Disaster Recovery is usually reserved for enterprise or large businesses. Disaster Recovery (DR) has historically been too complex and too expensive for small to mid size businesses and medical practices. In the past if you had multiple servers for different functions like database, email, file services, etc. you would need physical servers at another (backup) site that duplicated those functions. In addition, you would need to replicate the data between the primary servers and the DR servers at the backup site. Replicating data meant that you needed complicated software and high speed communication links between the two sites. So between the duplicate physical servers and data replication requirements you can see how the expense and complexity can be a deterrent to small to midsize businesses.
Virtual Servers
Over the past few years some of the costs have been lowered through the use of Virtual Servers. Virtual Server technology that is provided by VMware, Microsoft and Citrix allow a physical server to run multiple Virtual Servers. So one physical server can be configured with enough memory, processors and hard drives to run multiple servers. For example, one physical server can run a database, email and file server. In addition, the cost of hardware including servers have dropped which further contribute to reduced costs. Virtual Servers are perfect technology for a DR infrastructure.
Double-Take and XOsoft Replication Software
In addition to Virtual Servers and falling hardware costs, modern replication technology from Double-Take and CA XOsoft has greatly reduced the complexity of replicating information from primary servers to DR servers. The replication software has simplified setting up DR environments but add significant costs. The replication software is licensed per server and can run between $2,500 and $3,500 per server. Taking the example of 3 physical primary servers and 1 backup server running Virtual Servers the replication software can cost around $12,000-$15,000. Add in hardware and other licensing costs and you are looking at a $20,000 or more in DR implementation costs. At that price point it is still elusive to many small to mid-size businesses.
Utilize Cloud Computing
The next step to making DR more affordable to all companies is it to take advantage of Cloud computing. Amazon’s EC2 infrastructure let companies run Virtual Servers in the Amazon cloud utilizing the massive amount of computing infrastructure that they have built. Companies can run Virtual Servers for just pennies an hour. This Virtual Server environment in the Amazon EC2 cloud is a perfect fit for DR. It enables companies to setup their DR infrastructure without any hardware expenses.
DR for everyone
Double-Take software has partnered with Amazon to develop a product / service called Double-Take Cloud. This service allows companies to rent the Double-Take software on a monthly basis for under $100 per server. Factor in the computing costs for utilizing the Amazon infrastructure and a company’s DR costs for the 3 physical server DR environment can be setup for around $350/month. This monthly expenses requires no upfront hardware or software expenses. At this price point Disaster Recovery is now affordable to all companies.
If you don’t have a Disaster Recovery plan in place for your business or medical practice, you should seriously consider looking into it.
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