Vodacom
Managed Hosted Backups
Enterprise class Backup and Recovery and Data Management on Diverse Platforms
Vodacom’s Managed Hosted Backup offers enterprise data protection for both physical and virtual platforms and provides backup and recovery from disk, tape or snapshots with support for both VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines as well as for dedicated infrastructure hosted in our world class data centres.
Our Managed Backup solution offers clients high-performance, backup and recovery for business-critical databases, applications, files and folders with built in optimised de-duplication and compression affording the customer reliability, scalability and performance with cost efficiencies all included in a single comprehensive solution.
Data is replicated in a de-duplicated format and encrypted in transit and at rest. The process is completely automated according to pre-defined replication policies. WAN optimisation and efficiencies with de-duplication on both source and destination offers savings on bandwidth and storage costs.
Built on a rugged Telco grade platform, Vodacom is able to accommodate large capacity database backups at high ingest rates and with very efficient bandwidth utilisation. This results in fast and reliable backup and recovery. This optimised option is specific for customers requiring high speed backup and recovery but also needing a cost effective long term offsite data retention solution for compliance reasons. Data can be stored on disk, replicated to secondary disk and then further spun off to tape for offsite storage and long term retention.
Vodacom’s Managed Hosted Backup self-serviceability
Customers can now manage their own backup environment through a user friendly self-management portal that allows customers to browse virtual and physical machines that are owned and hosted, and presented in an index format within the self-management portal. Customers can now dynamically protect their own servers and schedule backups according to the 3 policy options offered. Customers also have the ability to restore snapshots, files and folders without having to log a call to Vodacom CSOC in order to initiate a restore.
Customers can also download their own reports via the self-management portal. Reports on protected machines, backup success rates, capacity usage and more available.
The portal offers customers flexibility, self-management capability and visibility.
Robust Data Protection for your Business Critical Data
Supported Virtual Infrastructure
• Support for both VMware and Hyper-V.
Image and Data Recovery
• Virtual machines can be booted directly from backup disk. This ensures immediate recovery with minimal performance impact. The virtual machine can thus be in operation whilst the restore of the snapshot image to primary storage is in progress.
• Restoration of data to primary storage is initiated through the self-management portal.
• Snapshots from different points in time can be restored – based on the RPO package selected.
(See below for packages)
• When the snapshot restore is initiated through the backup self-management portal, the Vodacom backup engineer will approve the restore request. This is needed for the restore to proceed. Notification to the engineer is facilitated via automated email, making the approval process instant and mitigating delays but ensuring that Performance is optimised and is maintained for all customers on the platform.
• The image is restored to the primary storage that’s attached to the virtual platform, but does not overwrite the old image but is rather restored to an alternate location.
• True image restore increases recovery speed by preventing obsolete data from being restored.
Application consistent backups ensure faster restores by eliminating the need for database consistency repairs.
• Files can be restored without the need to mount and browse an entire Virtual Machine. Backups are agentless at image level, the complete contents being visible and indexed for restore. A backup agent is required for file and folder restores.
Granular Recovery
• Granular Recovery technology indexes the contents of data, making it easy to restore select items without restoring the whole backup.
• Restores of email, documents and objects are possible.
• File contents can also be restored from a Virtual Machine backup without first recovering and mounting the entire virtual machine.
Bare metal restores and Physical to Virtual Backup and Restores
• Bare metal restores eliminate the need to reinstall an OS or configuration of a server.
• Recover your physical server to a virtual environment with physical to virtual image conversion functionality.
Support for Virtual Machines and Snapshot Backups
Operating Systems
• Microsoft
• Linux
• Unix
Files, directories, systems states, other meta data. Files can be protected even when open and in use.
Databases and Applications
• Integration with relational databases, big data, messaging, application, including IBM DB2, IBM Informix, IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SAP HANA, SAP R/3, SAP Sybase, and other.
• Transactional consistency and log truncation is preserved during backup.
