Data Backup Digest

Amazon Web Services has been making a lot of moves to solidify their presence at the top of the data storage game. Their latest announcement, which was delivered just after the turn of the New Year, takes direct aim at legacy data archival and long-term retention via AWS Cloud.

Understanding the Process

Delivered in the form of an S3 interface, Index Engines primary purpose is to collect data from outdated backup tape systems and submit them to the secure framework of the AWS Cloud. However, it does this only after scanning and filtering tapes for single instances of relevant data, applying the appropriate retention policies and, once the entire process is finished, disposing of the tapes in a safe and secure manner.

Obviously this requires direct access by an Index Engines technician. The entire process is completed within their certified processing lab, which also eliminates the need for increased overhead or additional work on behalf of your internal IT team.

Sabina Joseph, head of global storage partnerships and alliances with Amazon Web Services, explained the importance of data in the 21st century as well as the need for long-term data retention by saying: "Data is the lifeblood of every organization. Data that is generated by people is the foundation of future decisions, ideas and products that will represent business growth and success. However much of this data, the aged data that is typically archived on legacy backup tapes, is often hidden in offsite storage vaults and is not easily leveraged. Beyond leveraging the intellectual property on legacy tapes, organizations also face legal and compliance requirements including privacy regulations and eDiscovery requests related to data that only resides on these tapes."

Direct Benefits

According to an official statement, Index Engines brings a number of benefits to Amazon AWS. The vast reduction in risk and liability of maintaining tape-based data is eliminated immediately, as is the need for spacious storage areas that are full of cumbersome backup tapes.

IT officials will have better control and management over your organization's archival data, which lets them achieve compliance with any and all standards. They'll also have greater access to unstructured data.

Tim Williams, CEO with Index Engines, spoke about the need for increased accessibility to legacy data. He was quoted as saying: ''"Legacy backup tapes are hard to access, impossible to search and expensive to restore, yet they contain vital corporate records that must be preserved to meet legal and regulatory requirements. We're excited to work with AWS to make that data accessible, responsive and governable." ''

Increased Security and the Potential for Huge Cost Savings

Early reports suggest the integration of Amazon AWS and Index Engines could result in a savings of 76% within a period of three years on behalf of companies who opt for the service. With that in mind, as well as the increasing need for long-term storage stability and security, it's definitely time for the diehard tape enthusiasts to join the mainstream. For more information on Amazon Web Services, their recent collaboration with Index Engines or any of their other solutions, please visit their official site at aws.amazon.com.