Data protection, backup and archiving

Taming the data beast with software-defined storage

Australian enterprises are turning to software-defined storage to improve data management and speed up testing and development Continue Reading

Who is The Cloud Daddy?

Had a great couple of online sessions recently with Joe Merces of the splendidly named CloudDaddy. The aim of CloudDaddy is to simplify one of the great pain points of IT (no, not repairing ... Continue Reading

Storage 101: Self-encrypting drives' benefits and limitations

Self-encrypting drives are a cost-effective way to ensure compliance in certain situations. We look at self-encrypting drives, what they’re good for and their limitations Continue Reading

A guide to choosing and using all-flash array storage

We take a look at the considerations when devising an all-flash array storage strategy, and what enterprises can do to get the most out of the technology Continue Reading

Arsenal puts Acronis in defence for analytics cloud backup

Football club is increasingly driven by video and data analysis and opts for cloud backup software-as-a-service and quick restore to any location to replace ad-hoc staff solutions Continue Reading

Veritas aims to boost NetBackup with simplified UI and setup

Two decades-old enterprise product upgraded with backups that can be set in three clicks, down from 30, plus instant VM workload recovery and capacity monitoring and planning Continue Reading

StorageCraft launches OneXafe scale-out backup appliances

Product revamp sees firm launch OneXafe scale-out secondary and primary storage with ShadowXafe data protection software in backup appliance for physical and virtual environments Continue Reading

Virtual storage appliances in the cloud from the big five

We survey the big five storage hardware makers’ cloud offerings. Virtual storage appliances available range from storage and backup/data protection to nothing at all Continue Reading

Quest goes software-only with QoreStor. Next stop, the cloud

Quest makes backup product software-defined with QoreStor, with dedupe functionality that can be added to other backup products, and plans cloud backup with native storage next Continue Reading

Hybrid cloud a key milestone on the road to cloud storage

The cloud seems to lend itself to use as a storage location. There are lots of bumps in the road, however, and hybrid cloud should be a key medium-term aim for organisations Continue Reading

JWT slashes server estate in move to Ctera cloud appliances

Marketing agency deploys Ctera cloud-attached NAS for 10,000 employees to simplify IT infrastructure, cutting server count and slashing software and hardware costs Continue Reading

Data protection for containers: Why and how to do Docker backup

Containers such as those from Docker are agile, lightweight and can be short-lived, but they and their data often need to be protected. We look at the key options available Continue Reading

Hedvig teams up with Veeam to support scale-out backup appliances

Scale-out software-defined storage supplier reaches agreement with Veeam for backup software to build clusters of nodes with flash, cloud and block, file and object storage access Continue Reading

Cloudian adds Storage Made Easy file-sync-and-share compliance

Object storage maker adds file-sync-and-share with compliance filters from Storage Made Easy to restrict movement of potentially sensitive data between endpoints and datacentres Continue Reading

Casino group bets on Pivot3 hyper-converged infrastructure for surveillance

Caesars’ ageing digital video recording equipment risked running foul of court and police requirements, and cost tens of thousands annually, so it switched to Pivot3 hyper-converged infrastructure Continue Reading

How the internet of things and edge data impact data storage

Remote device data poses challenges for the datacentre, but edge processing, analytics and the cloud can help businesses profit from the promise of the internet of things Continue Reading

Enterprises wrestle with OpenStack backup, DR challenges

To work around the manual and often tedious processes associated with OpenStack DR and backup, some enterprises have turned to third-party tools. Continue Reading

CW ASEAN: Banking on buckets of data

Organizations across ASEAN are starting to turn to object storage due to the explosive growth of data from new sources such as sensors, mobile apps and social media. In this month’s edition of CW ASEAN, we look at how enterprises have benefitted from object storage, the roadblocks to wider adoption and the future of the technology in an increasingly software-defined world. Continue Reading

