STNet builds data backup service for disaster recovery

Located in Takamatsu City, Kawaga prefecture, STNet is an independent offshoot of the information systems department of YONDEN Shikoku Electric Power Co., Ltd. While capitalizing on the strengths of an electrical communications company, STNet provides a comprehensive internet data center service combining the information systems business and telecommunications business. The company has technological competence in building information systems and is highly valued for its operational expertise using its own high-grade network infrastructure.

An on-demand business environment requires secure IT operations and monitoring systems as well as disaster recovery solutions to provide 24x7x365 continuous operations. STNet uses the IBM System Storage DS series to support such an IT environment.

Remote storage of backup data. From transportation by truck to remote copying by communications network.
In the event of a system stoppage and loss of data during a disaster, the impact on business activity can be enormous. For STNet, a company that offers an internet data center service to protect business data both within customers’ facilities and in its own storage facilities, dealing with disaster solutions is essential. The company has had disaster recovery solutions in place for a long time.

Hiroshi Kusui of the company’s sales administration head office says, "On the occasion of the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, we offered customers a data backup service on magnetic tape and regular road transportation of magnetic tape for storage in remote locations. Later, with the emergence of simultaneous acts of terrorism in the US in 2001, the typhoons and Niigata Earthquake in Japan, as well as Asian tsunami and other disasters, demand has grown for more sophisticated disaster recovery solutions. That’s why STNet looked for a more efficient solution."

The previous method required the time and labor of the STNet customer, raising the question of convenience. Also, since trucks were used for transportation, there was a possibility of deterioration in the condition of the data. Another problem was the inability to cover the possibility of human error such as operational faults, loss, etc. To help eliminate these problems and speed up disaster recovery, the company conducted a study of close to real-time remote copying of data as a more sophisticated countermeasure.

Reliable storage infrastructure for remote data backup service
In August 2005, as a new disaster recovery measure, STNet started a remote data backup service enabling remote copying of high-volume data from corporate customers on the company’s own dedicated communication lines. The STNet service offered three features: (1) Safe, secure and speedy data transfer using a dedicated fiber-optic line; (2) Safe and secure storage of backup data in the company’s data centers (remote locations outside the prefecture); and (3) Provision of high-quality service on a pay-as-you-go method according to data volume. Currently, STNet has two data centers located in Takamatsu and Matsuyama. In the case of customers in Shikoku, companies in Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures have their data stored at the Matsuyama center, and those in Ehime and Kochi prefectures have data stored in the Takamatsu center. This method distributes the risk. By installing a dedicated line to the user’s site, data can be transferred and copied in virtually real-time. For the infrastructure to support this exceptional service, STNet needed to select products that had not only a flexible and remote copying feature but also reliability.

STNet chose the IBM System Storage DS8000/DS6000 series to use for its remote data backup infrastructure. The series was evaluated for its outstanding reliability, performance, scalability and recovery capability during disasters. The combination of the high-performance, highly reliable DS series system and STNet’s high-grade network infrastructure has helped STNet improve the accuracy of data storage and increase efficiency, enabling even greater speed of recovery during disasters.

Kenji Nishimoto of the data center service comments on IBM’s disk storage system: "Using the Global Copy function of the DS series, we can conduct asynchronous remote copying of data between Takamatsu and Matsuyama. For example, the ability to use this function to transfer a customer’s data for housing in a short time is a substantial by-product of the disaster countermeasure. Also, on account of the strong support from IBM, we had the equipment installed and were up and running in as little as two weeks. Operations have also remained stable since startup."

Remote storage of critical data. Inquiries from metropolitan area about using service to counter natural disasters and terrorist acts.
STNet's corporate and local government users employ the remote data backup service to store data within their own facilities and at the two STNet data centers, allowing them data protection in the event of a major disaster. Says Kusui, "After announcing the service, we received a lot of enquiries from the metropolitan area and from a variety of interests, including medical and journalistic organizations, local government offices and other public organizations."

Plans to provide total disaster recovery solutions
STNet's data centers are equipped with vibration-free facilities, non-stop power supply, stringent room entry/exit control, and 24x7x365 constant system operation monitoring. In addition, the company operates and maintains an ISMS (Information Security Management System) certified in compliance with official standards and bearing the relevant privacy standard symbols, etc. The current remote data backup service is supported by these facilities. In the future, STNet is looking to go beyond data protection against disasters to provide total operational solutions including disaster countermeasures and is likely to include more IBM System Storage products in its plans.