The vSphere vStorage APIs for Data Protection enable backup applications to perform:

• Agentless backups with no VM processing
  
• Centralised off-host LAN free backups
  
• Ultra high-performance backups using Change Block Tracking
  
• Incremental, differential, full-image and file level backups and restores
  
• Microsoft VSS application-consistent backups

Removing duplicate data from backups typically enables a months worth of data to be retained in the space required for a full backup.

By maintaining an off-site copy of your deduplicated backups you negate the need to use tape for anything but long term retention.

Backing-up to private and public cloud storage eliminates the need for tape even for long term retention.

A modern data protection strategy needs to utilise more than just disk and tape. Array-based snapshots enable:

• Creation of application consistent replicas without moving a single piece of data
  
• Creation of multiple recovery points per day
  
• Easy and rapid recovery of applications, data and VMs

Source based dedupliction typically eliminates 90% of the backup data before it traverses the network, making it possible to centralise the backup of remote offices even using small WAN links.

Modern unified storage arrays provide the ability to replicate Windows file shares and maintain multiple local and remote snapshots.

As the Windows client integrates with these snapshots to enable easy restore of files there is typically no need to perform daily or weekly backups.

Current tape centric backup solutions no longer meet the needs of most customers, but it is important to evaluate any potential new solutions in your environment.

SNS has developed a series of services to enable you to quickly and cost-effectively determine if a new solution is the right one for your organisation.