IBM Makes Data Protection Affordable For Mid-Size Firms

Responding to the needs of mid-sized customers for more affordable information protection tools, IBM has made available a new package of data protection products backed by financing from IBM Global Financing, its lending and leasing business segment.

The IBM Comprehensive Data Protection Solution Express (CDPS) includes Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack Center software, a System x Express x3550 server featuring a quad-core Intel Xeon processor, and a System Storage DS3200. Additionally, IBM offers optional support services that provide planning, implementation, installation, configuration and basic skills instruction for IBM disk systems.

The IBM Comprehensive Data Protection Solution Express helps provide continuous data protection and recovery management for Microsoft Windows operating system-supported data and applications, both in server rooms and in remote offices, from virtually any previous point in time, almost regardless of what occurred to cause the data loss. Applications and user data are restored within minutes following just about any data loss while full data recovery is performed in the background.

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The IBM Comprehensive Data Protection Solution Express package is now available at a promotional price through the end of November of $9,500, a $6,000, or 39 percent savings. The solution can also be financed over 36 months for $298 a month through IBM Global Financing for qualified mid-market customers.

"This announcement reflects the focus IBM has on helping small- and medium-sized enterprises protect their information," said Surjit Chana, vice president of Marketing for IBM General Business.

A second option, called the IBM ServicePac services for Remote Technical Support Services, provides virtually unlimited hardware and software phone support for System x servers, BladeCenter servers and storage devices.

"We're seeing a widening gap between the growing need for data availability and the ability to protect and recover that data using traditional methods," Chana said. "The first step in developing a backup and recovery plan is understanding what data is most important, and where it resides."

One area demanding close scrutiny is remote and branch offices. At many companies branch offices often store critical data about customers, suppliers and partners.