Continuous Data Protection Backup (CDP)

SonicWall Overview

The majority of IT Managers and Business Owners agree that tape does not work. Ironically,
most organisations are still using fixed-schedule antiquated tape systems that are subject to
human error, cumbersome to manage and notoriously unreliable. Statistics show that:

Over 30% of IT costs are associated with backup
20% of nightly tape-based backup jobs fail
40% of dedicated, full-time IT Managers can’t recover data from their tape backups

The SonicWALL® Continuous Data Protection (CDP) Series resolves this problem with a
complete, disk-based backup and recovery solution that meets the needs of organisations
and remote offices. These backup and recovery appliances provide real-time, hassle-free,
local backup, as well as hands-free offsite protection for servers, laptops and PCs. This
reliable backup solution integrates a host of other features onto one centrally managed
appliance to make it easier for IT Managers and business owners to protect their organisation’s
most important asset—their data. And, since SonicWALL CDP only backs up block level
differences within each file, the performance of the network is not impacted or compromised.

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How it Works

The intelligent SonicWALL CDP agent sits at the kernel level to intercept data between the database and disk using a file system filter driver. This allows any new or changed data on a network machine to be detected and backed up to SonicWALL CDP. Instead of backing up at time-based intervals, SonicWALL CDP provides for real-time, hands-free backup. There are no backup windows that leave data exposed to loss – a serious risk existing with most other backup solutions.

Hands-Free Offsite Backup

An onsite SonicWALL CDP appliance can be configured to send backup data to a secure SonicWALL offsite datacenter or to another SonicWALL CDP appliance without any user intervention to protect data against disasters like theft and fire. You can refine offsite policies at the administrative level, enabling only certain users or certain types of files, to be migrated offsite. Setting policies ensures your offsite capacity will be used most effectively.

Open File Backup

The SonicWALL CDP agent's file system filter driver enables new or changed data to be backed up while the file is open. This feature dramatically decreases the risk of data loss because information is protected as it is created instead of waiting until the file is closed and a backup cycle is initiated.

Instant Recovery and Versioning

SonicWALL CDP saves multiple versions of files, not just the latest version. Drawing from the database of block level differences allows specific versions of each file to be dynamically re-created from previous points in time. Users are served a catalog of file versions to simply click on which one(s) that are to be recovered. This feature saves time and increases productivity for both end users and IT Administrators and ensures that capacity is used efficiently on SonicWALL CDP.

Key Features

Local continuous real-time data backup replicates data in real-time for servers, laptops and PCs, so that data can be recovered from any previous point in time. Even open files are protected with SonicWALL CDP.
Hands-free offsite backup ensures that critical data marked for offsite protection is sent to a secure data center * or another CDP appliance.** All data is transmitted and stored with AES 256-bit encryption.
Instant data recovery and file versions enable any user on the network to retrieve every version of the file, not just the latest version. Using a simple administration interface, users can go back to any point in time—minutes, hours, days or more.
Robust data management tools sit on a flexible search, command and reporting framework that
provides detailed reports. Also included are e-mail alerts for real-time updates and offsite data storage visibility.
Seamless support for databases and applications is provided without the need to integrate thirdparty software modules. Common business applications include Quickbooks, PeachTree, ACT!, Goldmine, Exchange Server, SQL Server, Great Plains, Solomon, Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft applications such as: Navision, BizTalk, Business Contact Manager, CRM, InfoPath, Commerce Manager, Sharepoint, Project Server and MS Office products including Outlook and Outlook Express.
Remote administration allows IT administrators to manage SonicWALL CDP, recover deleted files or view vital statistics from a remote location. This feature saves valuable time and provides better user-level service.
Bare metal recovery (BMR)* software creates an exact image of an entire server or workstation, including operating system files, programs, databases and settings. An entire system can be recovered in minutes.
BMR software includes local archiving capabilities that allow organizations to store snapshots of their data for extended periods of time. This feature is industry and government compliant and includes the ability to explore archives and restore individual files.
Central management allows administrators to set backup and recovery policies with an easy-to-use interface. Policies can be set at the network or user level.

Sonicwall CDP Datasheet

If You're Using Tape Backup

Tape backup systems are unreliable and prone to human error. Data recovery from backup tapes fail more than 50% of the time, and can be up to 400x slower than recovering data from a disk. Most taxing is the cost and effort it takes to administer tape backup systems - rotating tapes, checking them and transporting them offsite. Why use tape backup when there is CDP?

SonicWALL CDP for Your Business

SonicWALL Backup and Recovery products were developed specifically with the small-to-medium business in mind - there are no tapes or disks to manage and the appliance includes simple, centralised administration. With the highest standards of reliability, data integrity and security, SonicWALL protects your business, not just your data.

Tapeless, Enterprise-level Data Protection Without the Price Tag

Short recovery time objectives and backup tape performance problems are driving demand for high-speed disk-based backup. CDP provides enterprise-class features such as continuous data protection, remote management and hands-free offsite backup - without enterprise-class cost.

Minimal CPU Usage

The SonicWALL CDP agent is programmed in C++ and has an extremely low memory footprint. The agent has an undetectable impact on network machines unlike other types of solutions that impact the productivity of employees because they slow down or freeze computers.

Block Level Differences

SonicWALL CDP provides a full initial backup of marked files, and then only data that has been created or modified from that point on is backed up. These changes are sent to SonicWALL CDP and saved in a unique database created for each specific file. This guarantees maximum compression and capacity on the appliance and it assures that there will be no performance impact on the local area network (LAN).

Data Management Platform

The SonicWALL Data Management Platform provides tools for optimizing storage efficiency and for proactive data management. Key features are a flexible search, command and reporting framework and email alert notifications for real-time updates.

Flexible Policies

Administrators can give users the ability to locate, view, retrieve or otherwise manipulate data based on the level of permissions they have. Policies can also be set at the file type, directory or application levels to ensure data is added (or excluded) for backup.