Create a Game Plan to Implement Cloud Backup the Right Way
Optimzie your backup initiative and mitigate the challenges of the cloud
Onsite Workshop
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
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: | |
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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: | |
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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: | |
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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: | |
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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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