Including disk in the backup strategy makes sense for many companies, but most can’t afford to keep more than a few days of their backup data on fast recovery media—the cost of conventional RAID arrays is simply too high. The result is that users either have to keep moving data off their backup devices or let their backup data expire—in either case, the value of disk in the backup process is compromised.

Data de-duplication technology fundamentally changes the role of disk in backup. It gives users a cost effective way to retain their backup data on disk for weeks or months, making their file restores fast and easy and increasing the number of available recovery points.

Disk-based backup appliances that utilize data de-duplication technology can offer an IT professional a combination of advantages – including ease of use, extended retention, fast restores and cost savings. They can also make replication of backup data over WANs a practical tool for providing off-site protection for backup data.