CTERA Links Cloud Storage With Data Protection

Cloud storage vendor CTERA is looking to bring high-speed, easy-to-use, distributed storage to the SMB market with its cloud storage gateway appliances. CTERA is leveraging a concept where storage is provided both locally and replicated out in the cloud to meet multiple business needs. The local appliance provides high-speed access to data and backups, while the cloud-based replicated data offers geographic distribution in case of a loss of facility or other major disaster.

CTERA’s concept is not hard to fathom and has been attempted over the years by numerous vendors. However, complicated technical hurdles often derailed those attempts. CTERA is taking a slightly different approach, incorporating several technologies into its appliance to create an all-in-one cloud and on-premise storage solution that supports a variety of cloud models, ranging from private to public to hybrid.

According to Raj Mehta, CEO of Infosys International, a Plainview, N.Y.-based solution provider, cloud storage solutions like CTERA’s are sorely needed. "Today’s cloud-based storage is far too expensive for most small businesses," he says. "The cost per gigabyte far exceeds the cost of on-site storage, yet small businesses need the advantages offered by offsite backup. CTERA’s approach combines the speed and economy of local storage with the viability of offsite data preservation, something that small businesses need today."

CTERA has indeed stumbled upon a need centered on disaster recovery. Research firm Gartner says that, despite the high cost of down time, only 35% of small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place.

However, it is CTERA’s approach that makes its offering somewhat unique--a uniqueness that proves important with a plethora of vendors playing in the online backup and storage space.With its latest offering, the C800 appliance, CTERA has created an all-in-one NAS, file server and backup appliance that synchronizes data among individual PCs on the network and the C800 drives, then efficiently backs up using CTERA's integrated online backup service. Files can be restored anytime, anywhere using a web-based interface or from CTERA’s Virtual Cloud Drive, an applet that assigns drive letters to cloud storage folders.

CTERA also incorporates a multitude of features that round out the device's capabilities. For example, the company includes bandwidth-optimized backup, imaging technologies, virtualization support, automated synchronization and an FTP server, as well as remote management. All of this combine to create the company’s all-in-one claim.

CTERA sells its appliances and services through a network of authorized partners, meaning that IT managers will have to work with a solution provider to deploy the device and associated services. That makes nailing down pricing somewhat complex, affected by factors such as level of support, online storage, on-site storage and services associated with the appliance. However, the solution provider model offered by CTERA means that customers will have a one-stop method of incorporating the device and services by just leaving it all up to a solution provider.

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