How removable disk technology can replace low-end tape to protect SMBs

Although the global economy still hangs in the balance, the remorseless expansion in data volumes continues exponentially.

The ocean of stored data swells daily as organisations create new information.

Small businesses contribute to this, just as steadily as enterprises do. However, the smaller operators have less available budget to tackle data management constraints and the ever escalating need for data protection.

Small and medium businesses (SMBs), must address the dual challenges of safely storing and protecting their data – at a time when IT professionals are being pressured by cost savings and efficiencies.

Needless to say, data protection remains an absolute business priority. The failure to manage and safeguard corporate data properly can result in business disruption, devastating losses or even potential business failure.

Across recent decades, businesses have become keenly aware of the need to back up their data as part of overall business continuity and the disaster recovery plan.

This includes the regular backup and archiving of data so that in the event of a disaster, such as a fire, water damage, etc., or computer viruses, human error, or power failure, they can be back in business again as quickly as possible.

Faced with multiple options to protect their data, small businesses must create appropriate data protection strategies and install appropriate technology to address their specific needs.

The good news is that the right storage devices can help SMBs to share data, collaborate in an automated way, become more operationally efficient, and secure their valuable assets for the long term.

Powerful and economical data protection

Today’s small businesses are able to choose from a variety of fixed and removable data storage technologies. For example, certain vendors offer disk-based storage systems with removable media that offer rugged, reliable and convenient backup, ideally suited to the small business market.

These server-class devices combine the benefits of tape - reliability, portability, archive life and low cost - with the performance, speed and random access of hard disk technology, at competitive prices. Data retrieval is simple and painless with flexible file searching, drag-and-drop restore and superior data protection features.

Worldwide, small business users who have previously depended on low-end tape are replacing their older DDS/DAT drives with removable disk technology because their legacy tape technologies are reaching their end of life.

These users are choosing removable disk for its affordability, simplicity and versatility and its range of media (hard disk and solid-state disk) from 128GB to 2TB per cartridge.

For all SMBs, the challenge is to create an easy, affordable and extendable data protection strategy that mitigates business risks, guarantees compliance, reduces costs and improves the overall success of the business.

SMBs must carefully select a vendor who can provide them with the right technology solutions from multiple storage options to establish best practices in backup and archival storage for their specific needs.

For small businesses facing an uncertain economy, buying the appropriate data protection technologies could be the difference between operational failure and success.

By Ted Oade, Senior Director Worldwide Product Marketing, Overland Storage