IBM Pushes New Backup Services Into the Cloud

IBM has launched two new cloud-based solutions that are geared toward the data protection and data recovery markets. The new services, which are branded IBM SmartCloud Virtualized Server Recovery and IBM SmartCloud Archive, are available under IBM SmartCloud Resilience services.

With the new services, IBM is looking to tap into the large potential market of backup and disaster recovery services, which many IT organizations are choosing to place in the cloud. IBM’s new services help clients to move critical data and recovery options offsite without the need for physical offsite facilities. This can significantly reduce IT expenses on disaster recovery and business continuity.

Backup and disaster recovery are two services that enterprise IT organizations are increasingly assigning to the cloud, rather than to physical offsite facilities. IBM SmartCloud Virtualized Server Recovery and IBM SmartCloud Archive are designed to add flexibility to customers seeking data and application protection in a cost-effective way, by offering faster recovery of archived data and essential applications.

Allen Downs, a director of IBM's Global Technology Services, says that IBM’s Virtualized Server Recovery service differs from other managed backup services by offering a single standardized virtualized server environment worldwide. That eliminates the need to custom-design services for each individual customer.

Basically, IBM’s new offerings constitute a cloud-based disaster management service, wherein clients within the IBM SmartCloud environment are able to protect and store critical business data efficiently in times of disaster (with disaster including both natural disasters and IT failures). In the past, companies had to create numerous images of servers and applications running at multiple sites for disaster recovery purposes. That proved to be very expensive, as well as a complex management challenge.With IBM SmartCloud’s virtual and physical server recovery service, the applications and associated data are securely stored in the cloud infrastructure and can be quickly recovered, without disrupting operations.

There are many advantages to IBM’s new offerings. Downs says users can choose to back up their data directly over the cloud, or to use an on-premise appliance that will act as a gateway to the IBM cloud. In any case, should disaster strike, users can fire up their servers and data in the IBM cloud via a portal. IT staff need not travel to an offsite location.

However, IBM may be faced with stiff competition as other technology giants, such as Oracle, HP, Microsoft and EMC, develop their own cloud-based offerings. Once more players enter the market and leverage virtualized servers for business continuity services, the services could become a commodity.

IBM is hoping that its services remain unique by offering some key capabilities that enable the service to be applied to businesses struggling with compliance issues. IBM SmartCloud Archive is geared toward privacy and regulatory compliance, and supports the e-discovery necessities of advanced search, indexing and retrieval. The service also offers users a document and records management system that can archive, find and retrieve both structured and unstructured content.

IBM's new services were announced at the Cloud Leadership Forum conference in Santa Clara, Calif., and will be available July 19.

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