Data is valuable only if it can be accessed
Accessing the increasing amount of data and providing the capability to transform it into information is challenging. There are more users, more data, and more regulations. And, there are lots of questions. Is the data protected? Is the data available when and where it’s required? Is the historical data available? Are the backups safe? Can the data be restored in a time manner in case of disaster? Will the data actually be there when it’s needed?
Storage Management is the assurance of data availability carried out through effective data storage and information retrieval. Storage Management systems must be able to meet the high performance requirements of today and the scaleable, cost effective requirements of the future. They must provide a reliable platform for the increasing amount of information being retained. And deliver the constant requirements of security, reliability, availability and manageability.
The IT Challenge
Today’s IT professionals are often asked to work in an environment of change. As business requirements change, so do IT priorities. These "shifting" priorities can be addressed with a Networked Storage infrastructure. We categorize them into four major challenges:
Backup & Recovery
The real challenge for IT is not making backup copies of the data. It’s determining if the data can be restored once a backup copy has been created.
Archive
Like Backup & Recovery, one of the primary challenges is insuring that historical data can be retrieved. But beyond that, can that data be put to good use?
Consolidation/Virtualization
This may be IT’s most long-term challenge. New business requirements create new projects, which in turn create the need for new IT support. The unintended result is a multi-platform mix of servers, tape libraries, storage, fabric, etc. The challenge for IT is managing the cost and efficiencies of an eclectic set of infrastructure.
Information Protection
Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPPA are two of the most visible governmental regulations placed on business. These are problematic, as is protecting data from disaster and disgruntled employees. Next to people, a company’s most valuable resource is its data.
Our Expertise
dcVAST Storage Management Architects and Engineers have a breadth of experience managing storage in today’s enterprises. Our five-step process brings the expertise necessary to provide you with a cost effective, scaleable storage infrastructure:
Assess: Our architects carefully review your environment to fully understand your existing infrastructure. Then, we review your current needs and your long-term growth goals and align the technical requirements and the business goals.
Design: Using the findings from our assessment and industry best practices, our architects develop one or more options for your company to consider. After consulting with you, an approach is chosen and a detailed design of the new or enhanced infrastructure is developed. A statement of work (SOW) and a project plan are also created.
Build: Our delivery engineers are involved with the architects during the design phase and are available to implement the plan for you. Or, we can backup your staff on day-to-day activities, while they implement the project. We can also provide project management, whenever needed.
Support: Once the plan is up and running, a service program designed around keeping the infrastructure current must be in place. Our Call Center is available to assist your IT staff on a 24x7 basis. If a component failure occurs, we take ownership of the problem and resolve the issue in a timely manner.
Manage: We monitor all infrastructure and processes on a 24x7 basis and create alerts for any out-of-scope activity. We resolve any issues that arise. We also manage the evolution of your infrastructure over its useful life, making sure it is always performing optimally.