Comments on: Online Backup: One Horror Story, Thousands of Successes

By: David Dempsey

David Dempsey — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:29:42 +0000

I agree with the comment that managing the process of data backup and disaster recovery is as important if not more important than the actual system in place. This is also the most challenging aspect of offering your own data backup service. It is when small business people understand this that they begin to understand the value of a managed backup service.

David Dempsey
Managed Data
http://www.managed-data.com

By: Sumo Backup

Sumo Backup — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:56:31 +0000

We had a lot of people who were concerned about storing their data in the cloud. So we created a feature that would allow our online backup software to simultaneously create local AND remote copies of the backups. Just as an added layer of comfort.

By: Katie Braband

Katie Braband — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:12:05 +0000

Some great tips on keeping customers’ data safe. Datto solutions have all bases covered, providing on-site storage in addition to off-site at two remote, redundant data centers (located in California and Connecticut). Easy, affordable, and an attractive reseller program. Check us out and feel free to email me.

kbraband@dattobackup.com
http://www.dattobackup.com

By: Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:25:43 +0000

Rob: Thank you for offering the update. And good to see Carbonite on record with their own blog post sharing the facts. The Carbonite folks were kind enough to call me Friday night but I missed the original voicemail and have since been traveling. I owe them a return call to see if there are any other updates/clarifications.

By: Rob Steenwyk

Rob Steenwyk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:32:48 +0000

Interesting story, but it looks like it isn’t quite as serious as what the Boston Globe said. See this post from the CEO of Carbonite, http://carbonite.com/blog/post/2009/03/A-Sad-Commentary-on-Web-Journalism.aspx

Basically, this happened over a year ago and they *only* lost 54 clients data. Obviously, egg on Carbonites face, but not nearly as bad as 7500.

By: Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:20:51 +0000

I’m not a backup expert, but I also wonder if accreditation and standards like SAS 70 enter the picture here. Are there specific “standards” (whether certification or accreditation) that backup providers need to adhere to in order to avoid (or mitigate) a horror story?

By: Lori Salow Marshall

Lori Salow Marshall — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:04:34 +0000

Agree with the comments. Data that is backed up in the context of a service offering has to be treated as if it were the only instance of that data – with the requisite system redundancies that never allow a single point of failure. Hardware will fail – simple as that. Sound operational procedures, central policy management and process implementation (with the support of solid software) ensures safety of one’s data. I find the concept of suing a hardware vendor for a failure somewhat oxymoronic…

By: Rich Forsen

Rich Forsen — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:37:56 +0000

Joe, all I can say is “WOW”. As a provider of online storage solutions to the SMB market (actually including Intronis, starting in April!) we always encourage our VARs that the value is as much the oversight and testing of the solutions as it is the providing of it. Questions that should be asked certainly right up front include who backs up the backup? Are their data centers completely mirrored? Also, using a hybrid solution like Kaseya and Zenith do for their BUDR systems where there’s an onsite component and an offsite component contribute to better piece of mind for everyone concerned. Bottom line – make sure it’s centrally managed and reported and that you can easily test every once in awhile and make sure the backups are always in more than one place!

By: toddsw

toddsw — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:34:54 +0000

Fully test the recovery options the provider offers before you buy.