Quantum unveils cloud back-up appliance

cloud computing

Quantum has unveiled its latest back-up software, along with an appliance, to help businesses take control of data held in the cloud.

The Optimised Cloud-Based Data Protection platform is based on Quantum's vmPRO technology and runs as a virtual machine to back-up data stored internally on disk or tape, or held in public cloud services.

It focuses on enabling speedy recovery to businesses, which currently only have the choice of expensive internal hardware or cheap cloud services with slow restoration capabilities, it claimed.

The new software, which provides data deduplication properties available in other Quantum offerings, will start by being shipped with its new DXi V1000 appliance. Businesses will be able to buy the device from next month with pricing based on the number of terabytes the company wants to back up, starting at $2,250 (1,418) per TB.

Quantum has decided to offer the back-up solution in this form factor due to its belief businesses favour a hybrid approach when storing their data.

"Today's announcement reflects Quantum's continued focus on developing and integrating industry-leading technologies to meet customers' evolving data protection and management needs across physical, virtual, cloud and mixed environments," said Henrik Rosendahl, vice president of cloud solutions at Quantum.

"It also demonstrates our commitment to providing highly optimised yet flexible solutions that enable customers to realise the full benefits of storage advancements without having to make compromises elsewhere."

Although the software will initially ship with the appliance, Quantum also announced plans to make it available as a service in the public cloud later this year.

As well as offering its own cloud-branded services, it will sell the solution to rival public cloud providers and package it for channel partners to sell under their own title.

The solution is already being used by Xerox to provide their cloud back-up and disaster recovery services.

"When we sought a design for an efficient, flexible and optimised cloud backup and DR service beyond the enterprise, we looked for a platform that would be simple to deploy, provide best-in-class protection, and balance affordability with fast recovery time," said Ken Stephens, senior vice president of Xerox cloud services.

"Quantum's products met this level of sophistication which we are able to offer as part of our cloud suite of services."

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.