Firelock - Fireproof Data Storage

A nationwide network of offsite data protection firms is also able to provide disaster recovery services when their clients are in need.  Because these services are available through the Secure Media Vault Associates (SMVA) it is possible to utilize the facilities of an SMVA member in another region if the nature of the disaster requires temporarily relocating operations.  This gives DR planners much more flexibility and many more options when formulating their disaster response protocols.

Many of these companies have helped their clients through major natural disasters, long-term power outages, fires, etc.  In addition to traditional disaster recovery/business continuity services these locations are also able to host containerized data center modules, such as Firelock’s Secure Agile Vault Environment, or SAVE units. 

SMVA network members all offer their clients a much higher level of data protection than their competition.  Unlike the national chains of offsite data storage companies, these owner-managed independent companies in the SMVA network utilize Firelock Class 125 data-rated fireproof vaults with optimum environmental conditions for the protection of their clients’ data tapes.  In addition to protecting data backup tapes, these vaults are used to protect the IT equipment (for E-vaulting and co-location) that hosts their clients mission critical information.  They also utilize the latest technology in barcode tracking of media and GPS monitoring of their media transport vehicles. 

The standards of excellence they uphold in their data storage business are applied the their disaster recovery services.  These service capabilities combined with the flexibility of the many network locations gives SMVA clients unbeatable disaster recovery options.

Managed hosting companies are often the sole custodian of their client’s mission critical information.  Statistics vary, but the majority of companies that lose their vital information go out of business within the next year.  Protecting this information is rarely seen as a priority for this industry, as uptime and cost per GB of storage tend to be the key selling points hosting companies emphasize.  Not all companies are the same, of course, and a small but growing contingent of managed hosting companies is investing in server vaults for their data center to ensure the survival of their clients’ data, even if their facility is hit by a disaster.

This concept of offering clients a higher level of protection for a premium price is not a new one in the data protection industry.  For nearly twenty years a network of offsite data storage companies has been using Firelock media vaults to differentiate themselves from the competition and grow their businesses.  In any market with a lot of competition the product and or service becomes a commodity, and in a commodity market the lowest price almost always wins.  To avoid this margin-shrinking phenomenon the Secure Media Vault Associates (the network of Firelock-equipped offsite data storage companies) invested in true data-rated vaults and are able to charge premium prices for their services.  Their clients recognize the value of the investment their service providers have made to protect their backup data and are willing to pay extra for this level of security.

By providing a data center with real data protection capabilities these hosting companies can win new business without slashing their prices to be the cheapest vendor.  They can also go after clients that have more stringent information protection requirements, like healthcare companies with HIPAA regulations and financial service firms with FTC mandates to satisfy.  A Class 125 server vault is an excellent way for a managed hosting company to carve out a very profitable niche in a crowded market.

Firelock will once again exhibit at the Professional Records and Information Services Management (PRISM) Conference in Reno, NV from May 11-13.  This event features seminars and a trade show for owners and managers in the offsite data storage services industry.  As a provider of the highest rated fireproof data vaults in the industry, we are always happy to meet offsite data storage service providers who are looking for a way to offer their clients the best data storage environment for their mission critical backup tapes and E-vaulting equipment.

Over the years a network of Firelock-equipped offsite storage companies all over the country has formed to offer customers with multiple locations in other cities the same level of protection at all locations by partnering with other network members.  This network, called the Secure Media Vault Associates (SMVA) is also able to share leads and ideas on best practices for information security and facilities management.  Firelock will be hosting a networking event and informal seminar for SMVA members and prospective members from 1:00-5:00 PM on May 10th.

Firelock will also be hosting roundtable discussions on marketing ideas for the offsite data storage industry and a seminar on “Making You a Better You” through networking and other beneficial business practices.  Hope to see you there!

In the last year many industries have suffered the effects of a sluggish economy.  Decreased sales revenues, declining stock values and job cuts have plagued countless organizations.  One industry that has weathered this storm well is offsite data storage service providers.  Of course there is always some negative trickle-down effect in a recession, but in the last year revenues have been maintained and work force reductions were few in this industry.

This demonstrates the high priority organizations give to protecting their backup data.  They recognize that maintaining a backup set of their mission critical information is cheap insurance against what would be a major disaster if this information were lost.  Protecting operational data ensures a quick recovery from a disaster and safeguarding archival data is necessary for potential litigation support or federal inquiries in the future.  When revenues are down, these clients recognize the last thing they need is a costly data loss disaster.

Firelock has seen this success in the Class 125 data vaults it has built for new customers and expanding the vaults for existing customers in the last year.  Their clients recognize the value provided by these offsite storage service firms that offer a higher standard of media protection than the national offsite storage companies.  In fact, these Firelock-equipped companies have a nationwide network, the Secure Media Vault Associates, to offer multi-city service for larger clients that need this higher level of protection at multiple locations. 

As the economy recovers a beneficial trickle-down effect will take hold and create more revenue opportunities for most industries.  As one industry that has remained strong throughout this recession, the offsite data storage industry is sure to enjoy even greater prosperity in the years ahead.

New Replacement for These?

IBM and Fujifilm have recently announced they have a new magnetic tape technology with storage capacity 44 times more dense than LTO 4 tape cartidges, or 35 terrabytes of uncompressed data per tape!  These new tapes utilize barium-ferrite (BaFe) particles, which are one-third the size of traditional tape particles and aligned perpendicular to the tape (as opposed to horizontal alignment of magnetic materials on LTO tapes) to achieve this super high-density capability.  BaFe is a crystaline substance which Fujifilm claims does not corrode or change over time, making it ideal for long-term archival storage.  Like any new technology, this BaFe tape has both positive and negative qualities that raise some questions about what they mean to the data storage community.

