Tag Archives: Cloud Backup

The Theory of Constraints and Cloud Backup

September 29, 2016 Sam Broadbent

Dr. Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt [1] in his Theory of Constraints [2] stated that the strength of any chain, process or system is determined by its weakest link. Successful systems identify the constraints and effects, the changes necessary to remove them. Small and medium enterprises that are IT constrained must, therefore, make an effort to change their operative methodologies and harness the cloud to strengthen their business operations. Interestingly, a number of cloud based IT services are emerging to support IT constrained organisations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) options available in the cloud allow SMBs harness expensive infrastructure at nominal costs to exploit available, in-house IT skills. Unlimited instances of servers are made available virtually and cost effectively. SMBs can use this IT infrastructure to build new versions of applications without investing in additional hardware resources. The IT resources can also be used for hosting enterprise websites and reaching out globally to customers leaving the non-core activities of website maintenance, such as traffic monitoring to experts who provide the infrastructure.

IaaS is priced on a pay-as-you-go model and organisations have to pay only for usage of instances of servers and the software environment loaded, in databases or web servers, application development environments or the amount of network traffic in and out of the server during usage.

Software as a Service (SaaS) options in the cloud are attractive to SMBs that do not want to invest money in purchasing software licenses. Software access is provided on demand and deployed over the Internet to the local system. The software runs behind a firewall on a local area network or a personal computer with the SaaS provider holding the license for the software. The pay-as-you-go model is advantageous to the user. The software is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection. There is no local server installation required and can be rapidly scaled and eminently reliable. System maintenance and security improvements are the responsibility of the SaaS vendor.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) delivers a computing platform and a solution stack to the IT constrained organisation. PaaS is an uncomplicated offering of web-based applications and services. The user does not have to worry about the underlying hardware or the complexities of the software being used to deliver the service.

PaaS includes facilities for application design, application development, testing, deploying and hosting of application services for collaboration, web service integration, marshalling, database integration, security, scalability, storage, persistence, state management, application versioning and facilitation of a host of other services. All these solutions are provisioned and delivered via the web using the Internet.

Backup Technology Limited (BTL), based in Leeds, UK, is a globally trusted cloud backup company, which provides simple, automatic, secure, encrypted cloud backup and storage services. Visit www.backup-technology.com

[1] — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliyahu_M._Goldratt

[2] — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_constraints

Finding the Balance Between Value and Cost of Data Protection

September 4, 2016 Callum Huddlestone

The need to align value to cost of data protection is not new. What is new is the pressure for data protection in cost effective ways. The emergence of cloud computing is largely responsible for increasing pressures and redefining ways in which data can be protected.

IT administrators in charge of Information governance strategies in the cloud must:

Streamline processes;
Reduce costs and risks;
Leverage information effectively, and;
Evolve effective information delivery protocols.

IT Administrators migrating data to cloud storage servers, begin by assessing the available backup and archiving infrastructures in use and match it with policies and processes to arrive at an understanding of what needs to be done. They prepare a recovery service catalogue that aligns business needs to backup and archive solutions. This leads to the creation of high level architectures for the environment and development of business cases for illustrating current and projected costs, estimated savings and firm recommendations to the management for investing in cloud based backup infrastructures.

Therefore, cloud solution architectures that align value to cost of data protection, are considered to be critical to business processes and decisions that impact organisation growth, risk and profitability. Information optimised cloud backup and storage solutions are built around concepts of appropriate infrastructure, data management and data delivery. Tiered storage and information centric data storage solutions and services that pan across heterogeneous environments are desired for driving down costs and aligning value of data to protection of data. In short, the cloud platform is viewed as a means for storage managers to logically transmit data to secure storage tiers for matching information attributes, establishing enterprise wide business continuity and managing data stores from a central location with user-friendly application interfaces.

Businesses need to take care of their information assets in cost effective ways. Forward-looking organisations take this stewardship seriously and ensure quality, compliance and information protection in the cloud. The cost of data protection is rightly aligned with data protection as they appreciate that data breaches are expensive in terms of reputation, brand image, customer satisfaction and litigation under the different regulations that govern the enterprise. They leverage the best practises of the cloud to meet industry standards and data security objectives. They create value based information governance objectives that clarifies individual roles and responsibilities and provides necessary guidelines for effective management of information in the cloud across the enterprise.

Backup Technology Limited is proud to provide a value-cost balanced cloud backup services to small and large enterprises globally. Why not give our services a try? Contact BTL for more details — www.Backup-Technology.com

Importance of Cloud Application Programming Interface (API)

June 8, 2016 Kris Price

As technology is becoming increasingly dependent on the cloud, Application Programming Interface (API) in cloud computing has come into focus. APIs can be understood as the technical facilitator of the cloud. APIs enable users to write applications on the cloud by interpreting the user commands and converting it into the necessary semantics that can be understood by the back-end systems. An API describes a certain operation in the system while providing syntax to achieve the same. It also gives information to the user about the kinds of inputs and outputs the system generates when a certain API is used. They can either be in a specific programming language or exist in a standard language like WSDL. It includes a set of defined protocols, which interact with the underlying system. It can be said, an ineffective API for a cloud would be equivalent to having a desktop computer without a keyboard or a mouse!

