• Hot Backups
• Without a near instantaneous backup of your data hot backups can be a risky proposition as the database or mailstore is kept in a logging or journaling mode. This means the database is not updating as it must be paused to create a clean backup therefore all data is being stored in the log files. The longer the database remains in this mode the heavier the impact to performance and stability become.

• Cold Backups
• When initiating a cold backup the database is completely stopped the application is brought off line and the database is then completely backed up. Though this method is much more reliable and stable then a hot backup it presents its own unique disadvantages, as users are not able to access the database during this period this activity is typically done at the slowest hours of business. In a 24 x 7 environment this type of backup nearly always impacts business activities. This type of backup typically requires manual intervention by an administrator most likely at late hours on weekends.

• Archival and Compliance Backup:
• This includes backing up on a scheduled basis to either tape or disk based media. Many companies are required to keep specific records for 7 years or more and as such need to find a cost effective way to store and archive that data.

• In this environment time to backup and recover are not as critical as having a reliable archive to retrieve if and when the need arises. A low cost tape solution or disk to disk backup method typically works for this situation.

• Restoration Backup:
• Restoration backups are designed to be able to quickly retrieve any lost or corrupted data and minimize the impact of down time in the event of hardware failure or user error
• This environment requires a fast backup media as well as a fast means of recovery and simple management tools to restore a single file or an entire logical file system within seconds.
• Applications that typically create challenges in this environment are OLTP Databases such as Oracle and SQL, as well as email applications like Exchange. The dilemmas these applications create are choosing between hot or cold backups.

• Disaster Recovery
• Disaster recovery in its simplest form is having a current or as current as possible copy of production data at an alternate location. This data would be readily available in the event of a extended outage due to a disaster or other circumstances at the production site.
• Each business has a different requirement for their Disaster Recovery needs. Many businesses can survive without data for 3 or 4 days or longer while efforts are taken to bring the business back on line. Other companies lose money for every minute or even second that their data is unavailable. Most businesses fall somewhere in between.
• Challenges in this environment are keeping near real time copies of data on a fast and reliable backup media. Most companies choose to mirror their data in an asynchronous mode at defined intervals minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day and so forth based on the requirements of their business needs and often have differing schedules based on the importance of the application to the business.

• Business Continuance/Hot Site
• Business continuance means just that in the event of a disaster or devastating failure at the production site an alternate location is available with the most current data available and all the hardware necessary to keep the business operational.
• Hot Sites often include workstations for business critical employees to continue their day to day work.
• Challenges in this environment include keeping a near real time copy of production data updated, automated or semi manual failover of applications such as database, email, shared drives, and dns to the Hot Site.

Utilizing best of breed hardware and software products MSSC has developed solutions for all of these circumstances. Our solutions include sub second creation of snapshots, by utilizing snapshot technologies we are able to mirror data quickly and efficiently using much less bandwidth then what was often needed in the past. MSSC offers automated, semi manual, and manual failover to Hot Site or Disaster Recovery locations. The Goal of the MSSC solution is to provide your company with the appropriate backup and recovery method that apply to your companies specific needs.