Storasphere® Cloud Backup from InfoQuest.Com

Storasphere is a cloud backup and recovery service which has been developed to address the drawbacks of the traditional tape based approach. Storasphere's agentless architecture makes it easy to protect every server, desktop, virtual machine, laptop, tablet, and smart phone in your organization (even if you have multiple locations).

Affordable, Includes Advanced Options

Storasphere is affordable and includes many advanced options that competitors don't/can't, such as: an agentless architecture that eliminates the need to install software on each protected device, local storage options for LAN speed restore, virtual machine protection, continuous data protection, pattern based retention rules with up to 10 years of data retention, initial data load from external device or USB, FIPS 140-2 security certification, backup life-cycle management, portable disk restore, and data deduplication.

Supported Platforms

Storasphere is more than just file protection. Storasphere has been designed for the distributed network environment (desktops, laptops and servers). Storasphere comes by default with the ability to backup a wide range of applications and databases including: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, Oracle (including SAP-certified backup/restore), DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, VSS-support, System State and Services Database, Netware, AS/400, Linux/Unix, MAC OS X. In addition, Storasphere integrates natively with VMware, Hyper-V and XenSource virtual machine servers.

Key Benefits of Storasphere

• Supports the entire digital footprint (storage, servers, desktops, laptops, remote tables, and smart phones)
• Support for leading operating systems (Windows, Linux, Unix, Novell, Macintosh OS X, System i)
• Support for leading applications (VMware, XenServer, MS-SharePoint, MS-Exchange, MS-SQL, SAP, Oracle, DB2, PostgreSQL, Lotus Notes and Dominos, GroupWise, MySQL)
• Quicker recovery times in the event of lost data
• Managed backup and recovery service 24hours/day x 7 days/week x 365 days/year
• Backup of changed data (incremental forever) significantly reduces backup windows and bandwidth requirements
• Frees up IT staff to focus on other projects that are transformation to a business
• Sophisticated scheduling capabilities can easily facilitate the backup of laptops
• Cost savings compared with traditional backup and restore methods
• Local restore, cloud restore, portable device restore, restore from replicated system

Who uses Storasphere

While Storasphere is suited for all types of businesses (varying in size and industry vertical), it is typically adopted in the following market vertical segments:

• Banking and finance
• Health care services
• Real estate/property management
• Manufacturing
• Professional Services (legal, accounting, insurance)
• Government organizations and departments
• Education
• Retail

These market segments collaborate and store valuable data distributed across multiple sites. Maintaining off-site copies of their data is important to meet business needs, government regulations and compliance policies (sarbanes-Oxley, HIPPA and SEC).

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Agentless Architecture Eliminates Software Expense

Storasphere® Cloud Backup is a holistic data management solution that encompasses traditional and innovative technologies in a single code base and common platform, protecting everything from laptops to data centers.

Eliminate the need to manage multiple point solutions

Single turnkey software to install, manage and upgrade, eliminating the need to manage numerous point solutions to ensure your data is protected and easy to recover. Storasphere software even self-upgrades, so there is no time-consuming and resource-intensive pushing of agents or updates out to hundreds or thousands of remote-sites, servers and applications.

Minimize downtime with our agentless advantage

Storasphere's agentless architecture assures that you experience no application disruption or downtime for implementation or upgrades; no security risk because of the open port in the firewall for the agent(s) that can be hacked; and no server resources (CPU cycles, RAM, etc.) being wasted for agent software.

Recover your data quickly & successfully

Backup is the means to an end but not the end. The only reason for data backup is to be able to recover data in case of a disaster (loss of a file, disk, machine or the entire facility). The data has to be conditioned constantly to ensure restorability. The following factors can cause data corruption:

• Disc malfunction
• Disc controller malfunction
• Bad sectors on the disc
• Filesystem corruption

The worst time to find out that you cannot recover your data is when you need to recover the data. Storasphere offers lower Recovery Time Objectives (RPOs) and improved Recovery Point Objectives using Storasphere's autonomic healing and restore validation functionality, providing an automated method to constantly monitor and repair backup files before data corruption becomes a serious issue. Protect critical information on a 24x7 basis, automatically keeping data in a valid state and ensuring top readiness for any restore operation.