Storage systems
• Data is protected at storage level by integration with snapshot, replication and NDMP facilities on storage systems. The Network Data Management Protocol overcomes the need to mount NAS volumes in order to backup and restore.
Optimisation and acceleration
• Only changed blocks are backed up after the initial backup. These changes are merged with the original full backup to offer a complete full recovery but affecting less usage of storage, which in turn offers the customer savings.
• Intelligent source and target de-duplication can shrink backups by as much at 90%, significantly reducing storage requirements.
• Further compression is then effected resulting in reduced traffic over the network and faster backups and restores.
Networking
• The Hosted Managed Backup platform connects directly to our public cloud virtual server platform – Vodacom Virtual Hosting via high speed fibre links, enabling high speed recovery. High speed links can be facilitated for customers with private cloud platforms that require a Managed Hosted Backup solution.
Security
• Data is encrypted at the source with AES 256-bit encryption before it traverses the network.
Cloud Platforms
• Integration with VMware allows for protection of the metadata catalogue that defines the virtual data centre and relationships between the vm’s and their virtual applications.
• Snapshots are orchestrated, and catalogued. Snapshots are written to and can be retrieved from disk or tape.
• By scheduling snapshots frequently, eliminating data loss, improved recovery point objectives can be achieved.
Features
Vodacom manages automated daily incremental backups, weekly full backups and monthly full backups.
Server data being backed up will move from disk to tape.
Tape media with client data is securely sent to Metrofile for offsite storage, in accordance with the customer’s business continuity requirements. Alternate offsite arrangements can also be made if required.
In the event of data loss or a disaster, hosted clients are able to restore up to 7 days of data from disk.
Should data older than 7 days be required, Vodacom will make such available by recalling offsite tapes if required.
Backup Schedule
Backup Type Media Location
Daily Data Backup VTL Disk Vodacom Data Centre
Weekly Data Backup LT04 Offsite
Monthly Data Backup LT04 Offsite
Backup Packages
Backup Packages Monthly Recurring - per GB
PLATINUM APPLIANCE:
Appliance to be taken in conjunction with either Gold, Silver or Bronze licensing options.
RPO and Retention based on agreed scoping document signed by Vodacom and Customer.
SQ
GOLD:
1 Year Retention: 12 x Monthly,(tape) 4 x Weekly (tape) and 7 x Daily (disk).
RPO: 6 Hours (4 backups per 24 hrs).
RTO: 1 hour per 100GB for Snapshot Restores from disk.
Snapshots or dedicated backup.
R 14.00
Standard Backup Data Retention Schedule
For Disaster Recovery
• Replicates to another offsite storage pool.
• WAN optimisation ensures speedy transfer of data.
• Controls the flow of packets.
• Check some at destination to ensure all data is replicated.
Transfer speed approximations
• 100 GB replication uses 1 Mbps of the replication WAN or LAN link.
• 1 TB replication uses 10 Mbps of the replication WAN or LAN link.
• 5 TB replication uses 50 Mbps of the replication WAN or LAN link.
• The approximations in the examples above may vary based on data type transferred. Factors that could influence transfer rates are data type, storage growth rates and rate of change.
• It enables fast and scalable data recovery as backup images are available for immediate recovery from any replicated location, with minimised bandwidth cost impact as data is compressed and de-duplicated in transit.
Supported Disaster Recovery Architectures – Customer Specific Solutions quoted on scope
• Tier 1
Backup to disk, replicate to secondary disk and then offload to tape.
1TB primary disk – 1TB secondary disk (retained for a month).
(1 TB native tape for a year).
• Tier 2
Backup to disk, replicate to secondary disk.
1TB primary disk – 1TB secondary disk (retained for a month).
• Tier 3
Backup to disk only.
1TB primary disk only.
Compliance
• Vodacom Managed Hosted backup helps customers archive and retain data in accordance with regulations, audits or compliance in a cost effective manner using storage lifecycle policies.
