ST Nov-Dec 2023

DCIG 12.qxd 01-Dec-23 10:56 AM Page 3
ANALYSIS:
ANALYSIS: DISK BASED BACKUP
"While overlap exists between cyber security and resilience, one does not
automatically encompass the other. For instance, cyber security does not automatically
equate to fast restores or a highly available backup target. If anything, a cyber secure
disk-based backup target may even delay restores and recoveries. Rather, fast restores
and high availability fall more under the classification of resilience. This becomes
problematic if organisations view those two features as prerequisites in their
environment. In cases like this, they may need to make a trade-off between cyber
security and resilience when selecting a backup target."
implementing different aspects of it.
INITIAL INSIGHTS
As DCIG researches and prepares to
release one or more 'Top 5' reports on diskbased
backup targets in 2024, here are
some initial insights it has into these
offerings.
Over 100 disk-based backup target
models: Organisations, and large
enterprises especially, may only view diskbased
backup targets as being primarily
available from Dell, ExaGrid, HPE,
Quantum, and Veritas. However, the new
demands for cyber security and resilience
have spawned a wave of innovation. Both
emerging and established primary storage
providers have refocused their storage
solutions to optimise them for backup.
Enterprise storage providers such as
Huawei, NetApp, and Pure Storage now
specifically optimise their solutions for
backup. This has also prompted new
entrants into this space to include Arcserve,
Infinidat, Infortrend, iXsystems, Nexsan,
Nimbus Data, Racktop Systems, and VAST
Data. Each of these has at least one model
and, in some cases, over a dozen models.
This total does not even include the growing
number of software-defined storage
providers who now play in this space.
Implementations of cyber security features
vary widely: Almost every disk-based
backup target provider says its product
includes cyber security features. That largely
holds true. However, each product's cyber
security features may not match the needs
of your organisation.
For instance, most if not all products now
offer data immutability. However, on at least
one product, a backup it hosts does not
become immutable until an hour after the
backup completes. Other providers permit
administrators to log into the product's
management console and change or delete
immutable backups. This represents only
one example of how providers implement
cyber security features differently on their
respective solutions.
Cyber security ≠ resilience. Organisations
may equate a backup target's cyber security
features with resilience. While overlap exists
between cyber security and resilience, one
does not automatically encompass the
other. For instance, cyber security does not
automatically equate to fast restores or a
highly available backup target. If anything,
a cyber secure disk-based backup target
may even delay restores and recoveries.
Rather, fast restores and high availability
fall more under the classification of
resilience. This becomes problematic if
organisations view those two features as
prerequisites in their environment. In cases
like this, they may need to make a trade-off
between cyber security and resilience when
selecting a backup target.
EMERGING PRIORITIES
As these three initial insights from DCIG's
research into today's disk-based backup
targets reveal, their features have evolved
significantly. Notably, organisations no
longer prioritise data deduplication ratios in
the same way they once did.
While these factors still matter, cyber
security and resilience now emerge as new
priorities in disk-based backups. This has
led to multiple new entrants into this space
of both existing and new players looking for
a foothold in this space. Further, some have
experienced success since they better
deliver on the new cyber security and
resilience features that more organisations
prioritise.
More info: www.dcig.com
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