Modular Server Vaulting

A nationwide network of offsite data protection firms is also able to provide disaster recovery services when their clients are in need.  Because these services are available through the Secure Media Vault Associates (SMVA) it is possible to utilize the facilities of an SMVA member in another region if the nature of the disaster requires temporarily relocating operations.  This gives DR planners much more flexibility and many more options when formulating their disaster response protocols.

Many of these companies have helped their clients through major natural disasters, long-term power outages, fires, etc.  In addition to traditional disaster recovery/business continuity services these locations are also able to host containerized data center modules, such as Firelock’s Secure Agile Vault Environment, or SAVE units. 

SMVA network members all offer their clients a much higher level of data protection than their competition.  Unlike the national chains of offsite data storage companies, these owner-managed independent companies in the SMVA network utilize Firelock Class 125 data-rated fireproof vaults with optimum environmental conditions for the protection of their clients’ data tapes.  In addition to protecting data backup tapes, these vaults are used to protect the IT equipment (for E-vaulting and co-location) that hosts their clients mission critical information.  They also utilize the latest technology in barcode tracking of media and GPS monitoring of their media transport vehicles. 

The standards of excellence they uphold in their data storage business are applied the their disaster recovery services.  These service capabilities combined with the flexibility of the many network locations gives SMVA clients unbeatable disaster recovery options.

Managed hosting companies are often the sole custodian of their client’s mission critical information.  Statistics vary, but the majority of companies that lose their vital information go out of business within the next year.  Protecting this information is rarely seen as a priority for this industry, as uptime and cost per GB of storage tend to be the key selling points hosting companies emphasize.  Not all companies are the same, of course, and a small but growing contingent of managed hosting companies is investing in server vaults for their data center to ensure the survival of their clients’ data, even if their facility is hit by a disaster.

This concept of offering clients a higher level of protection for a premium price is not a new one in the data protection industry.  For nearly twenty years a network of offsite data storage companies has been using Firelock media vaults to differentiate themselves from the competition and grow their businesses.  In any market with a lot of competition the product and or service becomes a commodity, and in a commodity market the lowest price almost always wins.  To avoid this margin-shrinking phenomenon the Secure Media Vault Associates (the network of Firelock-equipped offsite data storage companies) invested in true data-rated vaults and are able to charge premium prices for their services.  Their clients recognize the value of the investment their service providers have made to protect their backup data and are willing to pay extra for this level of security.

By providing a data center with real data protection capabilities these hosting companies can win new business without slashing their prices to be the cheapest vendor.  They can also go after clients that have more stringent information protection requirements, like healthcare companies with HIPAA regulations and financial service firms with FTC mandates to satisfy.  A Class 125 server vault is an excellent way for a managed hosting company to carve out a very profitable niche in a crowded market.

Firelock will once again exhibit at the Professional Records and Information Services Management (PRISM) Conference in Reno, NV from May 11-13.  This event features seminars and a trade show for owners and managers in the offsite data storage services industry, including offsite tape storage, E-vaulting and server co-location.  As a provider of the highest rated fireproof data vaults in the industry, we are always happy to meet offsite data storage service providers who are looking for a way to offer their clients the best data storage environment for their mission critical backup tapes and E-vaulting equipment.

Over the years a network of Firelock-equipped offsite storage companies all over the country has formed to offer customers with multiple locations in other cities the same level of protection at all locations by partnering with other network members.  This network, called the Secure Media Vault Associates (SMVA) is also able to share leads and ideas on best practices for information security and facilities management.  Firelock will be hosting a networking event and informal seminar for SMVA members and prospective members from 1:00-5:00 PM on May 10th.

Firelock will also be hosting roundtable discussions on marketing ideas for the offsite data storage industry and a seminar on “Making You a Better You” through networking and other beneficial business practices.  Hope to see you there!

IBM and Fujifilm have recently announced they have a new magnetic tape technology with storage capacity 44 times more dense than LTO 4 tape cartidges, or 35 terrabytes of uncompressed data per tape!  These new tapes utilize barium-ferrite (BaFe) particles, which are one-third the size of traditional tape particles and aligned perpendicular to the tape (as opposed to horizontal alignment of magnetic materials on LTO tapes) to achieve this super high-density capability.  BaFe is a crystaline substance which Fujifilm claims does not corrode or change over time, making it ideal for long-term archival storage.  Like any new technology, this BaFe tape has both positive and negative qualities that raise some questions about what they mean to the data storage community.

For one, what implications does this “hard-to-demagnetize” characteristic have for information security?  The tape manufacturer said the process of reducing the particle to microscopic size is a challenge because it risks reducing the resistance to demagnification of a ferromagnetic material.  This means tapes could be difficult to reuse or could lead to more errors as some parts of the tape may not be re-recorded due to this resistance.  Also imagine the problems of degaussing it at end of life. Will these tapes need to be shredded to ensure destruction of the information held within?

Another question is how will this high capacity capability fit into the tape rotation programs practiced by the majority of data center operators?  With the ability to store all of an organization’s operational and archival data on just a few tapes, how will this affect the timing of removing tapes to a secure offsite location?  How many organizations will have the volume of data to make it worth the switch to this new media type?  Maybe Google, Microsoft and other large enterprise companies will benefit from this new technology, but for smaller organizations it is not an issue.  They may still want a tape that is done at the end of the day.   

Cindy Grossman, vice president of IBM Tape and Archive Storage Systems, said the advancement shows that “tape storage is alive and strong and will continue to provide users reliable data protection, while maintaining a cost advantage over other storage technologies, including hard disk drives and flash drives.”  It will be interesting to see how these new super density tapes are utilized when they become available, and if they live up to their manufacterer’s expectations.

It’s easy to find dozens of E-vaulting service providers with a simple Web search.  What’s more difficult is finding a service provider that has built a facility capable of protecting the heat-sensitive equipment that holds their clients’ data.  AssureVault (www.assurevault.com) is an offsite data protection company that has invested in a Firelock Class 125 fireproof data vault so they can safeguard this mission critical information.  Their vault is capable of keeping interior temperatures below 125-degrees F. for hours, even if temperatures reach 2,000-degrees outside the vault.

To maintain the proper environment inside the vault chamber a dedicated HVAC system keeps the temperature and humidity at optimum levels for server equipment and backup tapes.  To prevent damage from a fire that starts inside the vault a fire suppression system is in place.  A UPS unit and backup generator ensure power can be supplied indefinitely if there is an interruption in the local power grid.  To stay connected to the outside world a carrier-neutral network environment with realtime failover capability between carriers is in operation.  Overseeing all of this state-of-the-art infrastructure is a highly skilled staff of IT professionals.

Class 125 Data Vault to Protect Servers and Backup Tapes

Along with E-vaulting services, AssureVault offers offsite media storage and rotation, server co-location, and a host of other information management services.  With facilities in Cleveland, OH and Pittsburgh, PA they can even offer redundant data backups at the two separate locations.  With the right facilities and the expertise to provide data protection and management services, AssureVault is a rare find.