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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.