CW ANZ: Object storage hits a sweet spot

Enterprises in Australia are only getting started on object storage, which does away with the traditional file directories, making it easier to access and move data in a heterogeneous IT environment. In this issue of CW ANZ, we look at how Australian companies are dipping their toes into object storage, the challenges they are facing and the state of the market. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Rubrik CDM 4.2 extends data protection to Amazon cloud storage

Backup software and appliance specialist adds protection to apps in Amazon cloud to existing on-premise and cloud-to-cloud functionality, along with service provider features Continue Reading

StorageCraft to unveil unified storage, backup and cloud appliances

StorageCraft arose as a backup software maker but now plans converged storage, backup and analytics play in a move to unify offering built on core and acquired products Continue Reading

What's new with data protection systems? Everything

The next backup hardware you purchase will likely come with integrated backup software. That changes the buying dynamic and complicates the decision-making process. Continue Reading

GDPR and backup: A potential minefield easily avoided

The right to be forgotten will be impossible in backups and snapshots, but systems can be built that automate for compliance, says Andy Barratt of security consultancy Coalfire Continue Reading

Nexsan adds Assureon Cloud Transfer for hybrid cloud archiving

Nexsan archiving appliances add hybrid cloud capability to AWS and Azure cloud for unstructured data, targeting users that want to retain files on-site with cloud access Continue Reading

Simplify the integrated data backup appliance buying process

Learn how to assess your organization's needs for an integrated backup appliance and to evaluate the different data backup systems on the market to find the right fit. Continue Reading

CW Nordics: Finland delays e-voting plan

Security concerns have re-emerged to further frustrate the Finnish government’s plans to launch a national e-voting system. Also read about a study by the Stockholm School of Economics that looks at the likely impact of AI, machine learning and robotics on people’s lives. And find out why Norway has accelerated plans to scale up its national cyber security infrastructure. Continue Reading

Zerto previews 2019’s version 7 with Elastic Journal backup

CDP-based data protection product will allow point-in-time copies from seconds to years ago with Elastic Journal, as part of a move to unify backup, disaster recovery and cloud data protection Continue Reading

IBM adds deduplication to Spectrum Virtualize, and Storwize arrays

IBM has added data deduplication to Spectrum Virtualize and array products that run it. It has also upgraded array analytics and the cloud version of Spectrum Virtualize Continue Reading

Select a data backup appliance with robust functionality

Many leading appliance-based data backup systems include functions such as backup, archiving, disaster recovery and replication, and they can be used for test/development and analytics. Continue Reading

Object storage is inching into Australian enterprises

Even as Aussie firms such as Bauer Media and Redbubble are lapping up object storage, others are facing visibility and analytics issues with the technology Continue Reading

CW Benelux: Rotterdam charts course to become world’s smartest port

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is using internet of things and artificial intelligence technology from IBM in a bid to become the world’s smartest port. Also read how companies in the Netherlands are only partly ready for the country’s version of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and why the European Central Bank thinks cash will remain in use in the Eurozone for a very long time. Continue Reading

Nutanix builds hooks to SDN and cloud with Flow, Era and Beam

Hyper-converged pioneer builds in functionality from acquisitions with Flow software-defined networking, Beam cloud monitoring and Era database provisioning and data protection Continue Reading

ASEAN seeks to tame data deluge with object storage

Led by Singapore and Thailand, the object storage market in Southeast Asia is expected to grow at a double-digit rate in the next few years Continue Reading

Exploring the leading appliance-based data backup systems

Learn how leading integrated backup appliance systems address key considerations, including capacity and performance, and what operational benefits they offer. Continue Reading

Unitrends launches ‘Veeam killer’ VM Backup Essentials

Backup specialist Unitrends says Veeam has become “arrogant” and abandoned large elements of its customer base. VM Backup Essentials aims to fill gap for VMware users Continue Reading

Podcast: RSA abuzz over data orchestration and blockchain

At RSA 2018 in San Francisco, blockchain and cloud/data orchestration were big topics. In this podcast, Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust, talks us through the key areas discussed at the event Continue Reading