For one, what implications does this “hard-to-demagnetize” characteristic have for information security?  The tape manufacturer said the process of reducing the particle to microscopic size is a challenge because it risks reducing the resistance to demagnification of a ferromagnetic material.  This means tapes could be difficult to reuse or could lead to more errors as some parts of the tape may not be re-recorded due to this resistance.  Also imagine the problems of degaussing it at end of life. Will these tapes need to be shredded to ensure destruction of the information held within?

Another question is how will this high capacity capability fit into the tape rotation programs practiced by the majority of data center operators?  With the ability to store all of an organization’s operational and archival data on just a few tapes, how will this affect the timing of removing tapes to a secure offsite location?  How many organizations will have the volume of data to make it worth the switch to this new media type?  Maybe Google, Microsoft and other large enterprise companies will benefit from this new technology, but for smaller organizations it is not an issue.  They may still want a tape that is done at the end of the day.   

Cindy Grossman, vice president of IBM Tape and Archive Storage Systems, said the advancement shows that “tape storage is alive and strong and will continue to provide users reliable data protection, while maintaining a cost advantage over other storage technologies, including hard disk drives and flash drives.”  It will be interesting to see how these new super density tapes are utilized when they become available, and if they live up to their manufacterer’s expectations.

One of the major considerations in offering offsite data storage services is deciding how large to make the vault.  Building a vault that’s too large increases fixed costs beyond the point where the revenue generated by the vault can cover them.  Building a vault too small reduces costs for the short term, but will be outgrown too soon and may not be impressive to prospective customers when they tour the facility.

Firelock has been a valued business partner with countless offsite data protection firms for many years, so its staff brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.  Finding the right sized vault design for the first phase of each individual client’s business is part of the service Firelock provides.  I say “first phase” because Firelock vaults are expandable.  When the vault is close to capacity with data tapes, server equipment and other information assets your clientele has entrusted to your vault, it is time to expand.

The modular design of  Firelock vaults makes this possible, while providing unsurpassed Class 125 data protection.  The new phase of the data vault is designed, manufactured and installed to create the capacity needed for your next expansion of market share.  The vault can even be relocated and reconfigured if your facility needs demand it.  Best of all, the new vault phase is typically paid for with revenue from the first phase.

Marketing to the Media Client is a complex initiative.  The client is sophisticated and mandates a higher level of commitment than the box document clientele.  Your competitors may deliberately make the pricing and service convoluted and this makes the client believe that changing may be a difficult task.  Too often larger competitors plant doubts in the minds of potential clients about your capability to handle this complex service. Chain of Custody, Security, Precise Environmental Control and Tracking Media in Rotation are critical issues. Your first client meeting and market reputation should immediately put these concerns to rest. In fact, you need to immediately make the client know that these are your specialties, not something you are unfamiliar with.

Too often service providers use a shotgun approach and hit nothing.  You must define the target you wish to acquire and develop a specific strategy that will accomplish this.  It is fine to say you want to hit the “Sweet Spot” but defining your ideal client varies from City to City, Region to Region and most definitely from Service Provider to Service Provider.  Your competition most assuredly will impact where your program can be most effective.

First and foremost, media vaulting is a visual sales approach. Clients will demand to tour your facility. Designing your facility so that a tour request is welcome news to your marketing team. Successful practitioners actually make selling the tour the first step in any client contact. Attempting to sell media storage based on price is foolhardy. You first sell the visit to your facility and position it as a facility of change and implementation.  IT Managers are technologists and welcome an opportunity to visit sophisticated technology in their region. Your goal is to point out that each feature was designed to offer a desired solution to specific client requests. Explaining how each and every design element is predicated on offering greater security, faster service and more reliable media life-spans for the client is your mission on “The Tour.” Your confidence in this facility should be such that the end of the “The Tour” does not end with a request for their business but for them to tour where they currently store their media. (more…)

For years some data storage analysts have been predicting the demise of data backup tapes as a vital component of disaster recovery plans.  Yet the practice of offsite storage of  backup media remains a popular and cost-effective way to safeguard mission critical information.  As long as there is the threat of data corruption by viruses, sabotage or other means there will be a need to keep data backups offline and secured.

Class 125 data vault for the protection of critical backup tapes

To serve organizations that run backup tapes and need to store them offsite an entire industry has developed.  As it is with any industry, there are varying degrees of quality among the data storage service providers.  The most conscientious service providers have invested in Firelock fireproof vaults to ensure the protection of their clients’ critical backup media.  Even if they have a catastrophic fire at their facility, these service providers know the inside of their vaults will remain below the temperature at which data is lost for hours. 

Of course a fireproof (and heatproof) media storage vault is just the foundation upon which the best offsite storage firms build their superior service.  The vault must maintain the proper climate for long-term storage of data tapes, since the cycling of temperature and humidity can be just as damaging to backup media as excessive heat.  Tracking the movement of media is critical, since it doesn’t do much good to protect data tapes if they are lost.  Hands-on management and dedicated personnel are also necessary to provide true data protection services.

It is likely that data backup tapes will continue to be a viable way to safeguard mission critical information for many years to come.  Fortunately, there are excellent offsite data storage services all over the country capable of protecting this backup data.