Data Backup Comparison

Dakota Backup

Tape-Based Backup

• Single/small files can be quickly and easily located and restored within seconds.

• 95 percent of requests to restore data are for small files or documents. These take 30 minutes or more, because the tape must first be located and reinstalled.

• Dakota Backup permits multiple backup and restore tasks to run concurrently.

• Tapes don’t allow for backup during a restore, nor can a restore be performed during backup.

• Data is stored offsite, but restored quickly and easily online.

• Offsite tapes must be retrieved to allow a restore.

• If appropriate, granular user permissions can be set to allow users to restore their own files.

• IT staff must spend valuable time performing restores for users.

• Dakota Backup is fully automated. The potential for human error is removed, assuring that data at remote sites is safely backed up.

• Remote sites (especially small ones) are  a problem. There is always a risk the backup will not be performed if an employee forgets to change the tape before they leave for the day.

• IT staff can perform a data restore remotely.

• On-call IT staff often must come in to the office to oversee restores on nights and weekends.

• More frequent schedules can ensure that laptops are backed up when the user connects to the network.

• It's hard to back up laptop computers, especially if they frequently disconnected from the corporate network.

• Dakota Backup only backs up files that have been changed. It compresses the data and eliminates common files. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to back up the data.

• A tape solution typically requires a complete backup of all the data, including duplicated files and old data, every day. That creates problems performing the backups within the required backup window.

Dakota Backup

Tape-Based Backup

• No software is installed on servers or user PCs. Installation and support is much simpler.

• Tape solutions require software to be installed on servers to allow backup.

• Encrypted data is held on a RAID-5 disk array.

• The most sophisticated tape schedules can still be disrupted due to tape drive failure, tape capacity, sickness, holidays and manual error.

• Dakota Backup needs no daily maintenance to ensure backups run.

• Tape is a fragile, non-encrypted medium with the potential to be corrupted.

• After it is encrypted and compressed, data is transferred securely offsite immediately.

• Data isn't immediately offsite - often not removed until the following day.

• Pricing is based on usage.

• Expensive per-server licensing makes budgeting difficult.

• You pay as you grow – only pay for what you use, when you use it.

• There are often hidden costs to expand tape library hardware, upgrade software or add media.