Microsoft revives MAID with Pelican, but tape can still sleep easy

A decade ago storage journalists were quite keen on a new technology around at the time. That was MAID – Massive Array of Idle Disks – which were basically disk-based backup target devices with ... Continue Reading

Backup 101: Incremental vs differential backup

In this Backup 101 article, we look at incremental versus differential backup and walk through the advantages and disadvantages of these two key backup strategies Continue Reading

Technology is a lifesaver for NHS Blood and Transplant

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the CDO of the NHS’s blood and transplant agency about how digital transformation is proving to be a real lifesaver. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the state of public cloud. And we find out how Ireland is expecting a Brexit dividend to boost its tech sector when the UK leaves the EU. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Data recovery disasters: Kroll Ontrack on how it helps enterprises bounce back

Data recovery expert Kroll Ontrack provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges enterprises and consumers face getting their files and information back when disaster strikes Continue Reading

SSD Raid 101: The essentials of flash storage and Raid

Flash storage is mainstream, but what do storage professionals need to know about Raid when used with SSDs? We look at Raid fundamentals, and supplier implementations Continue Reading

InfiniSync backup ‘bunker’ gives zero RPO for critical apps

Infinidat launches InfiniSync “black box” as off-site storage on-site, plus new Infinibox PB-scale array, cloud storage service Neutrix Cloud and InfiniGuard backup appliance Continue Reading

Western Digital adds StorReduce deduplication to object storage

US hardware giant Western Digital links up with StorReduce to provide data deduplication for object storage that combines WD ActiveScale scale-out appliances with the startup’s dedupe software Continue Reading

Upgraded Infinidat InfiniBox hoists sail on product launch

Infinidat disk arrays double capacity to 8 petabytes per rack. The new InfiniBox products include InfiniSync DR box, InfiniGuard backup appliance and the Infinidat-hosted Neutrix Cloud. Continue Reading

DR 101: The disaster recovery plan and disaster recovery strategy

We walk through the key steps and essential building blocks required to develop a disaster recovery strategy and how to write a disaster recovery plan Continue Reading

Nodeum adds clouds to boost tape-to-hybrid-cloud platform

Belgian startup’s Linux-based storage environment now stretches from on-premise disk, LTFS tape and NAS to hybrid cloud working via AWS and Azure public clouds, with more planned Continue Reading

Hybrid cloud mainstream, but seamless operations hard to achieve

Survey by 451 Research finds most organisations use a mix of on-premise and cloud locations, but truly seamless hybrid cloud operations are very difficult to achieve Continue Reading

Criteria for vetting appliance-based data backup systems

Knowing the right questions to ask when vetting data backup appliance vendors can help ensure you select the product that will provide the most comprehensive data protection. Continue Reading

Druva maintains cloud course with AWS cloud-to-cloud backup plans

Backup product supplier Druva plans cloud-to-cloud backup to Amazon Web Services and other public cloud services as demand arises, in a future firmly fixed on hybrid operations Continue Reading

Scality Zenko 'multi-cloud controller' offers hybrid cloud boost

S3-based software control layer will support Amazon, Google and Microsoft clouds to bring hybrid cloud operations, with object storage across private and public clouds Continue Reading

Trust underpins innovation, says UK information commissioner

Underlining the relevance of data protection legislation to business, the UK information commissioner says consumer trust is key to innovation Continue Reading

ICO head tops DataIQ data leader list

The UK’s information commissioner has been named at the top data leader for 2018 in the DataIQ 100 list of most influential data leaders Continue Reading

It’s the year of the cloud, says backup giant Veeam

Veeam roadmap adds cloud to virtual and physical backup with acquisitions that bring cloud and hybrid functionality. Object archives, CDP and NAS backup are also planned Continue Reading

