Outsource for success

Many organisations choose to involve a third party disaster recovery solutions provider as part of their disaster recovery policy. Why? Simply because a fully managed data backup and restore service - one that protects servers and the vital data they carry - provides essential peace of mind, for any business, large or small and affordable data protection. Outsourcing takes the pressure off.

Business continuity and IT professionals today have to contend with an ever decreasing data recovery window due to increased business demands. Moreover, traditional tape devices for data recovery are not time-efficient.

Datashare Solutions - a name synonymous with quality business continuity solutions - has developed Cerberus Managed Services, enabling its clients to concentrate on their core business operations.

Cerberus - up close and technical

Cerberus is based on hard disk technology for improved reliability and rapid data restoration should servers and/or the site at which they are based be compromised.

Datashare's Cerberus service essentially replicates critical data onto a dedicated server (or servers) - the Image Gateway Server (IGWS) - at the client's site and this is replicated once again to an off-site Cerberus server (or servers) called the Image Data Centre Server (IDCS) at a specified back up location. A single IGWS can cope with up to 7 servers and multiple IGWSs may be installed to cover as many client servers as necessary.

Following a systems audit, an imaging process takes a copy of all data stored on the server onto IGWS and IDCS. This copy includes the operating system, hardware configuration information and applications for optimum resilience.

Post imaging (or seeding), specified critical data is captured by the IGWS at set intervals in 'snapshot' form. In turn this data is synchronised with the remote IDCS so secure off-site data is constantly updated.

Datashare's Management Control Centre monitors processes 24:7 and operators are alerted of any failure in replication so that remedial steps may be taken immediately - averting problems before they manifest themselves.

Should any crisis affect the protected servers, Cerberus provides equivalent servers upon which client data is restored and physically restores the data within pre-determined timescales - the data recovery window.

Providing a rapid managed data recovery service, the Cerberus system is invaluable within any IT disaster recovery policy. And with parameters tailored to suit your scale of operations and specific business objectives, it provides cost-effective and reliable solutions.

Disaster recovery testimonials

"Since our full disaster in 2007 when Datashare recovered our systems using their excellent Cerberus, we have been so impressed with the overall standard of service they provide, we have awarded them with our full hardware break fix contract covering over 35 servers."

Thereza Snyman, IT Director

"Outsourcing our IT Department to Datashare was an excellent strategic decision having provided significant improvements in infrastructure management."

Andy Walles, IT. Design Council

Further details about Datashare's Cerberus services may be obtained at: http://www.datasharesolutions.com/cerberus_whitepaper.doc alternatively please contact us to discuss your IT disaster recovery policy and see how we can assist with hard working and value-packed business continuity solutions.