Storasphere Cloud Backup is comprised of two main components:

Storasphere DS-Client: Installed at the end customer’s premises, to collect data from all servers, desktops, laptops, structured applications and raw/unstructured files that need protection. The DS-Client is the data collector.

Storasphere DS-System: Installed at the off-site datacenter, or core of the cloud, where the protected data resides. The DS-System is the data aggregator.

This one-to-many architecture (one Storasphere DS-System serving many Storasphere DS-Clients) enables Storasphere to support additional backup loads from multiple operating systems, servers, databases, applications and storage environments.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Include Key Storasphere Features at no Extra Cost

For businesses focused on data protection, Storasphere transforms the way businesses manage and protect their data by delivering market leading cloud backup solutions that seamlessly and efficiently manage, scale and deliver data protection services.

Businesses rely on Storasphere Cloud Backup features including:

• An agentless backup architecture
• Security and Compliance
• Deduplication
• Mass Deployment
• Continuous Data Protection

An agentless backup architecture

Storasphere Cloud Backup requires no agents, which inherently makes it easier to install and support than legacy backup and recovery solutions.

Security and Compliance

Storasphere Cloud Backup is the most secure agentless data protection platform in the industry.

Storasphere encrypts the data in flight and at rest from cradle to grave.

• FIPS 140-2 Certified
• From laptop or remote office sites (Storasphere DS-Client) to central repositories (Storasphere DS-System or BLM)
• At rest in the centralized repositories
• Data destroyed with certificate of destruction

Deduplication

Storasphere Cloud Backup software is designed to alleviate the challenges of backing up and recovering data into the cloud. Storasphere Cloud Backup offers unprecedented efficiencies to the data being captured, ingested, stored and transmitted over the network using the following methods:

• De-duplication techniques
• Backup and transmission of only new/changed data (incremental forever)
• Advanced Compression techniques

Mass Deployment

Storashpere Cloud Backup enables IT Ops to create, deploy and configure Storasphere software simultaneously to thousands of laptops, desktops, virtual machines and remote sites using templates. Leveraging Microsoft® Active DirectoryTM administrators can deploy the Storasphere software in silent mode and configure the software automatically to ensure minimum time consumption for end users with similar information (configuration, schedules, backup sets, and retention rules).

Mass Deployment makes backup & restores easier to administer in the following way:

• Automatic installation using Microsoft’s Active Directory and MSI files for DS-Mobile Clients.
• Automatic installation and configuration of Storasphere DS-Client software based on templates. Storasphere offers flexibility of installation through XML configuration files that can be generated, edited and saved for future installations.
• Reduced administration tasks through templates. Template-based mass deployment allows for standardization, simpler administration of accounts and troubleshooting.
• Silent mode installation (low touch). Use the MSI Storasphere DS-Mobile Client Installation to deploy the Storasphere DS-Mobile Client in silent mode or with a reduced set of installation parameters. Use the XML configuration files to hide any screens of the Storasphere DS-Client software installation, and set a predefined value for any parameters that would require input during the installation.
• All of the above translate into reduced operational costs and reduced human capital requirements.

Continous Data Protection

Storasphere’s agentless CDP feature allows unlimited granularity since users can have their data recovered from an infinite number of Recovery Point Objectives (RPO). CDP protected files are backed up whenever they are saved to disk by users at the source computers. It also continuously monitors the changes on the specified target files and backs up the changes as soon as they are detected. Storasphere CDP is implemented as a backup option and can be applied to file systems and email backup sets to improve recovery SLA of critical data.

The benefits of using CDP include:

• Increase SLA compliance. CDP provides the user with the peace of mind that the latest version of critical data has been backed up as soon as they save it on their hard drive and is available to be recovered.
• Flexible RPOs. Traditional backups can only restore data to the point at which the backup was taken. With CDP, there are no backup schedules. When protected data is saved to disk, it is also asynchronously written to the central storage repository (Storasphere DS-System) or to the Cloud. CDP keeps not only the latest saved version of protected data but also keeps track of the previous versions, allowing data recovery from a wider range of time.
• Immediate protection of critical data. Once protected data is saved to disk, it is backed up locally (if local storage is available) and is simultaneously sent encrypted over the Wide Area Network (WAN) to be stored offsite in the centralized repository. Backup window and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) are reduced to zero.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Protect Servers, Desktops, and Laptops

In most organizations, data from mobile users (whether on the road or plugged into the LAN) does not reside in the company’s central data center, making it difficult for IT administrators to properly back up and safeguard this data.

