Linksys has signed an agreement with IBM under which Linksys will incorporate IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection (CDP) for Files software into the Linksys by Cisco growing small business solutions product and services portfolio.

A division of Cisco, Linksys is a leading provider of VoIP, wireless and networking hardware for the consumer and small business environments.

The Linksys by Cisco Continuous Data Protection for Files (LBACDP) solution is designed to deliver automatic data back-up and restore functionality to small business organizations, letting them focus on their businesses rather than IT-related administrative tasks.

IBM Tivoli CDP for Files is an integrated recovery solution that is designed to provide data protection in case of corruption, user error, virus, or system failure, said a company official.

This software, which installs and configures in minutes, running invisibly in the background, is part of a suite of products from IBM designed to protect data and help maintain the integrity of IT environments.

“Regardless of the size of the business, data storage, protection and security is incredibly important and should not be overlooked,” said Mohammad Hoda, regional manager, Linksys Middle East and Africa.

“Identifying the ideal data storage plan for any organization is an arduous task. The Linksys solution helps to remove that guesswork with a tested and proven solution, backed by industry leading innovation from IBM, taking storage requirements off their plates so they can focus on their business.”

The Linksys by Cisco solution is designed to automatically save files either instantaneously or at scheduled intervals set by the user, which relieves the burden of performing manual data back-ups and results in saved time, increased productivity and fewer storage challenges.

Since every version of a file is saved continuously, a company’s data can be protected from viruses, file corruption, accidental deletion or even data loss threats caused by natural disasters or power failure, Hoda noted.

"With just a few clicks of a mouse, users can restore files that have been corrupted or accidentally deleted, back to any point in time - adding multiple layers of defense against data loss." 

An industry study by the analyst firm The Diffusion Group surveyed more than 1,000 small business organizations about their data storage habits and revealed that nearly half of them conducted manual back-ups based solely on habit, while only 4 to 5 percent relied on a continuous data software application.

This figure is surprising considering the growing number of small businesses serving corporate or healthcare entities that are required to strictly follow Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliances. 

“We are expanding the market for IBM software products and technologies by making them key ingredients in a variety of products sold by other companies,” said Daren Hanson, director of IBM OEM software sales.

With the release of the Linksys-IBM Continuous Data Protection for Files software, Linksys has introduced a new brand look and feel for its growing line of small business products.-TradeArabia News Service