|
Media storage
Back-ups. Sooner or later a matter of life or death for your
company. So back-up systems abound, to be sure. But where are the back-ups
stored? On-site or off? And in what conditions?
Mr Rooms, managing director of Merak, guides us through the fantastic world of
professional ‘offsite media storage’. Where confidentiality and security are
the key words.
Why off-site media storage?
How does a company survive computer crash?
Mr Rooms: “By respecting two elements, which apart from each
other are worthless. First: a rigorous procedure for making regular back-ups.
Second: providing for safekeeping of the magnetic carriers in a remote
location, under totally secure and confidential conditions.
The problem is that too often little care is taken with step 2.
The numerous user-friendly back-up programs give company managers a false sense
of security. Back-ups are stored in the company itself in a vault, for example,
or stored with a third party who simply locks them up somewhere.
There is an old proverb that
misfortune never comes alone, such that in the event of a computer
crash or human error in IT, it just so happens that there was no
back-up taken that day or that the carrier lay a bit too long in a
warm car… The answer? Off-site media storage – external safekeeping
and automatic exchanges of your electronic carriers provided by
Merak.”
> Merak data storage
Media storage
Why do Merak customers sleep so well?
“It’s because they are not only secure with the best possible
safekeeping of their back-up carriers, but also with their precisely regular
exchange. At the agreed times, the Merak courier shows up, never is there an
excuse: ‘it doesn’t hurt to skip a time now and then’. The exchange takes place
according to plan, a plan carefully laid out together with the customer. Daily,
weekly and/or monthly, incremental or complete, tapes or cd-roms… whatever you
wish. Then, each day, the Merak system generates the packing list for the
driver. And the watertight monitoring system using barcodes quickly corrects
any human error.
It goes without saying that the customer is free at any time to
make adjustments in the volume or frequency of the exchange schedule. And in
response to a ‘cold call’ Merak repatriates the back-ups within a time limit
specified in the Service Level Agreement, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even
to locations beyond domestic borders.”
Off-site media storage & confidentiality
How does Merak guarantee the confidentiality of the data?
“Aha!... That’s our strong suit. Merak literally leaves no
opportunity undeveloped to maximize confidentiality and security. All
electromagnetic carriers are transported in identical cases, which are sealed
in your presence. They remain totally anonymous, only identifiable by means of
the unique barcode and the Merak software. They are transported by our own
couriers in unmarked vehicles, which continually communicate their location
along their route to our central dispatching. They know the location of each
van at any given time, and can reroute them as desired.”
Off-site media storage & security
How safe are externally stored back-ups?
(smiles) “Well, that depends on the infrastructure and the
services of the external archivist. One thing is sure: no other Belgian
archivist can top us. That’s logical, because Merak has become synonymous with
archiving in every sense of the word – we have no other activity.
Our electromagnetic vaults are
secured against any possible attack by man or nature – with, for
example, total climate control, sectional fire prevention, motion
and access control, and our own emergency power generator. The
continuity of service is guaranteed by ISO 9001:2000 certified
procedures, an operational disaster plan and full 24/7 service.”
> Merak data storage
Innovating for media storage
Can you share any examples of Merak innovations?
“Our electromagnetic bunker is hidden deep under the ground (see
margin). This e-bunker is a genuine Fort Knox for the safeguarding of critical
back-ups and irreplaceable documents. It can even withstand the e-bomb, an
explosive device which generates a strong electromagnetic pulse which can
destroy any electromagnetic carrier. This weapon can be easily assembled by
terrorists with a wish to totally sabotage an economy. Not only is software
destroyed - even computers are disabled. That’s why some of our clients have
even entrusted their hardware to us, safely kept in the e-bunker until the
unthinkable becomes reality.
Apart from these high-tech aspects, we also work constantly to
fine-tune the “normal” exchange procedures. Recently, we equipped the cargo
space of all of our transport vehicles with extra insulation and a ‘smart’
thermostat. This serves to bring the magnetic carriers slowly up to room
temperature. The result is that no condensation forms and the carriers are
user-ready upon delivery. Winter storm or summer heat wave? Merak is ready.”
>
Merak data storage
Is media storage costly?
Is professional external storage of data carriers expensive?
No. A carefully thought-through infrastructure and our expansive
client list result in a low cost for a high level of security. And the cost is
100% variable and agreed ahead of time, down to the euro.
E-bunker for media storage
Merak’s e-bunker can withstand:
-
electromagnetic bomb and direct lightning
strike, thanks to a permanent Faraday cage and the lock-up with
multiple metal doors;
-
theft, due to 24/7 security net and access
systems with badge and fingerprints;
-
direct airplane crash due to underground
location, two levels deep below the mid-level of concrete beams
and panels;
-
fire of 1200 degrees lasting 6 hours, using
inert argonite gas with no spray damage and powerful pumps to
evacuate external spray water.
> Merak
data storage
|
