STORServer Targets SMBs With Cloud Backup

Data backup solutions specialist STORServer has revealed a move into the cloud sector after it begun offering three data protection cloud solutions geared towards small to medium-size businesses (SMBs).

Backed by the company’s data protection appliance and sold with a data recovery guarantee, STORServer is offering both private and public cloud offerings for disaster recovery, as well as managed cloud services for automated backup, archive and disaster recovery. Licensing and pricing are charged per gigabyte per year for all data that is managed in the cloud.

Cloud Backup

“As with all STORServer data protection solutions, deduplication, encryption and compression functionality are performed at no extra cost,” Bill Smoldt, president of STORServer, said in a statement. “Data transfer speed is only limited by your network connection. Regardless of the method you choose, all data is secure and recoverable at the service level that you require.”

The backup, archive and disaster recovery to a public cloud solution is available to any facility and does not require an IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) or STORServer installation. However, it does require purchase and installation of software clients and database agents. Like disaster recovery to a public cloud, this service includes a storage-based (cost per gigabyte or terabyte) fee for copying and storing backup or archive data to a certified STORServer public service provider.

The disaster recovery to a private cloud option, available to existing TSM and STORServer customers, includes a STORServer Backup Appliance for automated disaster recovery that is configured to the organisation’s daily backup requirements. The disaster recovery to a private cloud option packages a second appliance as the target to copy the primary TSM or STORServer backup appliance.

The third option, disaster recovery to a public cloud, includes a storage-based (cost per gigabyte or terabyte) fee for copying and storing backup or archive data to a certified STORServer public service provider, and is aimed at business looking for a completely “hands-off” solution for backup, archive and disaster recovery because of limited IT resources. The service, which provides a unit-based monthly or annual service charge for copying backup or archive data to a remote location, does not require additional onsite hardware or software investment.

Growing Market

The 2012 cloud services market grew to $45 billion (£29bn) as at least 6 million midmarket companies entered the cloud market for the first time last year, and the global market will continue to grow at 28 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2015 to a forecast of $95 billion (£62n), according to a recent report from hosting and cloud services enablement specialist Parallels.

Data protection and disaster recovery planning is a priority but remains a challenge for many small businesses, according to the results of a March survey of more than 1,000 SMB IT professionals by software developer Spiceworks.

Reliability and security are the top two priorities for SMBs considering hosted backup solutions. Of those currently using or planning to implement a private, hybrid or public cloud backup platform, 77 percent prefer a private or hybrid approach, while 23 percent favour a public cloud offering.

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Originally published on eWeek.