Baseball and Backup

There’s one position in baseball that has a lot in common with online backup – the backup catcher. As Mel Antonen writes in USA TODAY, “Backup catchers deal with little playing time, big expectations.” They are expected to stay out of the way, sit on the bench. Yet they must continually remain prepared to be called into the game.

While pitchers rarely pitch a whole game, catchers typically play the time. That means that backup catchers may play once a week. When they are needed, backup catchers are required to go from passive waiting to active play at a moments' notice. They need a combination of infinite patience and quick, effect response. Further, backup catchers are a primarily defensive position. They are relied upon to keep opposing teams from scoring. Finally, “General managers say a dependable backup isn't easy to find. And deciding what kind of backup a team needs depends on how the roster shakes down.”

So too, online backup is required to restore data infrequently. Day after day other business processes are used and referenced while online backup patiently backs up the daily changes to data and stores them securely offsite. Many of our customers forget that they have online backup until they need it. Then the online backup solution, like the backup catcher, transitions into play. With fan fair or compliant the backup solution restores critical business data back to the user to defend the team from data loss.

Business managers also know that a dependable backup isn’t easy to find. The right solution requires and understanding of the type of data to be protected, the amount of data changed daily, bandwidth and other human and technology factors that require experienced professionals to determine.

The good news is that with DataPreserve business managers have access to experienced professionals through the DataPreserve reseller channel. DataPreserve has been reliably and patiently playing backup for over five years.

Links:
Backup catchers deal with little playing time, big expectations, USA Today

Online Backup Sleight of Hand

You wouldn't call it a conspiracy, but it is strange. Online data backup and storage benefits greatly from the efficiencies of deduplication, yet many of our competitors don't mention its benefits to their customers. The reason - deduplication can be a huge money maker for these companies.

Deduplication of data is in the news daily, particularly with the recent conquest of Data Domain by EMC over NetApp. The level of passion involved in the market is evidenced by the fun video, NetApp Battles the Competition, below.

When is a Gigabyte not a Gigabyte?
So why is deduplication so important for online backup companies? The short story is that most companies bill by data size - i.e. $0.50/GB up to $10/GB and more. However a GB of data on a laptop or server is not the same GB that is stored with backup. Through the process of deduplication, data that is redundant on multiple computers or devices needs only to be stored once at the backup location. As a simple example, MS Office 2007 Office program files take up 859 MB of disk space on a computer. If these files can be backed up for 100 computers using deduplication the disk space required on the backup server would be only 859 MB. If a company paid $0.50/GB to backup these files they would pay $42.95 to backup up less than one GB of stored data or about $50/GB. Now that's good business.

While this example is simplified, the point is clear. Deduplication makes a big difference in the amount of data stored and the cost of that storage. DataPreserve Pro passes this duplication benefit on to its MSP customers to allow them to share in the profits and witness the tremendous benefits that come with the backup of multiple similar devices. The published DataPreserve Pro pricing reflects the GB size actually stored on our servers, compressed and deduplicated. So for MSPs who want to share in the profits on online backup without having the investment or headaches, outsourcing with DataPreserve makes sense financially.

Of course there are many other advantages to a backup solution with good deduplication at the source - faster backups, cleaners restores, easier management of data, etc. See this interview with Bill Andrews of ExaGrid in Forbes.

American Quality Foods Chooses DataPreserve

DataPreserve is honored to add American Quality Foods as a customer. We recently received this comment from Jason McKay, the Manager of Operations there:

"As the one responsible for the company's data, I became more and more frustrated with failing tape backups and the responsibility of taking them off-site. The decision was made to pursue an online solution. I did look at and demo'ed a few companies and made the choice to DataPreserve after just few days of running the demo. The interface used to manage backup profiles is great. Very easy to use and contains "wizards" for backing up SQL, Exchange and flat file servers. Talking to support during setup was a plus as well. Sal walked me through every screen on the interface and things were running in just a few minutes."

Patrick Hanley Recognized for Helping In-Transition Professionals

Yesterday we had the privilege of seeing Patrick Hanley, GM of Field Operations, honored for his work as founder and board member of the Southwest Job Network, formerly the Scottsdale Job Network. Patrick was awarded the Emeritus Certificate in front of the 100+ attendees at yesterday's meeting.

Patrick is a founding member of the Southwest Job Network (SJN) that began in 2002 with just 19 members. The organization helps 'in-transition' professionals navigate and master the job search process. That original core group has grown to a group with membership of over 2,000.

During his acceptance speech Patrick noted that the turnover of attendees at the meetings was high, indicating that the group is effective at helping members find employment even in difficult times.

Hat's off to Patrick who continues to play an active role in Scottsdale area business development through the SJN and the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce where he serves as Ambassador and member of several key committees.

Backup Review Reflects Online Backup Market Explosion

Backup Review (www.BackupReview.info) has been reporting on the online backup and storage market since 2004, the same time as DataPreserve launched its services. Over the years, they have maintained a steady focus on one topic - online backup and storage. As the market continues to heat up and new providers flood the Internet, Backup Review is the one rock solid piece of web-real estate that has unbiased reviews and connections to the CEOs of all the major players in the online backup game.

Backup Review was founded by Mamush Heayie over in 2004 as a portal for updated information on the then nascent online backup business. Back then, names like Carbonite and Mozy did not exist, and the biggest competitors in the market were tape backup systems and overall lack of awareness of the capabilities and benefits of online backup. Backup Review featured a then unique top 25 list of online backup companies, a mix on backup software and online backup service providers that has since emerged as a standard indicator of top players in the market.

