when the fire has already started.

Ø  Fire suppression. A gas fire suppression agent is required for computers and computer tapes. Offices and banks have water sprinkler systems. Not an ideal agent for computer tapes. Homes none. The Fire Brigade will use water. Once again not an ideal agent for computer tapes.

Ø  Computer tapes should be stored in computer media racking. How are they stored in the home, office or bank branch environment?

Ø  Fireproof safes may be fire proof for a limited period of time, but heat is often transmitted through the safe destroying computer media. Paper can survive up to a temperature of 175º C. while computer media can melt in your car on a hot summer day. Media begins to be damaged between 30º C and 50º C and is typically damaged beyond recovery at 55º C.

Security issues:

Ø  When you transport your computer media to your home, office or bank branch, are the staff that handle the media trained in the care of computer media.

Ø  Bank branches are a target for robberies; your backup media could be stolen or damaged.

Ø  What is the physical security of the home or office location where you store your backup media.

Ø  Do you have 24 hours access to your media … or is the office area locked, is there a bank time lock on the vault?

Ø  If a safe is used in conjunction with an offsite storage cycling strategy, ensure the safe is a “Data” safe, designed for computer media, but remember that a “Data” safe will only be rated for 4 hours.

Ø  Remember that access into a building after a fire or major crime is not allowed for days or weeks until the emergency services or Coroner have completed their investigations. Access to your data stored in a fire proof safe will not be allowed during this period.

Transportation Issues:

Ø  Does your staff have the time to transport your backup media to the office or bank location - wouldn’t their time be better spent in the computer room?

Ø  Are your tapes packed in storage satchels or boxes while being transported?

Ø  Are the tapes stored in computer media racking?

Ø  Who handles your tapes at the other end? In the case of a bank, do you hand them over to the teller? What do they do with them, catalogue them, store then as per AS 3636.4. I don’t think so.

Ø  Are there occupational health and safety issues with your staff moving boxes of tapes?

Ø  Are they transported in an environment with air conditioning? Computer media can melt in your car on a hot summer day.

Logistics Issues:

Ø  Picture this scenario: Your system has crashed; you need your backup tapes recalled from the home, office or bank location, NOW!

Ø  Do your staff, have the time to leave your computer room.

Ø  How far do they have to travel to retrieve your media, will they be wasting valuable system “recovery time”, driving to the location, searching for the correct media, driving back again.

Ø  Do your staff waste time managing the logistics of media stored offsite, monitoring what is offsite, when is it due back, where is it!

Ø  How has the media been stored in the other location? Is an efficient IT based bar code tracking system used to track and retrieve your media?

Contact Recolutis Network Managed Services for Offsite Data Storage for a cost effective solution for the safe storage of your critical medical and systems data backups.