Compaq Computer Corp. and LiveVault Corp. are teaming to give users a way to back up and recover data through an online managed service designed to make that task simpler and easier than doing it themselves.
"The majority of small offices simply don't perform the task, and that's the real concern. We've all understood for several years now that if data isn't secure, or can't be recovered, it's a serious problem," says Mike Karp, a senior analyst with Enterprise Management Associates Inc.
The LiveVault Online Backup Service will be offered as part of Compaq's CarePaq services, which are designed to help users that have a limited IT staff, like small and medium businesses, as well as remote enterprise offices. The service lets users automatically back up and recover data through LiveVault, so they don't have to perform the task themselves. It also helps prevent data from being lost if someone forgets to do the backup as scheduled. The LiveVault backup services are available for all users that have Compaq's ProLiant Windows NT and 2000 servers.
The LiveVault offering will add to Compaq's existing CarePaq services, which already features extended warranties, hardware and software integration, support and maintenance.
The LiveVault Online Backup Service is based on the company's replication technology. Users of the LiveVault service get automatic Windows NT/2000 server backup, data recovery services, and offsite secure electronic data vaulting at Iron Mountain data centers. One interesting feature is that the CarePaq for LiveVault Service can protect open databases without plug-ins or complex configurations, the company claims. The bottom line is that users should be able to have their databases protected up-to-the-minute, without the downtime required with traditional backup methods.
CarePaq offers users a specified number of prepaid backup credits, each for one month of continuous protection for 1G byte of protected data. Once the network manager initiates backup, the LiveVault Service Operations Center securely monitors and manages all backup policies and restores around the clock.
The CarePaq for LiveVault Service is available now through Compaq and all Compaq authorized channels. Recovery of large databases or systems on network-attached storage or CD-ROM is also available, based on the amount of data being restored.