Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• How does Rubrik's cloud time machine work?

  While Rubrik's cloud time machine may not offer new capabilities, the company's distributed file system provides a new way to handle versioned data.  Continue Reading

• Can I use backed-up data for analytics?

  While analytics and software for backed-up data appear to serve different purposes, there are a few ways the two can work together.  Continue Reading

• Are WAN optimization techniques in backup products reliable?

  Many backup software products now include WAN optimization techniques, but will users be quick to give up hardware-based WAN optimization?  Continue Reading

• What is the best archival media type?

  Many archival media types are available, including disk and cloud, but their level of reliability and storage density varies.  Continue Reading

• Are P2V server conversions being supplanted by V2V conversions?

  While physical-to-virtual server conversions are common, virtual-to-virtual conversions are becoming increasingly popular among backup vendors.  Continue Reading

• Why does Oracle Recovery Manager matter for backup?

  Oracle Recovery Manager not only handles underlying maintenance tasks, but increases database backup and recovery performance.  Continue Reading

• What are the most common issues with Office 365 backup?

  Backup offerings through Office 365 are becoming popular among cloud backup providers but they have some shortcomings compared to on-premise options.  Continue Reading

• What is Oracle Flashback Technology and is it a form of backup?

  With Oracle Flashback Technology, users can return data to a past status without traditional backup or restoration. But it's not a backup replacement.  Continue Reading

• What does VMware VVOLs support do for backup software products?

  VMware Virtual Volumes make storage array data services available to virtual machines. But what does it mean when a backup software product supports VVOLs?  Continue Reading

• Will VMware VVOLs affect my virtual data protection strategy?

  VMware VVOLs change how virtual machine storage is consumed, allowing data protection features to be managed at the software level.  Continue Reading

• What are the top five misconceptions about cloud-to-cloud data backup?

  Protecting data created in the cloud is a low priority for many organizations. Learn the biggest fallacies about cloud-to-cloud backup.  Continue Reading

• What are the top misconceptions about instant recovery?

  Instant recovery allows users to run a virtual machine from a backup copy. We list the top five fallacies around the technology.  Continue Reading

• How difficult is failback from a backup virtual machine?

  Recovery in place allows users to run apps from a backup virtual machine. Brien Posey explains the two steps involved with failing back to the primary VM.  Continue Reading

• Does a VMware restore differ from a Hyper-V restore?

  Restoring VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines from a backup are similar processes, but there are a few important differences to keep in mind.  Continue Reading

• How does the Cloud to Cloud Backup feature work with Asigra Cloud Backup?

  The Cloud to Cloud Backup feature is part of Asigra's agentless Cloud Backup software platform. Learn how it is used in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• What are the challenges with protecting Docker container data?

  Expert Brien Posey explains how Docker's architecture affects backups and how to best approach backing up Docker data.  Continue Reading

• Are there tools that help users migrate from one backup product to another?

  Backup software vendors such as CommVault offer services and/or software that assist customers with migrating from a competing product.  Continue Reading

• My backup appliance lacks cloud connectors. Is there a workaround?

  Some integrated backup appliances feature cloud connectivity that allows them to replicate the contents of a locally stored backup to the cloud.  Continue Reading

• How do you perform Docker backup?

  Few backup software providers offer Docker container backup support, but is there a way to back up Docker containers with any backup software?  Continue Reading

• Is copy data management a replacement for backup?

  Copy data management can be a backup replacement in certain situations, but organizations need to be aware of its limitations.  Continue Reading

• Is backing up cloud data possible using traditional backup software?

  Backing up cloud resources is similar to backing up local resources, but standard backup applications aren't always the way to back up cloud data.  Continue Reading

• Tape vs. disk: Which offers the greatest energy efficiency?

  Jon Toigo looks at the factors that determine whether disk or tape is more energy-efficient.  Continue Reading

• Which technology has affected tape storage capacity the most?

  Learn how Barium Ferrite perpendicular magnetic recording has impacted tape storage.  Continue Reading

• Is tape media storage reliability increasing due to innovation?

  The reliability of tape has steadily improved over the years, making it almost invulnerable to risk at this point, according to Jon Toigo.  Continue Reading

• How are major cloud providers using tape storage today?

  Find out why primary cloud providers such as Google and Amazon are shifting to tape -- and what that means for you.  Continue Reading

• How to address SQL Server data backup challenges

  What are the biggest challenges associated with backing up SQL Server?  Continue Reading

• What are good version retention objectives for archives?

  Recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives for backups are well understood, but what about version retention objectives for archives?  Continue Reading

• Where the cloud fits in your data protection scheme in 2015

  Where does the cloud best fit into data protection, archiving, DR or backup?  Continue Reading

• What additional functions should users expect from their backup app?

  Should your backup app do more than just backup data?  Continue Reading

• Dealing with Active Directory restore challenges

  What are the biggest challenges with backing up Active Directory?  Continue Reading

• Exchange Server data backup challenges

  What are the biggest challenges associated with backing up Exchange Server data? Brien Posey discusses in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• What does CommVault Simpana 10 error code 19:757 mean?

