Comments on: Does cloud storage need backup?

By: Andy Ben-Dyke - RainStor

Andy Ben-Dyke - RainStor — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:27:37 +0000

The cost of keeping multiple copies or snapshots of data with another provider can be greatly minimized using compression techniques. By storing data in a form that is compressed and preferably accessible (queryable in the case of structured data) you can significantly reduce your cloud storage and upload costs. At RainStor we recently launched a SaaS data escrow service here, which although not positioned as a backup service, can be used to access old versions or deleted data should your SaaS provider be unable or unwilling to restore the data you need.

By: Terri

Terri — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:42:07 +0000

Ray – excellent post. I just posted my thoughts on the subject and linked back to your blog – users need to know! http://esgblogs.typepad.com/terris_blog/2009/08/cloud-storage-data-availability.html

Cheers,

Terri

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Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:56:04 +0000

[...] Does cloud storage need backup? | RayOnStorage Blog [...]

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:14:36 +0000

I hear you, let’s hope those cloud vendors out there are hearing you as well.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:54:36 +0000

Of course they want to be considered primary storage with marketing that pitches unlimited scalability not too mention the fact that they get paid for more for more data. Compressed backed up data generates less revenue. User-generated primary storage can grow super-fast. Then mix in the reason the cloud is so hot, small and micro businesses are creating web-apps that have the potential to blow-up overnight, the cloud is the perfect solution, especially on a shoe-string budget. I think we’re simply seeing marketing and demand out in front of engineering. Backup/restores will soon become the new differentiators for the first companies to offer it.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:33:17 +0000

I think the real question from cloud providers is are they to be considered primary-secondary storage or some sort of alternative to reference storage (for never updated data). It’s the confusion with this that sets them up for problems. If they are to be considered primary-secondary storage they need to either defer deletion or offer integrated backup. Just providing replication/mirroring does not suffice for primary-secondary storage…

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:03:21 +0000

You totally hit the nail on the head. I’ve been dealing with Rackspace and love their cloud solution but am amazed they don’t offer variable backups. Most often it will be due to user error but that doesn’t excuse them for not offering a solution. Crazy.

Thanks for bringing some attention to this issue.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:43:52 +0000

Interesting take and why not. Other service providers have offered varying level of retention services for years. My only concern was that some Cloud vendors were not considering this. Of course some cloud storage vendors only support secondary or tertiary storage and maybe for that service, backup via replication is sufficient.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:35:26 +0000

I find the whole concept of protecting cloud data curious. My take is that the cloud vendors will use this uncertainty as a profit center. They will (and some already do) charge different prices for different retentions. Don’t care about anything but yesterday’s data, the price is X. Oh you want yesterday’s and the past 15 days, now you pay X+Y. 30 days? X+Y+Z.

By using the above model, the provider pushes the retention decisions to the customer. The provider’s only responsibility is to maintain the appropriate number of copies to meet the SLA.

The final question relates to medium. What if a customer wants the data recoverable for 90 days? 1 year? 10 years? 30 years? I would suggest that different storage mediums would be appropriate for the different retentions including such options as primary disk, deduplicated VTL storag and physical tape.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:51:54 +0000

Jim, Thanks for your comment and validation. I do believe cloud storage can be used for primary storage but backup considerations become more severe when this is done.
Ray