Object Storage Backup with PoINT Solutions: ControlExpert Achieves Data Protection with S3-to-Tape

PoINT‘s software solutions ensure an efficient backup process, a high level of data protection, and reliable data recovery in the event of loss.

ControlExpert replaced its outdated Windows file servers with object storage systems. Backing up this new on-prem S3 storage presented two significant challenges. Firstly, the data volume was large at 400TB across 1 billion objects, and secondly, the data had to be backed up daily.

The company opted for a “forever incremental” backup to tape using PoINT Data Replicator and PoINT Archival Gateway. The two storage solutions from Siegen-based provider PoINT are perfectly coordinated and seamlessly integrate tape libraries into the storage infrastructure via the standardized S3 interface. PoINT Archival Gateway is available as a standalone, tape-based S3 storage solution for backups. After an initial full backup of the data, PoINT Data Replicator performs a daily incremental backup to PoINT Archival Gateway.

“The combination of PoINT Data Replicator and PoINT Archival Gateway meets the requirements that ControlExpert outlined to us,” explains Sebastian Klee, CMO, PoINT. “Since PoINT Data Replicator only replicates changes, backup traffic remains low. Additionally, data is backed up directly to tape without intermediate storage on hard disk.”

To increase data protection and implement a 3-2-1-1 backup concept, ControlExpert uses the erasure coding function of PoINT Archival Gateway. The storage software creates two tapes with identical data sets, which are stored at different locations. Only one of the two tapes is required for restore, covering even a site failure.

With this backup strategy, ControlExpert GmbH benefits from the advantages of tape technology to create security, independence, and cost efficiency.