  What does CommVault Simpana 10 error code 19:757 mean and how do I resolve it?  Continue Reading

• What does CommVault Simpana 10 error code 19:861 mean?

  What does CommVault Simpana 10 Error code 19:861 mean and how do I resolve it?  Continue Reading

• How does agentless backup of virtual servers work?

  How does agentless backup of virtual servers work? How does the system understand what needs to be backed up?  Continue Reading

• Are there backup software products that support object storage?

  Have you heard of any backup software products that support object storage? Do you expect more will eventually? Why or why not?  Continue Reading

• Is Google Apps data safe?

  If you are running a small business that relies heavily on Google Apps, can you be sure your data is safe? Is there anything available to protect data created in the cloud?  Continue Reading

• What is Data Domain Boost and what is it used for?

  SearchDataBackup Senior Site Editor Andrew Burton explains what EMC's Data Domain Boost software is designed for, how it works, and which products it supports in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• What is Simpana OnePass and how does it work?

  Learn about this feature of CommVault's Simpana backup software platform aimed at streamlining backup and archiving processes and reducing the amount of data stored across the two.  Continue Reading

• How application awareness in backups increases productivity

  Can you discuss application awareness for widely used products like SharePoint and Exchange in backup software today?  Continue Reading

• Is mobile device data protection overlooked?

  Should mobile device data protection be on more organizations' radars?  Continue Reading

• Is performance a big issue with instant recovery?

  Is performance a big issue with instant recovery, or recovery-in-place? It seems like running a VM from backup storage would cause performance to drop.  Continue Reading

• How does instant recovery (recovery-in-place) work?

  What is recovery-in-place, which some people call instant recovery, and how does it work?  Continue Reading

• What are some ways we can meet our backup windows?

  Our backups are not completing in the window of time we have allocated. What are some of the alternatives to look at for getting them done within our backup windows?  Continue Reading

• What are the differences between file sync and share and backup?

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland discusses mobile device data protection, comparing products that perform file synchronization to products that perform an actual backup.  Continue Reading

• How do laptop and mobile device backup compare?

  Can you describe the different issues involved with laptops, phones and tablets specifically, and mobile device backup in general?  Continue Reading

• What are the biggest mobile device data protection challenges?

  What are the biggest challenges when it comes to mobile device data protection? Supporting different technologies among multiple users? Remote users?  Continue Reading

• When is it time to upgrade your backup software platform?

  What are the top five signs your backup software platform is outdated?  Continue Reading

• What should you look for in a cloud backup service-level agreement?

  What fine-print details should I watch for in a cloud backup service-level agreement?  Continue Reading

• Is tape the best option for archive security?

  What offers the best archive security: tape, disk or the cloud?  Continue Reading

• Why do you need data archiving software?

  What are the top five signs you need data archiving software?  Continue Reading

• How can I reduce my cloud storage costs?

  What are the top five ways to save money on cloud storage costs for data protection?  Continue Reading

• Why is cloud-based data protection not always a good thing?

  What are the top five reasons why cloud-based data protection is a bad idea?  Continue Reading

• What's best for archiving?

  What's the best choice: tape-based, disk-based or cloud-based archiving?  Continue Reading

• How should you choose a cloud backup service provider?

  What are the top five things to consider when choosing a cloud backup service provider for your organization?  Continue Reading

• How do VM backup tools fit in a cloud backup/DR environment?

  How do VM-specific backup apps fit into a cloud backup/DR environment? Is there anything that VM-specific tools offer that traditional tools don't in this area? Also, what about archiving?  Continue Reading

• Why not perform physical and virtual server backups with one tool?

  Since legacy backup software products have added VM backup capabilities, why do so many shops stick with a VM-specific solution instead of simply performing all virtual server backups with one tool? Wouldn't that be more efficient?  Continue Reading

• How do VM-specific backups compare with legacy software plug-ins?

  What are the preeminent VM-specific backup apps out there? And what are the pluses and minuses of using VM-specific backup apps compared with using a legacy software application's VM backup features?  Continue Reading

• How do primary storage clouds and cloud for backup differ?

  The difference between cloud backup and cloud storage comes down to application and access rather than architecture, says analyst Greg Schulz.  Continue Reading

• Mobile device data protection and security increasingly important

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey outlines the reasons why mobile data protection and security are increasingly important and whether organizations are on top of the issue today.  Continue Reading

• How copy data management differs from traditional backup

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses what the term 'copy data management' means and how it differs from traditional backup.  Continue Reading

• File sync and share vs. laptop backups

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses the difference between file sync and share and laptop backups in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How virtual machine replication to the cloud is changing data protection

  Brien Posey discusses how the ability to replicate and run virtual machines in the cloud is changing data protection and DR for SMBs.  Continue Reading

• Is backup modernization the end of legacy backup?

