Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery

CCSI | bdr

CCSI is proud to offer a fully managed back-up Disaster Recovery solution that provides our clients with a cost-effective way to bullet-proof their data.

Creative Computer Solutions, Incorporated now offers the only complete cohesive Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution (CCSI | bdr) for Windows 2003, Windows 2008, and Windows Small Business Servers. This reasonably priced, all-encompassing solution provides Small to Medium size businesses with near real-time backups that also include seamless off-site data storage, along with multi-year archiving and fast server virtualization capabilities. There are advanced restoration options such as file and folder level restorations, with Exchange message and mailbox recovery and bare metal restorations to dissimilar hardware. Within hours, the unique CCSI | bdr device can also be configured to function as a virtual server if needed. This solution will replace management intensive, error-prone tape backups while providing much more.

This new CCSI | bdr based technology performs data backup at the block level where the actual 1's and 0's are captured from the hard drive essentially eliminating failures related to open files. Block level data is raw data which does not have a file structure imposed on it. Database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server transfer data in blocks without having to worry if files are open or being used. Block transfer is the most efficient way to write to disk. Backups are performed as frequent as every 15 minutes providing clients with an increased amount of restore points when compared to traditional tape backups.

Data is securely sent from the local CCSI | bdr device to high availability, redundant off-site collocation facilities. All aspects of the on-site and off-site solution are monitored 24|7|365. This solution provides a solid, more frequent backup and a well thought out recovery strategy that is the primary component of a Business Continuity Plan.

Our Backup and Disaster Recovery solution is a good value if you never need it and PRICELESS if you do.

Solution Details

Near Real-Time Backups

Our “Incremental Forever” methodology captures all changes to the initial image in increments of 15 minutes. The Incremental Forever technology not only backs up recent datasets but also allows end users to reconstruct the state of their data as it stood at the end of various 15-minute restoration points. This level of forensic and auditable data recovery may satisfy various regulatory requirements (such as HIPAA and GLBA) for data retention and data record reconstruction, and also serves stakeholders such as supply chain planners, warehouse analysts, auditors, and legal counsel.

On-Site Virtual Server

If any of your servers fail, our server virtualization technology embedded in the Network Attached Storage (NAS) allows our customer servers and applications to be restored and rebooted in less than 30 minutes in most cases. As you may sometimes endure a wait of several days in order to receive replacement servers from vendors, your NAS can have your business up and running. The NAS multitasks so that, even while functioning as a virtual server, it can continue to back up data from other devices plugged into the NAS. Our technology thus allows you to remain in business without any significant loss of data backup, server functionality, or application downtime.

A Complete Image

We generate an image of all hard drive partitions via an agent, which is warehoused on the NAS device physically located at your location. The data is stored using AES-256 bit encryption and compressed. We employ a block-level, not file-level, backup, which means that data is captured at the level of 1’s and 0’s. Block level data is raw data which does not have a file structure imposed on it. Database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server transfer data in blocks. Block transfer is the most efficient way to write to disk and is much less prone to errors such as those that result from file-level backups. Additionally, block level backups are not affected by open files or open databases. The block-level image is an exact digital duplicate of the on-site server.

Intuitive and Flexible Restoration

A good backup system should allow for quick and flexible restores. Our CCSI | bdr solution allows for recovery of files, folders, partitions, mailboxes/messages, databases/tables using a quick and intuitive process. In case of a complete server failure we do support a bare metal restore to new hardware which has a different configuration, hardware and drivers as compared to the failed server. Our 15-minute incremental based backup allows restores to be done from any point in time, allowing for multiple versions of files, folders, messages/mailboxes, database/tables to be restored.

24|7|365 Managed Solution

Our Network Operations Center (NOC) monitors your NAS units and the attached servers 24|7|365. Failed processes generate immediate alerts to our engineers, who often remotely correct errors within minutes of receiving notification. In case of more serious NAS issues, we will conduct repairs at your site. If any NAS units are irreparably damaged or destroyed, at an additional cost we will overnight ship replacements—pre-loaded with all stored data—directly to your location.

Secure Remote Storage

After imaging the servers to which it is attached, the NAS device then creates an independent 256-bit encrypted tunnel and transmits the imaged data to a secure offsite location where it resides in an encrypted, compressed format. That remote site then replicates again to an alternate data center, creating a total of three copies of the data in three geographically distinct regions. Since the data is encrypted and only you have the key, no one has access at any of the remote storage facilities.

Transmitting data to a remote site is a key component of BCP. It guarantees that, in case of physical damage to the client’s network or NAS, or even regional disaster, the data is safe in uncompromised locations. Encryption is an important step in the process of transmitting data between the NAS and the remote sites, because it greatly reduces the risk of data loss incidents that plague magnetic tape and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks during transmission. We employ the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm because it has never been broken and is currently considered the gold standard of encryption techniques and render transmitted data immune to theft.

Secure Bandwidth Throttling Transfer

Transmission itself occurs over your Internet connection, and can easily be configured to minimize bandwidth consumption. Our NAS leverages Adaptive Bandwidth Throttling, which only utilizes unused bandwidth or allows us to set an outbound limit. Our UDP based smart transfer technology utilizes a host of innovative algorithms to speed up data transport and resume from failure. We can therefore exercise fine control over the data imaging and transmission processes.

CCSI | bdr Models

Scale to fit your needs.

With three models to choose from, our CCSI | bdr solution can sale to fit your needs. The number of servers and data capacity are the primary factors in selecting the right product. All three offer the same software components to insure your data is as safe as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How secure is my data and are there multiple copies of it in the event of a total disaster?
The data on the CCSI | bdr device is compressed, encrypted using 256-bit encryption then transferred over a 256-bit encrypted UDP tunnel to the off-site collocation facility on the West Coast. Once the data reaches the off-site facility it is also copied to a fail over server at the same collocation facility then transferred to a separate collocation facility on the East Coast. In total there are (4) copies of your data if the off-site storage option is selected.

How are VSS backups handled?
When configuring the backup of servers an option to schedule a daily VSS Incremental backup is available. When the VSS Incremental backup occurs it shuts down all VSS aware applications then performs the backup.

What is the frequency of backups?
After the base image backup of the server completes the maximum number of incrementals in a 24 hour period is 96. This configuration performs 96 incremental snapshots of the server every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Can I select what files and folders to backup or exclude?
Backups are performed by server volume. For virtualization you must capture the boot volume and any other volume(s) containing server applications. For example if you install the Windows Operating System to your C :/Drive and Exchange to you D:/Drive, you must have both the C:/Drive and D:/Drive backed up if you want to virtualize the server.

Can I restore Exchange Mailboxes?
Yes, we have a utility that allows the restoration at the mailbox and message level.

Do you backup workstations?
Not currently but we are planning a release of desktop backup later in 2009. If you are able to synchronize or host your users data on the server then this would be included in the backup.

Do I have to reconfigure my firewall settings and any DNS or MX records if we need to virtualize a server?
No, the virtualization process keeps the servers system state so no additional configurations are needed. Service will continue to run like they did prior to the server failure.

If a client has more than 10 servers can we have multiple CCSI | bdr Device's at the client site?
Yes, multiple CCSI | bdr configurations are possible.

Can I have more than one server running in a virtual state on the CCSI | bdr Device?
Yes, depending on the amount of hard disk space, memory and processor a server consumes. The only limitation is the physical hardware of the CCSI | BDR Device.

Can I select what volumes on the server to send off-site to the collocation facility?
No, the entire server regardless of what volumes are being backed up are sent off-site if this option is selected.