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CA Instant Recovery On Demand

Description

CA Instant Recovery On Demand is a comprehensive disaster recovery service for small and medium-sized businesses.  It is a subscription based, managed service that eliminates the need to purchase, install and support hardware, operating systems, application software, disaster recovery software and data center.  These is a solution for companies with limited IT resources and are not able to incur all the upfront costs that go along with implementing a disaster recovery/business continuity solution. 

Key Features

  • Automated Non-Disruptive DR Testing - schedules routine analysis of your replica servers, applications and data, ensuring your ability to quickly recover in the event of an emergency. 
  • Top-Tier Data Center Facilities - tier 4 data centers provide a disaster recovery site manned by knowledgeable and experienced IT people.
  • Automatic and Scheduled Failover - offers flexibility to choose the option that best meets specific IT needs.  Automated failover starts up replica server applications and redirects workers after a system failure.  Scheduled failover gives IT staffer's full control over how and when to activate the replica server and redirect workers.  Also, each server can be mixed and matched to customize the solution for unique requirements.
  • Scalable and Open Architecture - supports both physical and virtual servers and applications so it can grow as applications, data and workforce grow. 
  • Included Maintenance and Updates - ensures that all replication software updates and upgrades for both primary and replication servers are tested, installed and configured without any effort on the part of the IT staff. 

Product Requirements

Supported Applications

  • Microsoft File Services 2000 SP4/2003/2008 in Standard or Enterprise Edition (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003/2007 in Standard or Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft SQL 2000/2005, SQL Express 2005/MDAC
  • Microsoft IIS v5/v6
  • Blackberry Enterprise Servers (BES) 4.1.1/4.1.2
  • Oracle 9i/10g


Supported Platforms

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2000 SP4/2003 in Standard or Enterprise Edition (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows SBS2000/2003 in Standard or Premium Edition


Additional Requirements

  • Minimum of a DSL, cable or high-speed Internet connection
  • Network running Microsoft Active Directory 2000 SP4/2003/2008
  • Internet router cable supporting VPN IPSEC Tunnel
  • Mail server redirection requires access to DNS records
  • Administrator access on servers to be replicated
  • Minimum of 5GB of free disk space on each primary server being replicated

FAQ's

Q: What do the terms primary server and replica server mean in regards to replication?

A: Primary server refers to the physcial or virtual server running the business application at your site.  Replica server refers to the "standby server" at CA's data center to where the client's applications and data are replicated.

Q: What is CA Instant Recovery On Demand comprised of?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand combines real-time replication and automated failover using CA XOsoft High Availability software with our top-tier DR data center, facilities, staff, web-based provisioning, management and reporting tool. 

Q: How are users affected after a system failure?

A: Typically all your users have to do is restart the application they were using.  A broadcast message can be sent to your users alerting them to restart their application after a system failure.  Other users that were in the middle of modifying a file, database or email will recover from the point at which their application was configured to protect their work in progess.

Q: How does CA Instant Recovery On Demand work?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand uses CA XOsoft High Availability software agent on each primary server at your location for replication to our third party DR data center.  We maintain replica servers with CA XOsoft software and the applicable operating systems and applications, using large VMware server farm and onsite IT staff.  CA Instant Recovery On Demand provides a web-based provisioning, management and reporting for quick and easy implementation.  You have the choice of configuring failover as automated or manual, based on your company's individual needs and processes.  If you select manual failover, you can use the web tool to initiate failover.  You also have the option to enable secure remote user access if a complete site outage occurs.  Once your primary server is repaired or replaced, CA Instant Recovery On Demand can replicate back (failback) to the primary site to continue normal operations. 

Q: Does CA Instant Recovery On Demand offer tape backup as an additional service?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand does not currently offer tape backup.  If you require backup, you must perform it at your primary site.  Backup cannot be performed remotely using the replica environment. 

Q: How are other customers prevented from accessing my replica data at the DR data center?

A: Each replication environment is set up inside an isolated network and virtual environment so that no two replication environments may talk directly to each other. 

Q: Can CA Instant Recovery on Demand help to support any specific industry regulations for regulatory compliance?

A: Certain regulatory requirements have a section pertaining to disaster recovery and emergency operations. For example:

 HIPPA Citation  Description
 164.308(a)(7)(i)  Contingency Plan
 164.308(a)(7)(ii)(A)  Data Backup Plan
 164.308(a)(7)(ii)(B)  Disaster Recovery Plan
 164.308(a)(7)(ii)(C)  Emergency Mode Operation Plan
 164.308(a)(7)(ii)(D)  Testing and Revision Procedures

Q: How is CA Instant Recovery On Demand different from CA XOsoft software products like CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand is a turn-key hosted disaster recovery service offering while CA XOsoft Replication and High Availability are software products.  CA Instant Recovery On Demand includes all the software, hardware and professional services required for you to quickly and easily implement a complete disaster recovery solution without the need for a remote facility.  CA XOsoft software provides replication and high availability that requires you to install, manage and maintain the CA XOsoft software on all primary servers that require protection in addition to purchasing, installing managing and maintaining hardware and software at a remote disaster recovery data center or other remote location. 
Note: you may use CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability with the replica server located at the same physical location as your primary server.  This is typically referred to as "local business continuity" solution.  This implementation only supports a server failure and is not recommended for disaster recovery as both your primary and replica servers are located together and are both vulnerable to the same risks. 

Q: When do I buy CA Instant Recovery On Demand instead of a CA XOsoft software solution?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand is positioned for small and medium organizations which may have limited IT resources and budget for a disaster recovery solution, or prefer a managed service solution to eliminate upfront capital expense, speedy implementation and reduce ongoing IT support.  Your organization with an appropriate budget, knowledgeable IT staff and existing multiple locations may prefer a software solution that you can manage and support yourselves, hence avoiding recurring services fees.  Additionally, CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability software offers additional protection technology including CDP for continuous application and data protection with granular, "rewind" capability for any-point-in-time recovery as well as snapshots for periodic data protection between backups, in case of application of data corruption, not currently offered as part of CA Instant Recovery On Demand. 

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