Global Storage Forum

I started my career with  supporting Data Protection applications. Two decades ago, backups most of the time would sit On-premise or would be sent to a Vault for archiving. Based on the compliance needs, the data would reside at both of these places for certain duration. The Storage options avaible then would look little bulkier, power hogging and would be expensive too. Just look at the pictures of some older Primary Storages or for that matter the Tape libraries. With evolution of Storage in terms of the disk or libraries, it became very easy for users to choose based on much better performances or space utilised or easy sustainence. 

Cloud storage!! Was the Gamechanger. Giving user the feasibility to avail when needed. Safeguarding it against any disaster that one could think of. Easy to integrate with any Data Protection application. Making it easier for user to store the primary as well as secondary copies to Cloud. Working on IBM Storage Protect, gave me an oppurtunity to use Cloud Storage for storing the primary as well as secondary copies unlike many other Applications who support only the second part. With so many Cloud providers in market, it becomes difficult to choose. Below section can help you decide, why to choose IBM COS:

IBM Cloud Object Storage (COS) is a cloud storage service provided by IBM that allows users to store, manage, and retrieve large amounts of unstructured data. Listed are some pros:

1. Storage Architecture: IBM COS is built on a distributed architecture. It uses striping at the RAID level, thus ensuring faster writing abilities and quick recovery incase their is hardware failure. This architecture provides scalability, resilience, and high availability.

2. Scalability: IBM COS is designed to scale seamlessly, allowing users to store and retrieve petabytes of data without worrying about capacity constraints. As storage needs grow, more capacity can be added without disrupting operations.

3. Data Redundancy and Durability: IBM COS provides built-in redundancy and durability features to ensure data integrity and availability. Data is automatically replicated across multiple servers and data centers, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or disasters.

4. Security: IBM COS offers robust security features to protect data at rest and in transit. This includes encryption, access controls, identity management, and auditing capabilities to help users meet compliance requirements and keep their data secure. By applying immutable retention polices that cannot be removed even by a bad actor with root credentials, it helps safeguard your data from tampering or manipulation by ransomware attacks, and helps customers meet compliance and business requirements

5. Performance: IBM COS is optimized for high performance, enabling fast data access and transfer speeds. This is particularly beneficial for applications that require low latency and high throughput.

This blog covers details on the solution when using IBM Spectrum Protect  with IBM Cloud Object Storage (IBM COS). It describes use cases,  some best practices, and limitations as far as my understanding about the same is concerned. 

Use case #1: IBM Storage Protect stores primary copy of backup data in IBM COS(Backup/Restore)

Problem

Solution

Benefit

Use case #2: IBM Storage Protect stores secondary copy of backup data in IBM COS at DR site(Archiving/Restore)

Problem

Solution

• Benefit
• IBM Storage Protect integrated with IBM COS provides a second copy of his backup data, stored off site, at a reduced cost.

Use case #3: IBM Storage Protect stores long term copy of backup data in IBM COS (Archive/Restore)

Problem

• The Backup Administrator is responsible for data protection. He needs a long term copy of his backup data stored in a cost effective at his primary data center.

Solution

• The Backup Administrator uses IBM Storage Protect policy-based replication to store a long term copy of his backup data, with longer retention values, in IBM COS at his primary site.

Benefit

• IBM Storage Protect integrated with IBM COS provides a long term copy of his backup data, stored on site, at a reduced cost.

Best practices and some recommendations:

Considering the usecases, it is always recommended that below things are taken care of:

1.Consult the infrastructure managers,

2.Scope the backup and restore requirements carefully,

3.Consult IBM Storage Protect and IBM COS technical experts, and

4.Design a solution that meets the requirements and ensure to  review the same  by the experts. POC is the best way to validate. 

I hope this post helps you understand Stroage Protect and its usecases with Cloud(ICOS). Do let me know your comments/suggestions/thoughts.

Thanks!

References: 

Overview-data-protection-components

Pool-preparing-cloud-object-storage-s3-off-premises

https://www.ibm.com/products/cloud-object-storage
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/coss/3.17.5

@Manu Kuchhal @Nilesh Bhosale 

#StorageProtect

#IBMSpectrumProtect

#SpectrumProtect

#IBMTivoliStorageManager

#ICOS

#IBMCloudObjectStorage