Cloud-integrated backup appliances – Backup and Restore Procedures

Cloud-integrated backup appliances

Some solutions, such as NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP, offer backup appliances with integration across different cloud environments.

Their features include providing unified backup and restore capabilities for on-premises and cloud environments, as well as snapshot management and replication between clouds.

Cloud-integrated backup appliances are purpose-built hardware or virtual appliances designed to seamlessly integrate with cloud storage and backup services. These appliances offer a combination of on-premises data storage and backup capabilities with cloud storage for extended data retention and disaster recovery. Here, we will provide a detailed discussion with examples.

First, let’s look at the key characteristics:

• Hybrid architecture:
• Example: Barracuda Backup:
  • Barracuda Backup appliances provide on-premises backup and recovery capabilities
  • They seamlessly integrate with Barracuda Cloud for off-site storage and disaster recovery
• Unified management:
• Example: Dell EMC Data Domain Cloud Tier:
  • Dell EMC Data Domain appliances integrate with cloud storage, extending on-premises backup to the cloud
  • Unified management allows users to manage on-premises and cloud backups through a single interface
• Scalability:
• Example: HPE StoreOnce:
  • HPE StoreOnce integrates with cloud storage to provide scalable backup solutions
  • It supports various deployment models, including on-premises and hybrid cloud environments
• Data deduplication:
• Example: Nutanix Mine:
  • Nutanix Mine is an integrated data protection solution that includes backup appliances
  • It integrates with cloud storage, and its features include data deduplication for efficient storage use
• Security features:
• Example: Cohesity DataPlatform:
  • Cohesity DataPlatform offers a hyper-converged infrastructure with integrated backup capabilities
  • It supports cloud integration for data archival and disaster recovery

Now, let’s consider the benefits:

• Data retention: Appliances provide local backups for fast restores and leverage cloud storage for extended data retention
  • Cost-efficiency: Cloud storage integration allows organizations to benefit from scalable and cost-effective cloud storage
  • Simplified management: Unified interfaces for managing both on-premises and cloud-based backups simplify administration
  • Disaster recovery: Cloud-integrated appliances support disaster recovery strategies with off-site copies in the cloud

Here are some considerations:

• Bandwidth: Uploading data to the cloud may impact network bandwidth, especially for large datasets
  • Security: Ensure that data is encrypted during transmission and at rest in the cloud
  • Compatibility: Check compatibility with cloud providers and services to ensure seamless integration

Now, let’s recap the examples:

1. Barracuda Backup:
   • Key feature: A hybrid architecture with on-premises backup appliances integrated with Barracuda Cloud.
2. Dell EMC Data Domain Cloud Tier:
   • Key feature: Unified management of on-premises and cloud backups, with data stored in the cloud tier
3. HPE StoreOnce:
   • Key feature: Scalable backup solutions with support for various deployment models, including on-premises and hybrid cloud
4. Nutanix Mine:
   • Key feature: An integrated data protection solution with backup appliances and cloud integration, featuring data deduplication
5. Cohesity DataPlatform:
   • Key feature: A hyper-converged infrastructure with integrated backup capabilities, supporting cloud integration for data archival
   Organizations should evaluate their specific backup and recovery needs, scalability requirements, and cloud integration preferences when considering a cloud-integrated backup appliance. Always refer to the official documentation of these solutions for the latest and most accurate information. The examples provided are based on information available up to September 2021.