In many cases, information stored on laptops is critical to a company’s business operations, but it is often left up to end users to protect and safeguard this data. This leaves companies exposed to considerable risk from irreparable data loss or lengthy recoveries. Adding to these challenges is the fact that backup applications for laptop users often require continuous maintenance and support – such as administering backup jobs and restoring lost files. This places a large burden on already taxed IT departments.

Storasphere Cloud Backup makes it easier to protect data across the enterprise, whether on laptops or desktops.

Simple, fast, cost-effective deployment

Agentless technology eliminates the need to install software on every target desktop machine you need to protect. Pay only for the total amount of compressed data from across your enterprise – no matter how many desktop/laptop machines are protected.

Quick and efficient data recovery

Restore critical data quickly from the local storage on the LAN or from the online vault in the enterprise data center. You can backup while restoring, or restore while backing up.

Centralized control

• With Storasphere Cloud Backup, IT staff can manage the online vault and data repository, track backup consumption for each user, and perform other high-level administrative tasks. Web-based status reports assure accountability, verifying that all backups occurred as scheduled.
• The central hub has a complete view of the entire LAN from one interface that is easily integrated with existing SNMP-based monitoring and notification systems.
• Help Desk staff can connect to laptops over the network to schedule backup jobs and restore lost files.

The Benefits of an Storasphere Cloud Backup Solution from InfoQuest

For the Manager:

• Reduces Cost (buy less software, hardware, maintenance
• Reduces Risk (data encryption, protects all desktops, laptops, remote sites, datacenters)
• Improves Operations (reduce backup windows, higher success rates, detects and fixes errors)
• Achieves Flexibility (physical and virtual machines, multiple platforms, scalable to PB’s)
• Regulation Compliance (e.g. HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, HITECH, more)

For the Technician:

• Agentless (no agents to manage, backup as many servers / PCs as you want)
• Data De-duplication (at file and block level)
• Continuous Data Protection (CDP)
• Data compression (LZOP or ZLIB)
• Encryption (in-flight and at-rest (up to AES-256)
• FIPS 140-2 Certification for Backup
• Multi platform support (Windows, Mac OS X, SUSE/Red Hat Linux)
• Virtual machine and VMware GSX/ESX/ESX 3i backup support
• Hot database backup support – MS SQL, MS Exchange, Oracle, MySQL, DB2 etc.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Protect Virtual Servers running VMware, Xen, Hyper-V, or Parallels

Server consolidation is driving deployment of virtualization across enterprises of all sizes. However, to fully realize the benefits of virtualization, organizations must consider their information recovery management strategy.

Traditional backup and recovery strategies are not adequate to deliver the granular recovery demanded by the business. More important, the cost associated with traditional or agent based technologies essentially negates many of the cost advantages of virtualization.

Traditional agent-based backup and recovery force the enterprise into a series of unattractive choices. Agent based technologies pollute the virtual environment. Agents, by their nature, lack cohesion. The need to physically install and manage agents on each application within the virtual server and each machine on the LAN is time and labor intensive. A single agent adds as much as 16% server overhead to each application. Add to that the security risk and cost of each agent and it becomes quite clear that agent-based backup and recovery dramatically impacts the TCO and performance of the virtual environment.

Storasphere Cloud Backup provides a robust feature set ideal for virtual environments

Storasphere Cloud Backup enables the enterprise to maximize their virtualization strategy while achieving superior information protection and recovery management without performance degradation.

Storasphere DS-Client agentless backup/restore has been tested and certified on a very wide range of virtualization platforms including:

• VMware VSphere 4, ESX 3.5, ESX 3.0, ESXi, Workstation and Server
• Citrix XenSource
• Microsoft Hyper-V
• Parallels and Virtuozzo Container

VM Data Protection

Storasphere Cloud Backup removes many of the traditional hassles associated with the protection and recovery of VMs. It meets new data protection requirements that VMware ESX creates by:

• Discovering new guest VMs
• Centralizing backup configuration and management
• Controlling software licensing costs
• Minimizing initial backup job configuration and ongoing management
• Providing multiple backup options
• Providing backup options specific to VMware
• Broad application and operating system support

Reigning in VMware Costs and Complexity

The often forgotten part of the equation in implementing VMware server environments is reigning in the ensuing costs and complexity that VMware introduces. Nowhere do these management costs and complexity become more evident than when a company goes to protect its guest VMs on its VMware ESX servers.

