Remote Tape Vaulting Application Delivers Disaster Recovery Protection

Strategic Insights -

In a significant move to ensure business continuation and protect its mission-critical data, Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) has selected a remote tape vaulting application from Computer Network Technology Corp. (CNT) to safeguard its data at the company's operations center in Wilson, N.C. The CNT solution enables BB&T to maintain an up-to-date copy of its critical information stored at a disaster recovery facility in New Jersey, providing the bank with a secure and efficient means of data access in the event of a disaster. This strategic partnership highlights CNT's leadership in providing real-world, storage applications and underscores the importance of disaster recovery planning in today's business climate.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CNT remote tape vaulting application, implemented by BB&T, guarantees business continuation by providing ready access to an up-to-date copy of its mission-critical information stored at a disaster recovery facility in New Jersey.
  • The CNT solution incorporates both full-volume and incremental data back-ups sent over high-speed DS-3 lines, providing significant savings by reducing the length of time needed to perform back-ups.
  • The CNT solution enabled BB&T to reduce the amount of DS-3 lines required, resulting in a cost savings of $30,000 per month per line.
  • The CNT solution provides flexibility, enabling the use of multiple LPAR's and emulation of 3172's, which was a key factor in the selection of CNT's remote tape vaulting application.
  • Kelly Dildy, senior vice-president of BB&T, stated that the CNT solution had successfully completed a 'proof of concept' test, demonstrating remarkable improvements in the recovery process.
  • Mark Knittel, vice president of marketing and business development at CNT, noted that the partnership with BB&T underscores CNT's leadership in providing real-world, storage applications, and highlights the importance of disaster recovery in today's business climate.
  • CNT's remote tape vaulting solution provides a safer and more efficient alternative to the traditional method of manually trucking tapes of data to remote storage sites.

Statistics:

  • The CNT remote tape vaulting application cost BB&T $30,000 per month per line, resulting in significant savings by reducing the length of time needed to perform back-ups.
  • The CNT solution enabled BB&T to increase its data back-up frequency from daily to weekly, providing a longer lead time before requiring additional DS-3 lines.
  • BB&T has installed more than $1 million worth of CNT Channelink products, and plans to increase that amount in 1998.
  • BB&T has 506 branch offices in the Carolinas and Virginia, making it one of the largest banks in the Southeast.
  • CNT has a direct sales force and a network of authorized distributors, providing global coverage for its products.

Sources:

  • Computer Network Technology Corp. (CNT)
  • Branch Banking & Trust Company (BB&T)
  • PR Newswire (June 8, 1998)