Create a Game Plan to Implement Cloud Backup the Right Way
Optimzie your backup initiative and mitigate the challenges of the cloud
RETIRED CONTENT
Please note that the content on this page is retired. This content is not maintained and may contain information or links that are out of date.Insufficient planning for cloud backup can result in:
- Implementing a solution that does not meet the organization’s requirements for backup and recovery
- A misconception of the real value proposition for the cloud, leading to a solution that costs more for the same capabilities as an alternative
- Vendor lock-in
- An inaccurate estimate of the level of effort required by transitioning to cloud backup, leading to budget overruns and missed implementation goals
- Implementing a solution that does not meet requirements for security or compliance
- Missing out on the opportunities of cloud backup due to fear, uncertainty, and doubt
This cloud backup implementation blueprint can help organizations:
- Determine if the cloud is a good fit for the organization’s backup needs
- Identify the best technical approach to cloud backup for the organization
- Strategize how to approach cloud vendors to ensure a favorable contract
- Identify barriers and challenges to targeting backups at the cloud and build a road map to mitigate these
- Improve operational efficiencies around backup and recovery
- Transition from legacy tape technologies and enhance recoverability of data in long-term storage
- Avoid significant capital investment and transition to a subscription-based model for backup
- Access advanced data center capabilities that may otherwise be out of financial reach for the organization
Book Your Workshop
Onsite Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn’t enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our Project Workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a road map in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Evaluate the business case for targeting backup at the cloud
The Purpose
- Understand how cloud backup will affect backup and recovery processes
- Determine backup and recovery objectives
- Assess the value proposition of cloud backup
Key Benefits Achieved
- A high-level understanding of the benefits of moving to cloud backup
- A best-fit analysis of cloud backup in comparison to organizational needs
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Document stakeholder goals for cloud backup |
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| 1.2 | Document present backup processes |
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| 1.3 | Document ideal backup processes |
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| 1.4 | Review typical benefits of cloud backup |
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Module 2: Identify candidate data sets and assess opportunities and readiness
The Purpose
- Identify candidate data sets for cloud-based backup
- Determine RPOs and RTOs for candidate data sets
- Identify potential value specific to each data set for targeting backup at the cloud
- Evaluate organizational readiness for targeting backup at the cloud
Key Benefits Achieved
- Documented recovery objectives
- Recommendations for cloud backup based on actual organizational needs and readiness
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Document candidate data sets |
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| 2.2 | Determine recovery point and recovery time objectives for candidate data sets |
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| 2.3 | Identify potential value of cloud-based backup for candidate data sets |
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| 2.4 | Discuss the risk and value of cloud-based backup versus an on-premises solution |
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| 2.5 | Evaluate organizational readiness for cloud backup |
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| 2.6 | Identify data sets to move to the cloud |
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Module 3: Mitigate the challenges of backing up to the cloud
The Purpose
- Understand different cloud provider models and their specific risks
- Identification of how cloud backup will affect IT infrastructure and personnel
- Strategize ways to mitigate the most common challenges of implementing cloud backup
- Understand the client/vendor relationship in cloud backup
- Understand the affect of cloud backup on data security
Key Benefits Achieved
- Verified best-fit cloud provider model for organizational needs
- Verified strategy for meeting the most common challenges for cloud-based backup
- A strong understanding of how cloud backup will change IT
- Strategies for approaching vendors to ensure a strong footing in negotiations and clear expectations for the client/vendor relationship
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Discuss the impact of cloud backup on infrastructure and IT environment |
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| 3.2 | Create a cloud backup risk contingency plan |
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| 3.3 | Document compliance and security regulations |
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| 3.4 | Identify client and vendor responsibilities for cloud backup |
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| 3.5 | Discuss and document the impact of cloud backup on IT roles and responsibilities |
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| 3.6 | Compile a list of implementation intiatives |
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| 3.7 | Evaluate the financial case for cloud backup |
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Module 4: Build a cloud backup implementation roadmap
The Purpose
- Create a road map for implementing cloud backup
Key Benefits Achieved
- Determine any remaining gaps between the present state and the ideal state for cloud backup
- Understand the steps and time frame for implementing cloud backup
- Allocate roles and responsibilities for the implementation intitiative
- A validated implementation road map
| Activities: | Outputs: | |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Perform a gap analysis to generate a list of implementation intiatives |
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| 4.2 | Prioritize cloud backup initiatives |
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| 4.3 | Assess risks and dependencies for critical implementation initiatives |
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| 4.4 | Assign ownership over implementation tasks |
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| 4.5 | Determine road map time frame and structure |
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| 4.6 | Populate the roadmap with cloud backup initiatives |
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