Backup Anytime

Cutting the cost of online backup

Cost cutting is high on the priority list of every adept organisation today. Be the global credit crunch a prelude to worldwide recession or a major correction, cash is king. So, can you cut online backup costs. The short answer is yes. The method of cost cutting defines the likely consequences. Let’s take a look.

Discount demand based on moving business.

This is the most straightforward approach but may result in a no (and subsequent tail between legs departure) from a quality provider or a yes (and subsequent further alignment) in the case of a weak provider. Neither are attractive options so this approach needs to be considered carefully in conjunction with several others.

Essentially you need to gauge the quality of service you are receiving and the amount of input required from you or other people in your organisation in any configuration with a new supplier. If the quality of service you are receiving is poor, then you need to move anyway and increased service should be higher on your shopping list than price.

If however you are receiving a good level of service then you must consider the following. Are you likely to fair as well from a data backup perspective elsewhere? If not, then regardless of any savings, such a move would represent a step down in data protection for your business.

Also ask yourself: Does initial configuration of online backup in your business require significant time investment by you? If your organisations data flow and management are complicated then you will be required to involve yourself in the configuration process. If this is not the case, you should certainly be represented in the selection process as a new outside entity can not know what to backup. No matter which way you look at it your time costs money. Even given certainty of zero quality reduction, the savings of any move would have to exceed the cost of your time.

Two things are clear her.

1. If current service qualities are low, you need to move. No price reduction from an unsatisfactory provider is going to equate to either data security or good value.

2. If current service quality is high you may be better to stay but only if you achieve value for money. Given that any good provider will be keen to keep a service satisfied client, you should be able to negotiate.

If you are in situation one above, you need not read the remainder of this article yet. You need avail of quality and then resume here.

If you are in situation two above, consider this. Talk in terms of what your provider can give you. If you demand cash discount for nothing in return, your provider is limited in what he can do for you. If however you talk in  terms of additional space, even faster response, improved SLAs,  greater retention and possibly even showing a carrot such as a willingness to sign up for an extended period you will succeed.

There are however some ways in which you can save on your online backup and related costs without even contacting your online backup service provider. Are you backing up too much? Seems like an obvious question. You may be backing up data you do not need. You may through replication be backing up the same data in various locations. You may be using a data backup type which is not efficient from a dedupe perspective. Changes of these types can frighten non technical users. It is important to realise that more does not mean safer. Your backups need to be accurate not extensive. In addition, overly cautious retention can result in compliance problems such as in the case of personally identifiable data which you are only allowed to retain for a period as specified by your regional data protection legislation.

In summary.

You can save money on online backup. This should be approached subsequently to establishing quality of service. Online backup is your providers stock. By logical economics you understand (hope!) It cost him less than it does you. You will therefore fare better requesting data backup than you will requesting cash. Understand that you can be very demanding if you offer something in return. Know that moving (all things being equal) costs money. Any savings therefore need to reflect and ultimately exceed this.

Ben Puzzuoli is the chief operating officer of ROBOBAK. The name ROBOBAK comes from Remote Office / Branch Office Backup. We got in touch with Ben after interviewing Brian R.Bondy of VisionWorks. We told Brian we were very interested in the  VisionWorks open file management system not simply as a component but as part of an overall functioning system used by a successful ISV. (Independent Software Vendor)

Brian didn’t have to think for long before making his nomination.

Bens’ company is that example. ROBOBAK goes beyond backup and provides datadedupe services to corporates and MSPs. Deduplication has taken off to put it mildly and Ben is predictably very busy these days. He has however very obligingly accepted our interview offer (I am sure the introduction helped) and over the course of the past few weeks it has come to fruition. So, enough from me, lets get on with the interview.

MH: Name

BP: Ben Puzzuoli 

MH: Company.

BP: ROBODRS LLC dba ROBOBAK 

MH: Position.

BP: Chief Operating Officer, COO 

MH: Marital status, family members.

BP: I got engaged on 7/7/7 and will get married to my fiancee Lauren on Sept 26, 2009.  We also have 3 lovelykids, Baya, Mini and China… they’re dogs :) 

MH: Education

BP: My entire pre-university career was done in French schools, so I am bilingual.  I then graduated with honors from the University of Windsor in Business Administration.  I am currently pursuing my master in business. 

MH: Past times / Hobbies

BP: I love hanging out with my dogs, my friends and I like knee boarding. I also love to read, go out to fancy dinners and spend time with my family. 

MH: What type of car do you drive?

BP: 2008 BMW 323I or a 2003 GM Alero…. the wife usually drives the BMW though :) 

MH: How long are you in the online backup business?

