Get Started with DataBank’s DRaaS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solutions can be very convenient but they do require some element of work. In particular, they require an effective implementation to be able to operate effectively. With that in mind, here is a straightforward guide on how to get started with DRaaS, focusing on DataBank DRaaS.

Why choose DataBank for DRaaS?

Here are the five most compelling reasons to choose DataBank for DRaaS.

Scalability and flexibility

DataBank’s DRaaS is engineered to meet the dynamic needs of businesses. It supports hybrid cloud environments, enabling seamless integration with both on-premises and cloud infrastructures. This flexibility allows companies to choose the best setup for their operations.

Additionally, DataBank offers colocation services, giving businesses the option to store critical data in secure, remote facilities. The service is compatible with various hypervisors, ensuring that it fits smoothly with existing virtualized systems.

As business needs evolve, DataBank’s DRaaS scales effortlessly, adapting to increased data and workload requirements while maintaining robust disaster recovery capabilities.

Compliance leadership

DataBank maintains strict adherence to important regulatory frameworks, including HIPAA, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, and NIST 800-53. These certifications ensure businesses can meet legal and industry mandates, thus reducing compliance risks.

By following these guidelines, DataBank allows companies to avoid potential fines and penalties, while strengthening customer and stakeholder trust through its commitment to secure data management practices.

Robust security

DataBank employs enterprise-grade security measures, such as encryption for data in transit and at rest, alongside managed firewalls, to defend against cyber threats. With 24/7 monitoring, the system proactively identifies and addresses potential risks, ensuring that critical data remains protected and available, with minimal vulnerability.

Cost-effectiveness

Offering near-active/active recovery without the need for duplicate infrastructure, DataBank provides an affordable solution that maximizes uptime and reliability, delivering enterprise-grade results at a fraction of the cost of traditional disaster recovery systems.

Expert support

A dedicated engineering team provides around-the-clock monitoring and rapid issue resolution, ensuring uninterrupted business operations and peace of mind for clients.

Step-by-step guide to DRaaS implementation

Here is a high-level 7-step guide to DRaaS implementation.

Assess business needs and objectives

Before implementing DRaaS, it’s crucial to assess your business’s specific disaster recovery needs. Consider the critical applications and data that must be protected, as well as the required Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO).

This step helps define the scope of your DRaaS solution, including how quickly you need to recover and how much data loss is acceptable.

Select a DRaaS provider

Choosing the right DRaaS provider is a critical decision. Evaluate potential providers based on factors such as service offerings, scalability, compliance certifications (like HIPAA, PCI DSS), security features, and customer support. It’s important to select a provider that can meet your business needs and aligns with your recovery objectives.

Design the DRaaS architecture

Work with your provider to design a disaster recovery architecture that supports your specific business requirements. This includes deciding between cloud-based or hybrid DRaaS solutions, selecting appropriate storage options, and integrating with your existing infrastructure. Consider factors like data replication methods, failover mechanisms, and network architecture.

Data replication and backup setup

Establish data replication and backup protocols to ensure your critical business data is safely stored and easily recoverable. Depending on your provider’s capabilities, you may need to set up continuous data replication, incremental backups, or periodic snapshots. Choose a method that minimizes data loss while balancing performance and storage costs.

Configure failover and failback processes

Set up failover mechanisms to automatically switch to the backup system in the event of a disaster. This involves configuring virtual machines (VMs) or physical servers to automatically take over when the primary system goes down. Ensure that failback processes are also in place to restore operations back to the primary system after recovery.

Test and validate the DRaaS solution

Once your DRaaS solution is implemented, it’s vital to conduct regular testing. This includes running simulated disaster recovery drills to verify that failover and failback processes work as expected. Testing ensures that the system meets your RTO and RPO goals and helps identify any potential issues before an actual disaster occurs.

Transition to BAU

Ensure that your staff is trained on how to activate and manage the DRaaS solution. Provide documentation that outlines the procedures for disaster recovery, including roles and responsibilities during an event.

Implement ongoing monitoring to ensure the solution is running as expected. Regularly evaluate the solution’s performance, conduct updates, and optimize the system based on changing business needs.

Support and resources available at DataBank

The core of DataBank’s support is 24x7x365 monitoring of all DataBank services. This ensures that any potential issues are promptly identified so they can be resolved with minimal disruption.

DataBank also provides a wide range of self-serve resources. These include:

• Case studies
• White papers
• Videos
• Webinars
• Blog articles

Any customers or potential customers who would like further assistance are welcome to contact customer support and/or the DataBank sales team.