Drobo, a uniquely named newcomer that makes
network data storage products that non-IT specialists can install and operate,
Aug. 17 announced a collaboration with cloud-storage backup provider Carbonite that will provide customers with
24/7 access to their stored files.
Optional products to go with
Carbonite's cloud service include an 8-bay file-sharing Drobo desktop device
with remote backup; an 8-bay, iSCSI-attached Drobo SAN (storage area network);
and a 12-bay SAN (also iSCSI-attached) appliance. The latter features such
enterprise-type features as redundancy, support for thin provisioning and
deprovisioning, and new data-aware tiering, Drobo said.
Drobo customers who sign up
for the co-op deal can purchase a 14-month subscription of Carbonite's new
Business or Premier Business cloud backup for the price of a 12-month plan. The
new Carbonite small-business offerings, introduced June 15, provide a reliable
turnkey-type off-site backup service for companies with 20 or fewer computers.
Like Carbonite, Drobo
specializes in sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, storage systems for small
businesses. Every Drobo
uses patented BeyondRAID IT that automates traditional storage features,
such as data protection, capacity expansion and application performance
optimization.
"A comprehensive backup
solution includes both on-site and cloud-based elements. As such, Drobo and
Carbonite already share a number of customers in common," Carbonite CEO
David Friend said.
"Our market research
has indicated that small-business customers would augment their existing
physical-data-protection strategy with an automatic, cloud-based solution if it
were affordable, so we built Carbonite Business specifically to address those
needs."
Carbonite's small-business
services are aimed at two distinct small business groups: smaller offices with
multiple computers and larger offices that also require server backup.
Carbonite Business backs up an unlimited number of computers per year for a
flat fee of $229 per year (250GB included). Carbonite Business Premier backs up
an unlimited number of computers and servers for $599 per year (500GB
included). Businesses can add supplemental storage as their backup needs grow.
Drobo's 8-bay machines are
available now; the 12-bay SAN storage unit will ship in the second quarter of
the year, Drobo said.
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