King’s College dumps legacy SAN for Nimble hybrid flash

Cambridge college triples storage capacity for VMware virtualised environment and adds Veeam backup. Nimble hybrid flash ensures rapid data access with Sata bulk storage behind Continue Reading

Data backup appliance offers simplicity and efficiency

Learn how an integrated backup appliance can help sites with scalability issues or no dedicated backup team streamline the design and implementation of their backup architecture. Continue Reading

Ideal Standard standardises in Emea with Nakivo virtual backup

Bathroom multinational strips out country-based systems to virtualise across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nakivo beats Veeam on cost to provide VMware disk-based backup and slashes restore times Continue Reading

Cloud DR: Key choices in cloud disaster recovery

Flexibility and low cost make the cloud well-suited to disaster recovery, but there is no one-size-fits-all route to cloud disaster recovery. We look at the key choices Continue Reading

Cohesity adds file and object to hyper-converged hybrid cloud

Cohesity broadens out from hyper-converged backup and restore to offer file and object storage on its physical and virtual hyper-converged appliances and in the cloud Continue Reading

Siemens’ Datrium NVMe flash speeds customer software deployment

Siemens utility metering group deploys Datrium DVX in place of cumbersome LUN-based block storage and cuts customer software roll-outs to a few minutes and data restores to seconds Continue Reading

Malaysian regulator and firm sued over data breach

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and a local company have been caught in a civil lawsuit over a massive data breach reported last year Continue Reading

CW Benelux: Dutch IT expert on a mission to expose vulnerabilities

Dutch ethical hacker Victor Gevers took full-time leave from his IT job last year and used the time to hunt for vulnerabilities. Read about his mission to find vulnerabilities, report them responsibly and then, hopefully, get them fixed by the vulnerable parties involved. Also in this issue, read how Proximus, Belgium’s largest telecommunications operator, is leaning on Cloudify to support its adoption of network functions virtualisation, and how journalists showed that the email addresses of Dutch politicians are easy to spoof. Continue Reading

Zerto boosts cloud-to-cloud and hybrid cloud replication

Zerto Virtual Replication version 6 allows hybrid cloud data protection operations across on-premises datacentres and Amazon, Microsoft and IBM clouds, and 350-plus service providers Continue Reading

Google Q4 results show businesses are buying into its public cloud

The Google Cloud Platform is earning the search engine giant $1bn per quarter. Expect more cloud investment this year Continue Reading

GDPR worries hit cloud storage investments, says survey

NetApp-sponsored survey finds lack of customer confidence in cloud service providers’ retention of GDPR-affected data has led organisations to rethink and scale back cloud investments Continue Reading

Hyper-convergence and containers key storage-related deployments in 2018

Hyper-converged infrastructure and containers are key deployments planned by UK customers in 2018, with flash storage, virtual machine storage and disk backup also prominent Continue Reading

ITV goes on air with SpectraLogic LTFS tape backup and archive

2PB of SpectraLogic tape front-ended by Black Pearl LTFS object storage access creates integrated archive that lets broadcaster optimise use of existing Isilon clustered NAS Continue Reading

Laing O’Rourke unifies on-site and cloud backup on Commvault

Construction firm sweeps away tape and multiple backup products for single Commvault environment to cut admin time, slash backup windows and boost legal and regulatory compliance Continue Reading

Top 10 storage and backup stories of 2017

In Computer Weekly’s top 10 storage stories of 2017, we tracked key trends such as the continued rise of hyper-converged infrastructure, the emergence of NVMe flash and object storage Continue Reading

CW Europe: Eurosport pumps up digital technology for cycling fans

Read how Eurosport is using a novel combination of technology and information to develop immersive viewing experiences for sports fans across a range of platforms. Also find out how Russian state bank Vneshekonombank expects to become a vehicle for a blockchain revolution in the country’s public sector, and what the European Parliament's approval of a new electronic system to store biometric information might mean for UK citizens after Brexit. Continue Reading