APIs can offer several features, which in turn increases the flexibility of the cloud. It allows the user to scale up or down the computational power as required and provides the user a rich set of features to work with. It plays a vital role in maintaining the cloud platform security and helps with rapid cloud access. The API takes care of the integration of a system as well as the portability and interpretability of an application on the cloud. Cloud service providers work very carefully to develop a robust APIs to provide the user with an exceptional cloud computing experience.

An example of a cloud API is Representational State Transfer (REST). It follows a SOA (Service oriented architecture) model, which allows for web service development using Object Oriented programming language. Most REST APIs communicate to the system through a web browser or web servers. Since cloud computing is distributive in nature, REST APIs use the web as the ideal solution for the implementation of API on the cloud. These APIs are typically catered towards a certain kind of service model like PaaS or SaaS, which focus on providing software solutions to the customers. Online Maps are a classic example of REST based SaaS API. For users trying to create applications for taxi services or moving services, these APIs can help build the necessary platform with their varied tools! It can help with the dispatch of drivers or movers real-time upon customer request while taking into account the proximity of the service provider.

APIs form an integral part of the cloud ecosystem. Since it plays a critical role in deciding the type of service model a business will require, choosing the right API, is crucial for successful application development!

As a cloud computing, cloud backup, and disaster recovery company, Backup Technology is happy to assist you with your cloud computing needs, including APIs. Contact us here: https://www.backup-technology.com/about-btl/contact

Should Financial Stability of Cloud Service Providers be a Big Factor in the Selection Process?

June 2, 2016 Callum Huddlestone

Last year, Gartner predicted that we’ll get to a tipping point in the early 2018 when conventional data centres will not fulfil the requirements of “digital business”. They have also predicted that a long-term price conflict among the main cloud service providers such as Amazon AWS, Google and Microsoft Azure. It seems that companies are willing to lose money to secure a slice of the market share.

Taking the Plunge:

Businesses of all sizes are shifting to the cloud, however, it is not a mega-migration move. A steady and stable, incremental replacement of traditional data centre-based apps, along with cloud-based infrastructure and cloud-based communications to operate those applications that are not included as a part of service.

The speed of this change depends on on the potential for expense savings in the cloud, and on the “last mile”, which is the effort needed to make that move. However, risk is another big factor because data loss could happen when moving to the cloud with a not well planned migration.

Cloud Risks:

In the past, there was a few apprehension about the reliability of cloud infrastructure. In my opinion, cloud has gained excellent level of trust. Financial stability of a cloud service provider has become a big factor. In recent reports, behemoth Amazon reported loss from cloud services due to “aggressive investments”. Amazon’s deep pockets can absorb such losses, and it will not go out of business any time soon. However, it can not continue to loss forever, and might increase the service fees dramatically.

Cloud Backup:

Remember, cloud backup is not just backing up your data in the cloud, but it is about protection of data that is already present in the cloud. It also means that the original data can be pulled back to the local data centre.

Avoiding Data Theft:

Cloud backup services help you avoid data theft. Companies are more serious in the matter of data protection. They need a storage and storage processes that ensure no data loss. Companies can use data archiving services as another way to store valuable information, preventing theft. Data is archived permanently. Archiving frees up real-time storage space. As such, companies can guarantee the accuracy of the information and archived data ensures a reliable long-term storage option.

Choosing Service Provider:

Companies must check the cloud service providers before choosing them. Customers face problems when their service providers change the backup options. Such companies should be avoided.

Data Recovery Issues:

Recovery of the original files from storage service is very important. Users are also concerned about the health of files when these are recovered from the backup services. The backup facility should allow the customers to retrieve the original files without any damage. Different types of cloud backup services can be used to prevent data loss during storage and recovery process.

Backup Technology launches ClouDRaaS, a one click Disaster Recovery Service

March 7, 2016 jane robertson

Backup Technology today launches ClouDRaaS, a new ‘one click’ Cloud Disaster Recovery service offering cost-effective, automated DR.

ClouDRaaS from BTL is a disaster recovery service that solves the problem of production-ready DR with one simple click of the mouse. It is based on hypervisor-based replication software from Zerto which does away with snapshots and delivers DR that never impacts performance, with RPOs of seconds and RTOs of minutes.

One of the largest providers of further education in London is already using ClouDRaaS from BTL. Havering Sixth Form College, which has approximately 2400 full-time students, says it has resulted in an improved approach to DR.