BP: We’ve been in the backup business since 2002 with a SMB product until we started developing ROBOBAK, an enterprise class backup system designed for Remote Office, Branch Offices (ROBOs) backups in 2004.  ROBODRS LLC, dba ROBOBAK was officially incorporated in 2006. 

MH: What are the distinguishing features of your company over the competition?

BP: The fact that we care.  All of our clients would tell you that we define world class support by providing it, no matter it be Saturday, Sunday or a holiday we’re there to help our clients!  Another big distinguishing factor will be that we actually listen.  Most of our new enhancements or features have come directly from our clients suggestions which are directly on the front lines, reselling our product.  It shows that we care about their feedback. 

MH: What are the achievements of which you are most proud?

BP: The achievement that i’m most proud was our ability to really make the ROBOBAK name known in our industry in such a short period of time.  ROBOBAK is the leader in remote office, branch office, agentless backup. 

MH: Where do you see the industry going?

BP: The offsite backup market is SIZZLING HOT! I see the market growing tremendously over the next 5 years. 

MH: What advice would you give to business people who have data backup concerns?

BP: I would suggest to the user, that they first fully understand their business backup needs before approaching ANY vendor.  At ROBOBAK we don’t just sell software but rather a solution.  We have staff in-house that have years of real world Disaster Recovery (DR) planning and implementation that are willing to customize a plan to fit your exact needs.  ROBOBAK is a true solution. 

MH: What advice would you give to I.T. companies considering offering online backup to their clients?

BP: I would say go for it one way or another.  If it’s by offering your own hosted solution or by simply reselling a service by an existing ROBOBAK MSP, there is definitely money to be made!  One important thing to note here, is that ROBOBAK offers MSPs a great way to build their own brand in the marketplace and that is with our intuitive Customization/Branding kit.  This kit allows the MSP to brand and customize the executive client as many times as they wish with their own logos, images and features allowing them to sell their own brand of offsite backup service.  To learn more about the customization kit or anything else, simply contact ROBOBAK at www.robobak.com.

MH: From where do you get your inspiration?

BP: I get my inspiration from my family.  My parents always provided me with everything I ever needed, so I want to accomplish the same for my family! 

MH: Where do you see yourself in five years time?

BP: Exactly the same place! 

Ed. - Thanks again Ben and thanks also to Brian R. Bondy for the introduction.

Any queries regarding the people interviewed and companies they represent should be made as per the contact details of those companies provided on their official website. Backupanytime is not a point of contact for interviewees.

Visitors, want to see more who’s who in data? Then watch next weeks who’s who in data.

Can small business benefit from data deduplication?

Data deduplication (dedupe), simply put is the process of limiting the number of identical versions of data retained on a network. Single instance storage (S.I.S.) allows for one copy of a headed paper or logo image to be used by all apps and users. This significantly reduces storage requirements and assists with centralised storage implementation.

An example of deduplication which is used at small business level is Microsoft Exchange Server. Small business often unknowingly benefit from deduplication as a consequence of it being an integral part of specific applications.

Small firms however are behind in the area of overall data deduplication. Deduplication specific applications which as a task focus singularly or primarily on data deduplication are still the domain of larger businesses.

Small business users often lack in awareness or resource with regard to emerging technology and this is an example which is costing small business in terms of efficiency and storage requirement. Companies with a deduplication implementation benefit from reduced local and remote storage costs, have a more manageable data asset bank and an easier compliance road-map.

In time, as awareness increases and capital outlay requirements decrease, small businesses will increase their uptake of data deduplication and the associated benefits. The trend (or lack of) on behalf of small business not to participate in data deduplication is by no means proof of any shortage of value or R.O.I. difficulties. Some smaller businesses (generally those with good I.T. management and suitable budget) are increasing their data efficiency, storage savings and competitiveness by employing company wide data deduplication.

A proliferation of data deduplication at application level which will involve household names in the software business adding dedupe capability to their software will offer application specific deduplication benefits to small business. The paradox with technology gains in bundled software is that small business often see this as their overall solution to that specific technology. If in time, your accounts and payroll apps offer dedupe technology as standard this will by no means be a company wide deduplication solution and any belief to the contrary could lead to critical areas being missed and low overall gains.

If you intend to employ deduplication and have decided to wait and avoid being part of the vanguard, maybe you have waited long enough. Deduplication has matured. There is a sufficient number of high end players to ensure competition, quality and value.

Some say it is never the right time to buy technology. In the data industry, any time before it is too late is good. Immediately is very good. Last week is excellent.