We can all agree that critical business data needs to be protected against disasters and that unplanned downtimes can be extremely costly. Yet many IT managers are not in agreement about the best backup approach for their IBM Power Systems that are running IBM i. Some believe that traditional methods (such as tape) are still sufficient. Still others don’t fully understand the difference between backup and disaster recovery, and the key concepts critical for developing the right strategy. We’re here to provide the definitions and key benefits of both backup strategies, so you can determine the best solution for your organization.
Backup
A backup is simply a snapshot of your system, typically taken once a day. Backups on IBM i are usually:
• Stored on traditional tape (the same antiquated technology used for 60 years)
• Automatically scheduled, such as daily after close of business
• Stored for a period of time, often one year
• Stored in a different location than your primary system
While a backup provides some form of data protection, it is simply not sufficient or efficient for business continuity. Here’s Why:
• The most recent copy is usually from the previous night, which by the next day is already outdated for systems that are changing all day long.
• Retrieving a backup can be very time-consuming. First, you need a working system, and then you have to mount the backup. This process can take hours or even days.
• Changing out tapes and storing them off-site requires human interaction, which introduces the chance of human error.
• You don’t have proof that the backup was successful until you try to retrieve it.
Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service (DRaaS):
DRaaS is an optimal solution for business continuity for organizations that require fast, efficient and accurate backups. Especially for those running enterprise applications on IBM Power and IBM i.
The benefits of DRaaS:
• Restore times are fast: it takes minutes or seconds to recover systems, up to 10x faster than tape.
• Scheduling backups is easy and flexible.
• Security is increased and redundant with encrypted data in two geographically diverse data centers.
• DRaaS is surprisingly affordable and convenient, with a simple monthly subscription and no expensive hardware or management costs.
DRaaS for your IBM i system is a faster, more secure and more cost-effective way to achieve business continuity goals than using tape backups or managing a secondary data center. It’s time to move into the future with CloudFirst’s affordable, ezRecovery cloud-based vaulting and disaster recovery for IBM i. Schedule a demo today.