Graham Francis, Director of Continuous Improvement at Havering Sixth Form College, explains: “It’s given us an enterprise class DR solution for our production infrastructure with a predictable pricing structure. We didn’t have to upgrade our network, storage or servers and we are seeing RPOs of seconds, with significantly reduced RTOs achieved during the regular testing. ClouDRaaS fits seamlessly into our existing infrastructure and is delivering extremely high service levels.”

ClouDRaaS from BTL offers the following benefits:

Quick and remote deployment – DR within days
One click recovery and rollback of applications
Granular application protection
Certified annual managed invocation testing for compliance
Reliable invocation and testing methodology
Range of options for invocation and connectivity
Replication of any environment regardless of storage vendor or architecture
Simple pricing model
Eliminates the impact of disasters

Matthew Parker, Managing Director, Backup Technology, said: “ClouDRaaS offers that first, safe, step into the cloud by giving you the opportunity to safely evaluate and test the water without having to give up control over production applications in the data centres you are using. It makes effective Disaster Recovery possible within the private cloud, to the public cloud and in the public cloud and because it’s based on virtual replication and is storage and hypervisor agnostic, there’s no need to worry about availability, performance or scalability.”

Sean Casey, Director, Zerto, said: “The global cloud services market is quickly evolving and expanding to include new offerings such as Disaster Recovery as a Service. Cloud service providers have a unique opportunity to help customers overcome inflexible IT infrastructures that are not compatible with disparate technologies because of vendor lock-in. Zerto Virtual Replication is purpose-built to work with any virtualized IT and cloud environment to make it fast and easy to achieve optimal levels of production workload mobility, which is enabling our partners to increase their revenue growth and improve service levels.”

BTL is part of UK cloud hosting solutions company iomart and offers backup and Disaster Recovery from a network of Tier 1 data centres, with industry-leading SLAs and the widest range of ISO accreditations. iomart’s cloud and backup solutions are certified for connection to public sector organisations via PSN and N3.

For more information read the BTL ClouDRaaS datasheet.

To speak to us call 0800 999 3600, email sales@backup-technology.co.uk or Tweet us @backuptech

“Asigra Partner” Engagement Levels

November 23, 2015 Kris Price

Asigra is recognised in the cloud backup and data storage industry as one of the most reliable software to protect data. It is impressive that Asigra gives respect to its resellers and declares them “Partners” of Asigra. Asigra understands well that fact that business environment demands effective partnerships that can support and expand its wings. It is the reason why partners of Asigra are given responsibility to understand business needs of clients and provide them the relevant services. It provides support its partners without discrimination and help them in providing managed services to customers. Partners are given the opportunity to sell Asigra software along with its supportive tools.

Partners of Asigra have made it easy to provide data backup and recovery services across all platforms. Channel partners are fascinated by the Asigra Assurance Partner Program and are fully engaged to sell the Asigra software. All partners, who have signed up to this assurance program are able to sell services to customers without any competition from Asigra, as it only leases the software on a seat basis. Partners can get the support they need from Asigra and offer data backup and storage service with recurring revenue based on amount of data calculated on a per GB.

Partner program developed by Asigra has covered the gap that was noticed in the market. Partners are able to avoid huge expenses of software development and maintenance by simply signing up as a partner. Such partners are given the opportunity to use or add Asigra’s centralised online backup and recovery system to entertain their customers. With the help of Asigra, partners are able to gain confidence of clients without investing great amount of resources.

Asigra offers friendly environment to partners. It does not interfere in dealings of partners. This means, Asigra does not compete with its partners and never sells actual backup services and does not have a data centre. Asigra makes certain that its partners are given the possibility to market their services in the market. Asigra gives favour to partners and assists them from start to finish. It gives training, guideline, advise, and required material so that they know the product before marketing.

Luckily, Asigra partners have all the tools to provide high tech services. Customers interested in cloud backup and recovery services develop internal local cloud, multi-tenant public cloud or a hybrid cloud that offers both public and private clouds. Asigra’s partners have competence to fulfil requirements of customers accordingly. Customers develop trust when they are given options to select involvement level according to their business demands.

It is true that partners of Asigra get high payouts and profits. There are various partner levels and intensive commission programs. Asigra gives authority to Named Partners. Partner levels include:
• VAR Hybrid Partners – partners can resell software;
• MSP Hybrid Partners – these are able to resell software and manage their own vaults;
• 3D Hybrid Partners – these are given the authority to resell platform, supervise wholesale vault, and improve cloud infrastructure.
Partners can select one or more program to enlist their business plan in.

Asigra software is agentless and is responsible to provide all inclusive cloud backup and storage services for databases, desktops, servers, mobile devices and email. Asigra handles all mobile devices such as Android, iPad, tablets and iPhone. Partners of Asigra can resell data protection services that customers demand for hot databases, virtual servers, email and more.