Check out our FAQs on disaster recovery and business continuity topics such as data deduplication and disaster recovery, data replication, WAN optimization, and failover and failback operations. Get the latest disaster recovery information in these guides. Check back often as this page is updated frequently.
>> Is cloud disaster recovery a good choice for DR storage?
In this podcast, we interviewed Pierre Dorion, senior consultant with Long View Systems Inc., about the basics of disaster recovery storage, particularly whether it’s better to outsource disaster recovery, or keep it in-house. In this podcast, you will learn about data storage best practices for disaster recovery, whether or not tape backup is still a good choice for your organization, and about the pros and cons of cloud disaster recovery.
>> Remote
data replication FAQ
Some organizations with more than one location choose remote data replication for disaster
recovery. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding if this approach is right for your
needs. David Chapa, senior analyst with the Enterprise Strategy Group, outlines the pros and cons,
what you need in place to facilitate this approach, how virtualization fits in, and the major
vendors in this space.
>> Data
security issues and DR planning
Kevin Beaver, independent information security consultant at Principle Logic LLC, takes a
closer look at disaster recovery security in this Q&A. Find out the most important steps to
take in order to best protect yourself against security vulnerabilities, what technologies are best
suited for disaster recovery security and how to perform tests to see if your environment is
secure.
>> Colocation
data centers: The pros and cons
Colocation data centers are an alternative to setting up your own disaster recovery site in a
remote location or outsourcing your disaster recovery to to a disaster recovery service. Colocation
facilities offer a data center in which organizations can set up their own network, servers and
storage. Although there are several benefits of using colocation centers for DR, users should make
sure their colocation data center is secure and in the right location. In this Q&A, Harvey
Betan, an independent business continuity planning consultant, describes the benefits of a "colo
data center" for DR, what criteria you should follow when choosing a colocation facility and what
you can expect to pay for a colocation facility.
>> Disaster
recovery monitoring tools boost data protection and simplify DR
Disaster recovery monitoring tools are put in place to help monitor changes that occur in data
storage environments, and can notify users of these changes before a disaster occurs. Because they
monitor changes, DR monitoring tools can often boost data protection and simplify disaster recovery
processes. Jon Toigo, CEO and Managing Principal of Toigo Partners International, discusses DR
monitoring tools and how they work in this Q&A.
>> Factoring
VoIP into your disaster recovery plan
Voice over IP (VoIP) has been adopted by many organizations for its operational benefits, but
what do you need to consider about VoIP from a disaster recovery (DR) standpoint? Paul Kirvan,
independent disaster recovery and business continuity expert, answers some commonly asked questions
about disaster recovery and VoIP in this Q&A.
>> Using
data deduplication products as part of an IT disaster recovery strategy
When integrating data deduplication products into your IT
disaster recovery strategy, there are a number of things you need to consider. Should you use
source dedupe or target dedupe? Which one is better for disaster recovery? If you are backing up
your data to tape and disk, are there other issues to keep in mind? W. Curtis Preston, independent
backup expert and executive editor, discusses source and target deduplication, how these approaches
differ, what that means from a disaster recovery perspective and more in this Q&A.
>> Hosted
PBX systems offer cost-effective telephone disaster recovery with caveats
Hosted private branch exchange (PBX) systems can be attractive for companies looking to cut
back on voice communications costs. However, hosted PBX systems are not a good fit for everyone.
Paul Kirvan, an independent disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) consultant,
outlines what you should consider before adopting a hosted PBX system in this Q&A.
>> WAN
optimization continues to evolve; integration with data deduplication products on the
horizon
The adoption of cloud storage and virtualization are driving wide-area network (WAN)
optimization implementation and it is becoming clear that WAN optimization is more flexible than
we've thought about it in the past. Jeff Boles, senior analyst with The Taneja Group, discusses WAN
optimization in this Q&A.
