Author: jeromeandhoward

Anecdotal evidence gathered by DCIG suggests that 50 percent or more of all companies deploying disk-based storage systems in multiple sites as backup targets are also opting to purchase replication software that replicates data between sites for enhanced data protection. For many companies, this purchase may represent their first foray into replication of any kind. As a result, it’s not surprising that many are unprepared for the types of questions to ask when selecting replication software or what to expect from the accompanying management software.

Overland Storage’s recent acquisition of the Snap Server line of NAS storage products from Adaptec breathes new life into a product line that had all but faded from view. Adaptec’s lack of focus on the Snap Server line coupled with its changing message about what it intended to do with it made Snap Server a logical acquisition target for Overland Storage, which was actively looking to add NAS to its portfolio of disk-based backup products. But now that Overland Storage has it, the big job of explaining how Snap Server fits into customer backup environments falls to Steve Rogers, Overland Storage’s Director of Product & Solutions Marketing.

Our understanding of LTO-4 tape drive encryption is that individual tape drive vendors may encrypt data in different manners. We cautioned that if you have not standardized on an LTO-4 tape drive vendor, an LTO-4 tape cartridge encrypted by one vendor’s drive may not be readable on another’s LTO-4 tape drive. Our specific quote was “So even if all your tape drives are LTO-4, if they are from different vendors, an LTO tape encrypted by one tape drive may not work in another.”

While SaaS (Software as a Service) gets most of the press, SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is finding its way into increasing numbers of corporate data centers. Parallel SCSI is a proven and reliable data transfer standard and serves the data center well, but all good things must eventually come to an end. With U320 parallel SCSI being the last stop on the SCSI roadmap, and with the advantages SAS has to offer over parallel SCSI, SAS is almost a certainty for the industry at large and your company specifically.

In a previous blog entry we discussed different technologies available to encrypt backup tapes and the unlimited liabilities associated with the breach of an unencrypted backup tape. Making sure the data on that tape is encrypted, however, is not an automatic cure-all. After all, encryption is only as strong as your key management and, in some states, encrypting backup tapes is no longer enough to protect your company from future risks.

Even if you do not closely monitor the data storage space, chances are still above average that you have seen headlines about BNY Mellon Bank losing unencrypted backup tapes and the ensuing media storm that surrounded this disaster. Since that loss occurred, the aftermath has expanded to affect clients from two other banks. Data losses can occur for any reason. They could be the work of a well-disciplined, external network attack or simply stumbling corporate negligence. In either case, it is unfortunately customers who suffer most as their personal information is compromised.

Overland Storage’s ULTAMUS RAID near-line data protection products and REO SERIES disk-based backup solutions provide a solid starting point for addressing customers’ data protection requirements. However, Pendekanti astutely points out that the market is ravenous for innovation and it’s obvious from recent management changes that Overland Storage feels the need to pick up the pace to become more competitive in the rapidly changing data protection market.