Storasphere gives you the opportunity to change that equation. By delivering the means to auto-discover guest VMs on individual VMware ESX servers and coupling that with the agentless backup of guest VMs using CDP, incremental or VMDK-based forms of backups, Storasphere fundamentally changes how companies can protect their VMware environment going forward.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Protect Multiple Locations, Business Units, Remote Offices

Traditional approaches to backup are not designed to protect data in remote office locations. Companies with remote offices are tasked with protecting data without IT resources at the remote location, while managing bandwidth costs and meeting shrinking backup windows.

Networking alone typically accounts for 30 percent or more of the total IT expenditures of an enterprise. For some companies, the recurring cost of WAN bandwidth is a show stopper in protecting data at remote sites – some choose not to implement a remote backup and recovery solution because of it.

Storasphere Cloud Backup architecture is WAN-Optimized and built around copying data from remote locations to a centralized data repository by leveraging a Public and/or Private Cloud.

Storasphere Cloud Backup is designed to protect remote office locations.

• Disk-based, block-level incremental client-side deduplication reduces backup bandwidth requirements
• Agentless architecture means no application-specific clients, easing deployment of a backup and recovery software.

The Benefits of a Storasphere Cloud Backup Solution from InfoQuest

For the Manager:

• Reduces Cost (buy less software, hardware, maintenance
• Reduces Risk (data encryption, protects all desktops, laptops, remote sites, datacenters)
• Improves Operations (reduce backup windows, higher success rates, detects and fixes errors)
• Achieves Flexibility (physical and virtual machines, multiple platforms, scalable to PB’s)
• Regulation Compliance (e.g. HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, HITECH, more)

For the Technician:

• Agentless (no agents to manage, backup as many servers / PCs as you want)
• Data De-duplication (at file and block level)
• Continuous Data Protection (CDP)
• Data compression (LZOP or ZLIB)
• Encryption (in-flight and at-rest (up to AES-256)
• FIPS 140-2 Certification for Backup
• Multi platform support (Windows, Mac OS X, SUSE/Red Hat Linux)
• Virtual machine and VMware GSX/ESX/ESX 3i backup support
• Hot database backup support – MS SQL, MS Exchange, Oracle, MySQL, DB2 etc.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.

Protect Tablets and Smartphones

In most organizations, data from table and smartphone user does not reside in the company's central data center, making it difficult for IT administrators to properly backup and safeguard this data.

In many cases, information stored on non-traditional endpoint devices is critical to a company’s business operations, but it is often left up to end users to protect and safeguard this data. Adding to these challenges is the fact that, until now, backup applications for these devices via Cloud BURR platforms simply didn’t exist.

Storasphere solves this problem by introducing a Cloud BURR-based mobile client that’s specifically built for tablets and smart phones, enabling quick backup and recovery through intuitive wizards and options. It’s so efficient and easy to use that DS-Mobile Client users can backup and recover their own data, anytime, anywhere!

Operating systems supported include:

• Google Android (Tablets and Smart Phones)
• Apple iOS (iPad, iPod, iPhone).

Mobile downloads of the app are available from:

• Apple App Store
• Android Market
• Amazon Appstore

Simple, fast, cost-effective deployment

Agentless technology eliminates the need to install software on every target endpoint device you need to protect. Pay only for the total amount of compressed data from across your enterprise – no matter how many tablets and smart phones are protected.

Quick and efficient data recovery

Restore critical data quickly from the local storage on the LAN or from the online vault in the enterprise data center. You can backup while restoring, or restore while backing up.

Centralized control

With Storasphere, IT staff can manage the online vault and data repository, track backup consumption for each user, and perform other high-level administrative tasks. Web-based status reports assure accountability, verifying that all backups occurred as scheduled. The central hub has a complete view of the entire LAN from one interface that is easily integrated with existing SNMP-based monitoring and notification systems. Help Desk staff can connect to tablets and smart phones over the network to schedule backup jobs and restore lost files.

To learn more, use the contact form on this page to connect with an InfoQuest Backup Specialist.