The world of data is ever evolving as businesses strive to become more agile and efficient in their operations. But for many, the challenge lies not just in collecting and storing data but also in keeping it safe and secure.
There were 18 billion-dollar weather/climate disasters in the U.S. alone last year. The worldwide figure was 29. Cybercrime also took center stage — and not in a good way — with the average global cost of a data breach reaching an all-time high of $4.35 million, per IBM. The global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach $8 trillion annually in 2023 and $10.5 trillion in 2025.
Given these developments, the ability to recover data and restore operations quickly is more vital than ever. For Tree Top, a grower-owned cooperative dedicated to producing and innovating world-class fruit products, this was proving to be near impossible.
Like many companies in the age of big data, Tree Top faced a colossal challenge: how to ensure the security and availability of its mission-critical business applications. The issue was that Tree Top’s current data retention strategy was archaic. The bulk of its primary infrastructure was still being backed up on physical disks, and it lacked offsite storage solutions and reliable disaster recovery (DR) options that met industry best practices.
Best case scenario (and highly unlikely): All crises are averted, and Tree Top never suffers any setbacks. Worst case scenario (and probably closer to reality): If disaster did strike, Tree Top might be fresh out of luck, ill-equipped to produce the right buttons to get back up and running swiftly and with minimal disruptions.
The organization couldn’t bank on the former, and it wanted to avoid the latter. The time for action was now.
Identifying needs and accessing the market
With the business — and data output — both steadily growing, Tree Top knew it had to re-engineer its backups. But that wasn’t all. To modernize and simplify its overall data retention strategy, the organization needed a comprehensive approach that included onsite and offsite storage, as well as reliable DR.
This would require refreshing an aging infrastructure, designing secure and reliable access to data, and accounting for the potential costs of unplanned downtime.
To meet these challenges head-on, Tree Top enlisted the help of trusted partner CompuNet. Together, they surveyed the market and consulted their engineers and determined that partnering with Veeam for on-premises backups made the most sense.
However, that only addressed one component; offsite storage for mission-critical data and DR were necessary to complete the modern business continuity strategy.
The right combination of modern data protection solutions
Once again, Tree Top and CompuNet conducted a thorough market analysis. Ultimately, they found that 11:11 Systems — and its suite of secure cloud data protection solutions — was the best fit, as it offered the perfect blend of transparency, technical solutions, and support required to protect mission-critical applications against disasters big and small.
Tree Top implemented three 11:11 Systems solutions — Cloud DRaaS for Veeam, Cloud Backup for Veeam Cloud Connect, and Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365 — all essential components to building an effective business continuity (BC) strategy.
With this combination, Tree Top’s mission-critical applications would now be safely stored offsite in case of a major disaster, while being afforded multi-layered security that ensures data remains safe, regardless of its location.
A backup strategy that’s ready for anything
Unplanned downtime can have devastating consequences, including reputational damage and loss of revenue.
According to an enterprise survey, 91% of organizations report a single hour of downtime costs over $300,000 in damages — an estimation that has only risen in recent years due to the pandemic and increased cybercrime. Additionally, 93% of businesses that have lost their data center for 10 days or more filed for bankruptcy within a year. Half file bankruptcy immediately.
At its core, Tree Top’s new setup gives it greater control over its networks and improved visibility into business operations like compliance needs or performance measurements should any issues arise during peak times or unexpected spikes affect network performance. Employees can also access their mission-critical applications remotely, regardless of what’s happening locally, ensuring continuity even during disasters.
Data protection and DR planning can be a heavy lift, but it doesn’t have to be. Through partnerships with 11:11 Systems and Veeam, Tree Top was able to create a reliable safety net that ensures its applications remain secure and recoverable – no matter what happens. With this new setup in place, the company is now better equipped for long-term growth and it can rest easy knowing its mission-critical data is safe from cyber criminals or other disasters.