• When on disk, the search and hold functionality helps customers find the relevant data needed for litigation and puts a hold on the retention policy to prevent data from being expired or removed from the storage lifecycle.
• Data retention policies can be met by storing media in secure offsite storage facilities.
Disaster Recovery and Compliance
Business Rules
SILVER:
1/2 Year Retention: 6 x Monthly, 4 x Weekly and 7 x Daily.
RPO: 12 Hours (2 backups per 24 hrs).
RTO: 1 hour per 100GB for Snapshot Restores from disk.
Snapshots or dedicated backup.
R 12.00
BRONZE:
1 Month Retention: 1 x Monthly, 4 x Weekly, 7 x Daily.
RPO: 24 Hours (1 backups per 24 hrs).
RTO: 1 hour per 100GB for Snapshot Restores from disk.
Snapshots or dedicated backup.
R 10.00
Extended Retention Non-Recurring Fee
Disaster Recovery – Tape Media 8TB. R 3200.00 per tape
estimated pricing – quote to be provided at the time
of ordering.
Once Off Charge Non-Recurring Fee
Setup R 3000.00
Benefits
• Scalable backups, offline storage, fast retrieval.
• Unified backup, de-duplication, with support for VMWare and Hyper-V.
• Recovery in minutes or restore just a file with granular recovery technology.
• Consolidates and protects data in hybrid environments.
• Encryption for security.
• Multiplexed backup jobs for maximum performance.
• De-duplication at source and destination for cost savings.
• Quickly and easily locate needed information with enhanced search functionality.
Standard Backup Data Retention Schedule (continued)
• Vodacom Managed Hosted Backup is available in Midrand, CPT and Durban.
• Offsite storage of backup tapes available in CPT and JHB only. Durban backup to disk only.
• The Managed Hosted Backup Infrastructure is supported by Vodacom, Standard infrastructure SLA’s apply.
• Vodacom will ensure that the infrastructure is managed and remains up to date.
• The RTO of 1 hr per 100 GB is applicable to Snapshot restores only.
• Vodacom have selected the best quality tape for extended storage lifecycle.
• Tapes for each year of additional storage will need to be procured in advance. At the end of term, these tapes will be given to the customer and owned by the customer. Tape restore guarantee for retention periods of over 1 year cannot be guaranteed. Vodacom have selected the best quality tape for extended storage lifecycle.
• When managed backup is taken in conjunction with Vodacom Virtual Hosting, the contract term will be month to month. This is only applicable to the Gold, Silver and Bronze license options. This is not applicable to the Platinum option. If the Platinum option (appliance is taken then the full contractual period is applicable with no exceptions.
• Vodacom Managed Hosted Backup will be available on 12, 24, 36 and 60 month contracts.
• Service fees are pro-rated.
• A once of installation charge per customer will apply.
• Services will continue month on month at expiry of the contract unless otherwise notified. 3 months notification of termination of contract is required.
• At renewal of contract, new rates will apply.
• The customer will be limited to backup GB limits in accordance with the signed proposal and limited to the package procured.
Business Rules for Vodacom Managed Hosted Backup
• Customers will be informed via email that their storage limit has been reached with the recommendation to increase. Failing customer action in increasing such storage, Vodacom will not be held responsible for failed backups for this reason.
• Licensed storage upgrades are allowed during the contract period.
• Downgrades from Gold to Silver or Silver to Bronze license options will be allowed in the contract term.
• Downgrades of backup storage are not allowed during the contract term.
• Storage upgrade options are limited to 5 upgrades or downgrades per year.
• Platinum Device Downgrades are NOT allowed. Full contract terms apply to the appliance.
• Support is provided via the CSOC on a 24X7X365 basis
• Reports are available via the backup as a service portal. Customers may also request that certain reports are mailed to them on a monthly basis. This forms part of the fully managed nature of this solution.
• Proactive monitoring and support to the platform will be provided by Vodacom CSOC.
• Customer changes are logged via an auditing process. Vodacom will not be held responsible for changes performed by the customer via the Backup as a service portal.
