Computer Associates International Inc. last week launched a new version of its BrightStor backup software for laptops and handheld computers.
BrightStor Mobile Backup 4.0, unlike its enterprise-focused prior versions, is tailored for departmental use and for small and midsize companies, said CA officials, in Islandia, N.Y.
Besides being scaled down, Mobile Backup is now also tailored for end users and department managers rather than just for IT managers, said David Liff, vice president of product management. IT managers would prefer having mobile users store data on central servers in the first place, but users rarely do that, Liff said.
Administrators needs havent been totally cast aside with Mobile Backup 4.0. The software can be set up to recognize high levels of network traffic and bump mobile backups to a later time, Liff said. Thresholds can also trigger when backups initiate. A simple user interface, enhanced licensing, built-in tutorials and automatic device discovery are all also new, Liff said.
In addition, administrators get new templates for determining what data and devices mobile users can and cant back up and when they can or cant do so.
Mobile Backup 4.0 is available now and starts at $495 for 10 users, officials said. CA offers a free 30-day trial, they said.
Future versions of Mobile Backup will have direct connections to clients instead of relying on devices synchronization software, Liff said. Integration with CAs security, systems management and storage resource management software is also forthcoming, he said.