Cloud-to-cloud backup: What it is and why you need it

Applications that run in the cloud are protected, but only so much. For full protection of data generated by cloud-based apps you need cloud-to-cloud backup Continue Reading

Datrium’s hybrid Cloud DVX brings off-site mirror of NVMe storage

Cloud DVX operates in Amazon cloud to provide backup and recovery instance off-site, for use as a mirror site for customers of the NVMe-focused storage maker Continue Reading

CW Benelux: Young wayward hackers could help fill Dutch IT skills gap

In this issue, read how an initiative in Rotterdam is helping young people get into the IT sector by targeting those overlooked by traditional methods. Also find out how Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is utilising open source software to create and use a multi-cloud platform with an open API, and how the Netherlands’ Rabobank has moved from tape libraries and robotic arms to a platform-based storage and retrieval system. Continue Reading

Commvault joins the hyper-converged backup wave with Hyperscale

Hyperscale Software and Hyperscale Appliance bring Commvault backup software in a reference architecture/software product or as a pre-configured server/storage box Continue Reading

Syneto aims Hyperseries 2100 at hyper-converged for SMEs

European startup targets customers with two-node hyper-converged appliance, with built-in disaster recovery and capacity for up to 15 VMware virtual machines Continue Reading

Investigate how copy data management systems curb data sprawl

The top copy data management vendors offer innovative products to reduce the staggering amount of data that organizations create by replicating multiple copies of production data. Continue Reading

CW Europe: The Macedonian surveillance scandal that brought down a government

In this issue, we look at evidence that Macedonia may have been running covert internet surveillance using sophisticated software supplied by a western technology company. We also look at how politics is changing IT buying habits in France, with French CIOs looking at alternatives to storing data with US-based suppliers as a result of one of President Trump’s executive orders. Download the issue now. Continue Reading

Government wants to remain in EU cyber security club after Brexit

The UK government wants to maintain deep links with the European Union’s cyber security working groups following Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2019 Continue Reading

Legal services firm gets 54TB of NEC Hydrastor NAS as backup target

Quislex has cut backup windows by a third and will roll out 700TB of NEC Hydrastor to Hyderabad datacentre to provide a grid of deduplicated storage for backup and archive Continue Reading

CW Nordics: Banks and startups increase collaboration

First they were deemed a threat, now they are potential partners. According to a new report by Nordic accelerator Fintech Mundi, banks are increasingly turning to financial technology (fintech) startups in their hunt for new ideas and market opportunities. Also in this issue, read now Baker Brun, a bakery company in Norway, is modernising its business processes through the latest technologies, and hear how Stockholm’s CIO is relishing the challenge of trying to make the Swedish capital the smartest city in the world. Continue Reading

How banking technology has changed since the crash

In this week’s Computer Weekly, 10 years after the financial crash, we examine how banking technology has changed as a result of the economic crisis. We look at how GDPR, the EU’s new data protection laws, will affect your data storage strategies. And we ask if the cryptocurrency boom will remain a niche pursuit or whether the underlying technologies can bring benefits for enterprise IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Copy data management vendors expand breadth of offerings

This roundup of copy management systems from the leading vendors shows the distinct categories and implementation models this cost-saving technology can provide. Continue Reading

What the leading copy data management vendors offer

Copy management systems from the leading vendors offer unique features that can help IT departments consolidate their secondary storage into a single product. Continue Reading

CW Benelux: IoT Tech Day showcases innovation

Read about this year’s IoT Tech Day in Utrecht, Netherlands, which featured hobby projects such as light-sensing curtains that automatically open and close, but also showed that the IoT is growing up to encompass more serious applications. Also read about the lessons to be learned from the ‘Petya’ ransomware attack that has hit 60 countries, and find out how Dutch railway stations are monitoring the movement of travellers to reduce people jams. Continue Reading

The fields of Athenry – how Apple’s datacentre plans are causing turmoil in a small Irish town

