|
"Virtualization" is an industry buzzword these days. But what exactly is it? How does it work? If you do a lengthy search of the Internet, you’ll find that virtualization is a term that applies to a wide range of technologies, and the subject only becomes more confusing as you dig more deeply for information. And what do any of these technologies have to do with data backup and disaster recovery anyway?
 At Granite Mountain, virtualization and a NAS (network attached storage) device work hand-in-hand to guarantee business continuity, by providing secure, reliable, and continuous backup of your critical data.
One of the benefits of a NAS box is that it resides onsite and can exist anywhere within your LAN. Its purpose is not to provide those activities that are typically provided by your server, but to backup your data.
So how do virtualization and NAS work? When you choose the Granite Mountain solution and your NAS box is configured, a snapshot of your entire volume is taken. This snapshot, or exact copy, is what we call a virtual image. Your base image resides on the NAS box, but is also securely transmitted to two geographically separate secure data centers. After that, incremental backups of any changed data are made on a predetermined schedule (as frequently as every 15 minutes), and stored and transmitted in the same way.
What happens, then, if your server fails? With NAS virtualization, a failed server can be restored on the NAS as a virtual image, giving you a standby server in just over an hour. The NAS will even continue your scheduled backups while simultaneously acting as your temporary server. This system allows you to continue to do business without a significant interruption in your workflow. When your new hardware arrives, the image is moved to the new server and the NAS box returns to its primary function, which is backing up your data.
Rapid data restoration isn’t the only advantage of NAS virtualization. Virtualization also allows for greater utilization of existing hardware resources. This means that you may be able to keep aging equipment deployed for an additional year or so, knowing that you have failover capabilities with virtualization. Another key benefit of NAS is data mobility, so you are able to backup you server to a physically separate resource without any user downtime. In fact, with the Granite Mountain solution, your backups will happen without any participation on your part, and your employees won’t even be able to notice that anything is taking place.
Are you ready to protect your business with a reliable, secure, and affordable backup and disaster recovery solution? Simply complete our Fast Quote form and a sales representative will contact you quickly. |
