INTELLIGENT DATACENTRES
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• 3-2-1 rule can address any scenario by ensuring data is backed up in multiple locations and recoverable
• A hybrid solution merges advantages of on-site backup with high availability offered by off-site replication
• Backups do not offer same speed for recovery time but are portable and require lower storage
• Because of each remote office ’ s needs there are no roadmaps for architecture
• Budgetary constraints often just allow for use of backups
• Cloud is now suitable option to move and store backup and replicated data
• It is widely understood and accepted that no two locations ever look exactly same
Organisations often end up choosing computing power at the DR site . Backups between taking on-site backups , writing do not offer the same speed for recovery backups off-site or doing replicas both on time objectives , but are more flexible and off-site , instead of considering how they and portable and require lower storage could utilise them all . consumption .
There is the long-promoted 3-2-1 rule for Backups can be copied on different availability that can be the best solution in support media and are much more this situation . It states that there should be : manageable when addressing day-to-day 3 copies of important data , on 2 different recovery scenarios typical in remote and media , with 1 off-site . branch office environments .
The 3-2-1 rule is highly versatile
With a large number of sites and locations , and can address just about any failure companies need to make a choice about scenario imaginable by ensuring that where to do their backups and replication . all data is both backed up in multiple This can be a challenge because some locations , and also quickly recoverable . sites may require replicas , others may This approach means that companies do need backups as well , and they all need to not have to worry about getting locked have their individual specifications and into any particular technology or specific requirements considered . vendor and can stay flexible as their IT Having backups taken on-site provides environment evolves and expands . some important benefits :
Replicas are more suitable than
• backup times are fast because no backups in true disaster situations , information needs to be sent off-site when the recovery time objective needs • restore times are fast because all data is to be reduced to a minimum and all very close to the host production loads need to be moved to • new replication features open up new another site in the least amount of time options such as creating a backup file and possible . Replicated virtual machines are replicating a running virtual machine at inventoried and ready-to-run in their own the same time right , so when the worst happens , they can be failed over very quickly on dedicated Unfortunately , the best solutions for a and similar hardware that ’ s pre-deployed remote office rarely line up to what most on the disaster recovery site . companies can afford to implement . It This is why replication needs a higher is widely understood and accepted that investment when it comes to storage and replication grants the greatest availability benefits for remote and branch offices because of the fast recovery times , but budgetary constraints often just allow for the use of backups .
Generally speaking , setting up backups is a very versatile and cost-effective solution . Setting up replicated virtual machines grants prompt business continuity , but requires a higher infrastructure investment .
The real challenge is finding the right solutions for rolling out across diverse remote office environments . No two locations ever look exactly the same . They often are designed and deployed on different dates and include their own individual requirements .
This challenge can make it very difficult to roll out global backup and recovery policies across an entire organisation . It can also lead to increased inefficiencies and longer restore times .
With a cost-effective hybrid solution in place that merges the advantages of on-site backup with the high availability and security offered by off-site replication , IT leaders can take control of this complex environment . They can ensure that everybody plays by the same rules and , regardless of the location , can recover data as quickly as the datacentre at headquarters .
Rawad Zaki is Country Manager Saudi Arabia at Veeam Software
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