When I spoke to Mamush via phone last week, I could tell his passion for the online backup market was undiminished with time, in spite of keeping up with growth. Explains Mamush, “We started as a home for online backup and data storage information on the web. With small dedicated staff, we have managed to create and maintain a single location where market news, blogs and other social media, and press releases can be accessed quickly. Our website also features directory, reviews and exclusive CEO interviews with many of the major players and influencers.”

Backup Review has expert editorial oversight – still important in the age of social media. This gives BackupReview.info more credibility than many blogs that may be less professional. Mamush says, "We are in business to promote online backup and data storage companies. Period."

The result of this effort is a well trafficked portal, visited by a targeted audience that allows backup companies to advertise to their audience in a cost effective manner. Mamush explains, “We offer a location for banner ads for branding as an alternative to expensive Google key word advertising. Today’s consumers are educated and most will search for reviews of interest before they purchase any product or service. Those searching for “Online Backup Review " will find our site on page one, line one in all search engines."

Indeed, prime online backup keywords such as “online backup”, “remote backup”, and a host of similar terms have a Goggle cost-per-click (CPC) of over $10, making advertising a pricy proposition. Backup Review offers a sensible marketing alternative to Goggle advertising for online backup companies needing to brand themselves in this space.

The site retains its non-biased format, allowing people to see reviews and other content but not supporting any affiliate programs or Goggle ads. As such, it is referenced by other publications, such as USA Today, when they need the in-depth understanding of the market. The detailed reviews can reach ten pages with screen shots, giving solid data to the online backup purchasing decision maker.

According to Mamush, there are close to five hundred online backup companies. This growth necessitated the expansion in June 2009 of the Backup Review Top 25 List to the new Backup Review Top 75 List of online backup companies. The new list is segmented into three markets - Consumer - for the general consumers, Small Medium Business (SMB) - for small and medium businesses, and Enterprise - for large enterprise corporations. DataPreserve appears in the top SMB companies.

With the current buzz about cloud storage, we can expect that the staff at Backup Review will be busy keeping abreast of the new players as they continue to provide a forum for intelligent discussion on online backup and storage.

SEVRAR Technology brings the esoteric to light

Every once in a while a great opportunity shows up. Next week, the South East Valley Regional Association of Realtors hosts a cutting edge technology show that brings the esoteric arts of blogging and twitter to light with real world applications that create business. DataPreserve is honored to be invited to participate.

Realtors are learning to leverage the power of technology to gain competitive edge. With the increased dependence on technology comes the increased threats to the data they require. So DataPreserve will present on the Looming Threats to business technology and ways to protect against them. In addition, DataPreserve is hosting a free "Laptop Checkup" service for SERVAR members to get a read-out on how well their data is protected.

Topics of event include:
Blogging
Twitter
LinkedIn & Other Social Media
Search Engine Optimization
Tablet Computers
Technology Tools
Transaction Management

Website Strategies

If your organization could benefit from the Looming Threats content, let us know.
DataPreserve Rescues Real Estate Clients

Not sure of the definition of 'esoteric'? Join the club!

Outsmart Murphy. Transition should trigger backup review.

As the U.S. prepares for inauguration of the 44th president, we can all learn a lesson from the transition process that seems to be going smoothly in Washington D.C. Transition of key personnel in any organization can provide an excellent opportunity to review the many vital areas of the organizations, re-set baselines and take inventory of the valuables.

Transition periods also provide Murphy (of Murphy's Law) with an excellent time to damage an organization. With regard to computer data, transitions of hardware can be as risky as transition of personnel. In either case, critical digital records that are required for the daily operations of a business can be lost, stolen or corrupted, leaving the business or organization in chaos.

DataPreserve recommends that that you perform a backup review for transitions of any sort. A backup review entails:

• a review of the type and location of data that critical to the organization
• a full backup and test of the backup (to validate that the data can actually be restored)
  
• a clear understanding of who knows the passwords for access and encryption
• confirmation that those passwords are stored safely

For any type of physical transition, replacing computers or moving office locations, there is no substitute for online backup and storage to provide to peace of mind that Murphy is being held at bay.

TOP FIVE LIST FOR BUSINESSES

Protect your company data over the holidays and prepare for 2009

Business owners looking to leave town over the holidays can go with peace of mind by following these five steps to protect their company data. These steps are also great tools to utilize in getting your business organized for the New Year. DataPreserve, an Arizona-based provider of automatic data backup and storage solutions for small to medium sized businesses, offers these tips for helping businesses prepare for the worst and organize for a successful 2009.

1) Clean out last year’s files. Throw out or store what you don’t need anymore and clean out old emails. Clutter can cause your system to slowdown and even crash.

2) Update any anti-virus software, spy ware and firewall protections on all of your computers. That last thing you want to deal with is a virus infecting your hard drive while you’re away.

3) Gather all of your 2008 financials in order to avoid conflicts and extra work at tax time.

4) Create a list of goals for 2009 and develop a plan on how you will achieve them. New software on the market can help with this, research your options.

5) Acquire an online data back up service, like DataPreserve, to ensure all of your data stays safe offsite in the event of a virus, technology breakdown, theft or natural disaster.

With many business owners and their employees taking time off for the holidays, it is imperative that they take measures to protect their company while they are gone. We know all to well what can happen when a company experiences a disaster, natural or otherwise, and cannot retrieve their work. In fact, studies show that 19 out of 20 small businesses that lose their data for more than 10 days go out of business. Taking a few preventive steps can reduce personal stress and business problems.