>> WAN
clustering emerges to provide transparent failover between physical sites
Wide-area network (WAN) clustering involves clustering across physical locations to provide
transparent failover between sites. Jeff Boles, senior analyst with Taneja Group, discusses WAN
clustering in this Q&A.
>> Disaster
recovery fundamentals FAQ
Disaster recovery (DR) impacts all aspects of IT, including storage, networking, data center
management and data security. Pierre Dorion, data center practice director at Long View Systems
Inc., answers the most common DR questions that IT professionals are asking.
>> Disk-based
data backup for DR
Disk-based backup and remote disk-based data backup have become important tools for companies
that want to get their data offsite but have short recovery time requirements. Pierre Dorion, data
center practice director at Long View Systems Inc., discusses using disk-based backup for disaster
recovery in this FAQ.
>> Disaster
recovery planning and network services
While ensuring access to critical business data often drives disaster recovery (DR) planning,
including network services in your DR plan can ensure business continuity. In this FAQ, Carrie
Higbie, global director for data center solutions at the Siemon Company, discusses the role of
network services in DR planning.
>> Workforce
continuity and disaster recovery
While ensuring that the IT infrastructure is up and running is a crucial part of disaster
recovery, you still need to provide users with the ability to work. Therefore, workforce continuity
must be part of any effective DR plan. In this interview, business continuity specialist Pierre
Dorion discusses the importance of ensuring workforce continuity.
>> Disaster
recovery replication FAQ
With the increasing availability of replication products, many are turning to this technology
as part of a DR strategy to address tighter recovery time objectives (RTOs). W. Curtis Preston,
executive editor and independent backup expert, discusses replication in the DR space in this
FAQ.
>> Disaster
recovery services FAQ
Dick Benton, senior consultant with GlassHouse Technologies answers frequently asked questions
about outsourcing DR.
>> Disaster
recovery testing FAQ
Pierre Dorion, data center practice director at Long View Systems Inc., discusses the
importance of testing in a DR
plan and best practices for ensuring the effectiveness of a test.
>> Failover
and failback operations FAQ
Wide area network (WAN) acceleration and optimization can produce numerous benefits by reducing
the traffic you're transmitting to remote locations. Check out this FAQ guide to learn about the
significance of WAN optimization in the DR space from Jeff Boles, Senior Analyst with the Taneja
Group.
>> Failover
and failback in server virtualization environments FAQ
Failover and failback operations can be crucial to the success of a DR plan. Jeff Boles, Senior
Analyst with the Taneja Group, discusses the significance of failover and failback operations in
the server virtualization environment to help organizations maximize their DR efforts.
>> Hosted
PBX systems offer cost-effective telephone disaster recovery with caveats
Hosted private branch exchange (PBX) systems can be attractive for companies looking to cut
back on voice communications costs. However, hosted PBX systems are not a good fit for everyone.
Paul Kirvan, an independent disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) consultant,
outlines what you should consider before adopting a hosted PBX system in this Q&A.
>> Mobile
data recovery services for disaster recovery FAQ
Paul Kirvan details the pros and cons of mobile recovery services and important things to
consider when deciding if a mobile recovery service is right for your needs.
>> Remote
data center management for disaster recovery purposes
Kyle Rankin, systems architect with Quinstreet Inc. and president of the North Bay Linux Users
Group, discusses the pros and cons of remote data center management in this FAQ.
>> The
role of tape in disaster recovery
Despite the growth of remote backup over the network, tape is still a key element in disaster
recovery (DR) plans. Pierre Dorion, data center practice director at Long View Systems Inc.,
answers common tape backup questions as they relate to DR.
>> WAN
acceleration and optimization FAQ
WAN acceleration and optimization can produce numerous benefits by reducing the traffic you're
transmitting to remote locations. Check out this FAQ guide to learn about the significance of WAN
optimization in the DR space from Jeff Boles, Senior Analyst with the Taneja Group.
This was first published in April 2009