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses whether backup modernization is vendor hype and whether it means the end of legacy backup.  Continue Reading

• More backup application vendors support object storage

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses whether backup application vendors are adding support for object storage today and why.  Continue Reading

• The impact of the 'third platform of IT' on backup processes

  Brien Posey discusses the impact that the 'third platform of IT' will have on traditional backup processes in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Zero backup 'less flexible' than traditional backup

  What environments can benefit from a 'zero backup' approach?  Continue Reading

• Data protection and security for mobile devices a growing concern

  Paul Kirvan of Kirvan Associates discusses why data protection and security for mobile devices are growing in importance among IT professionals.  Continue Reading

• How to estimate the lifespan of backup tape media

  Brien Posey offers advice on how to estimate the useful lifespan of backup tape media based on how it is used, in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Comparing open source backup tools with commercial software

  Brien Posey compares open source backup tools and commercial backup software, and identifies things to consider before deploying open source software.  Continue Reading

• Best practices to migrate data from cloud to cloud

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses best practices to migrate data from one cloud provider to another, in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Hypervisor-based replication in VMware and Hyper-V

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses native hypervisor-based replication in VMware and Hyper-V, in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Using removable disk as a target for remote or small office backup/DR

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses using removable disk for small office backups and suggests some possible alternatives.  Continue Reading

• Options for backing up Active Directory

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland offers insight on finding the best choice for backing up Active Directory in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Is backup necessary for data stored in file sync services?

  Eric Slack of Storage Switzerland discusses whether it is necessary to back up data stored in file sync services in this Expert Response.  Continue Reading

• Resolving CommVault Simpana error code 91:29

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey details what causes CommVault Simpana error 91:29 and how to resolve it in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Backup monitoring tools shifting focus to application recovery

  Eric Slack of Storage Switzerland discusses why backup monitoring tools have shifted focus to application recovery in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Resolving Backup Exec error code 0xe0001212

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey explains what causes Backup Exec error code 0xe0001212 and how to resolve it in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for backing up server SSL certificates

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses whether server SSL certificates should be backed up separately in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Mitigating Active Directory restore challenges

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey offers some tips on how you can avoid challenges associated with restoring Active Directory from a backup.  Continue Reading

• Backup issues associated with Kerberos authentication

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses how Kerberos authentication can impact backup and what can be done to mitigate these issues.  Continue Reading

• Debating the importance of Box.com backup

  Learn whether Box.com backup is a good idea in this Expert Answer from independent backup expert Brien Posey.  Continue Reading

• Why backup monitoring software is growing in popularity

  Brien Posey discusses why backup monitoring software is growing in popularity and how it can help IT admins ensure effective backups.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for backing up Active Directory

  Brien Posey discusses whether Windows Backup is the preferred method for backing up Active Directory or whether any backup software can be used.  Continue Reading

• Ubuntu backup options and tools today

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey discusses the options and tools available for Ubuntu backup today in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Misconceptions about using a single platform for backup and archive

  Brien Posey discusses how backup and archive can be accomplished using a single software platform today and common misconceptions about this approach.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the right data snapshot approach

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey compares the various methods for creating a data snapshot in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• What will improve tape capacity, reliability and access to data?

  Ben Woo of Neuralytix discusses what forthcoming technology will improve tape capacity, reliability and access to data in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Is cloud storage impacting tape use for long-term data retention?

  Ben Woo, founder of Neuralytix, discusses whether cloud storage is being preferred to tape for long-term data retention in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Backup tape libraries increasingly more reliable and durable

  Ben Woo of Neuralytix discusses how and why backup tape libraries have grown in reliability and durability in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Mobile device backup challenges today

  W. Curtis Preston, independent backup expert and founder of TruthInIT, offers advice on backing up laptops and mobile devices.  Continue Reading

• When to use backup products designed for a virtual server environment

  W. Curtis Preston, independent backup expert and founder of TruthInIT, looks at using backup products designed for a virtual server environment.  Continue Reading

• Backup infrastructure: VTL, dedupe array, or integrated appliance

  Brien Posey discusses whether virtual tape libraries or dedupe arrays are better backup infrastructure fits in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Drawbacks of integrated backup appliances

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey offers insight on some drawbacks of integrated backup appliances in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Single-pass restore and why it matters

  Marc Staimer of Dragon Slayer Consulting discusses single-pass restore, what it's designed to accomplish and why it's important in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How image-level backup differs from traditional backup

  Marc Staimer looks at the differences between image-level backup and traditional backup in this Expert Response.  Continue Reading

• Crash-consistent vs. application-consistent backups of virtual machines

  Marc Staimer of Dragon Slayer Consulting compares crash-consistent and application-consistent backups of virtual machines in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Ensuring application restore from a backup

  Independent IT expert Brien Posey discusses what needs to be protected in order to perform an application restore from a backup in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Dedupe tools available today

  Brien Posey discusses who is using deduplicating disk arrays today and the latest dedupe tools in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Third-party DR tools vs. native VM replication

  Independent IT expert Brien Posey compares third party DR tools and native VM replication in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Mounting an instance of a virtual machine from the backup copy

  Marc Staimer of Dragon Slayer Consulting discusses things you should consider before running a backup instance of a VM from the backup copy.  Continue Reading