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look into Apple’s controversial plans to build a huge datacentre in a small town in the west of Ireland, and hear the local arguments it has caused. We find out how the Met Office is managing the vast quantities of data it uses for weather forecasting. And we examine Google plans to bring artificial intelligence tools to the job recruitment market. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW Middle East: How women can fill the tech skills gap

The growth of the IT sector continues to drive both innovation and employment in the Gulf, but women – as with all industries in the region – are under-represented in technology by significant margins, and could help to fill the tech skills gap. Also in this issue, read about growing threats in Saudi Arabia’s cyber sector, and how Dubai is becoming a world leader in smart city developments. Continue Reading

GDPR brings serious implications for data storage

New European Union data protection regulations put tough requirements on organisations that store “personally identifiable data”. We look at what is needed to achieve compliance Continue Reading

Tape here to stay, says Spectra Logic with LTO-8 2x capacity gain

LTO-8 tape to boost capacity by leveraging HDD head read technology TMR. Spectra gets in early with offer to customers, “buy LTO-7, get LTO-8 when it ships” Continue Reading

Why immutable buckets are a worthy risk management tool

Immutable buckets offer businesses benefits in terms of data compliance, backup, archiving and security Continue Reading

News UK dumps tape for backup with Zadara cloud storage

News publishing corporation saves up to 40% on hardware and software costs by switching in-house hardware for a cloud-first policy, using Zadara cloud storage as a backup target Continue Reading

Determine your requirements before buying a copy management system

Before evaluating copy data management systems, examine the pros and cons of the deployment models, as well as the most important features to look for in a product. Continue Reading

Ethical fears hinder growth of artificial intelligence in France

In this issue, read how France’s relatively slow adoption of artificial intelligence is partly the result of public confusion, and partly due to the way the French have approached the ethical debate around AI. Also, read now organisations in Europe are failing to address the most important risks because they do not have a structured approach to complying with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. And find out why, after 17 years, Dutch university TU Delft is saying goodbye to its legacy learning management system. Continue Reading

CW Nordics: The trouble with connected things

In this issue, Finnish cyber security expert Mikko Hyppönen talks about security in the Nordics, Russia and the trouble with connected devices. Also read how Icelandic airline Wow Air averted disaster through the use of application performance monitoring software when it embarked on a major expansion. And find out how, since December 2015, anyone playing popular sandbox game Minecraft has been able to build their worlds on the actual map of Sweden. Continue Reading

Cloud data portability: Obstacles to it and how to achieve it

Cloud providers are very keen to get your data into their systems but sometimes it can be difficult or costly to move it elsewhere. We look at solutions to cloud portability Continue Reading

Toxic data: What it is and how to find it and deal with it

In this podcast, Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust, looks at the management of legacy data and how to find and deal with toxic data that could expose your organisation to compliance breaches Continue Reading

Quantifying the benefits of investing in copy management technology

There are many benefits to implementing copy data storage, including cost reduction and increased operational efficiency while maintaining service-level objectives. Continue Reading

Backup testing: What to test, when to test, how often to test

We run the rule over what’s involved in backup testing in virtual and physical server environments, how often you should test and the key pitfalls to avoid Continue Reading

Cancer researcher gets Nodeum LTFS tape NAS

Belgium-based OncoDNA replaces IBM tape library with flash-powered Nodeum LTFS to provide file access to backup and archive tapes at approaching nearline timescales Continue Reading

Motorola brings big data digital evidence service to UK police forces

Motorola is launching a digital evidence management service to UK police forces, backed off into AWS cloud infrastructure Continue Reading

Quantum upgrades to StorNext 6 with replication and app QoS

Quantum StorNext scale-out file system adds to cloud capability with granular replication that can operate one-to-one, one-to-many, plus provide storage QoS per application Continue Reading

Copy management systems reduce data consumption and storage costs

Copy management systems offer a range of options for reducing excessive storage consumption and improving performance by eliminating the creation of redundant data copies. Continue Reading