StoreAge SVM dramatically improves data recovery capabilities at Baillie Gifford

StoreAges Solutions Ensure Data Integrity and Rapid Disaster Recovery

StoreAge Networking Technologies, the leading provider of split-path SAN storage management and advanced multi-tiered, data protection solutions, today announced that Baillie Gifford selected StoreAge SVM for its data recovery solutions. The installation was supported by StoreAges long time strategic partner, Zycko, a value add distributor who engaged closely with their reseller Alfred McAlpine to install confidence and commitment in ensuring that the project met the needs of Baillie Gifford.

Baillie Gifford (www.bailliegifford.com), one of the UKs leading asset management firms, was looking for a disaster recovery solution which would enable the replication of data between its head office and business continuity site. The requirement was to replicate 20 terabytes of business critical financial data from the primary site in Edinburgh to the secondary site in Livingston over a 30 kilometers distance.  Additionally, they needed to have the ability to test the companys business continuity procedure by validating the data in the secondary site without stopping the mirroring process.  After reviewing the leading vendors, Baillie Gifford chose StoreAges product suite to ensure data integrity and rapid recovery in case of storage array failure or facility disaster.  StoreAge also offered vendor independence, scalability, flexibility and ease of manageability.

Baillie Giffords SAN includes 16 servers performing database (Oracle 9i), email (Exchange 2003), file serving duties using the Windows 2003 operating system.  The architecture consists of EMC CLARiiON Storage arrays and McDATA 4500 switches.

While simulating a complete loss of our primary site we managed to recover all core servers in around two hours. This is a dramatic improvement over and above the previous architecture, said Colin Lennox, Technical Services Manager at Baillie Gifford. During the testing, we continued the live replication of production data, without any degradation in service, or increased risk to the business, he added.

Dani Naor, vice president of business development at StoreAge stated: The disaster recovery results are very impressive. We are happy to improve efficiency and service where its most needed. We take great pride in supporting a leading financial institution such as Baillie Gifford, where business continuity is a high priority.

Colin Lennox, also added, StoreAge SVM has provided us with a fully scalable and efficient SAN disaster recovery solution.  In the event of our business continuity processes being invoked we feel confident that we can be fully operational within hours thereby reducing the disruption to our business.  StoreAge SVM has also presented us with an excellent platform to grow and develop our data platform.