BakBone Software® (TSX: BKB; PK: BKBO), a global provider of heterogeneous integrated data protection solutions, today announced NetVault: Backup support for the NetApp® NearStore Virtual Tape Library (VTL), which NetApp introduced today in a separate announcement. Available as a complete data protection solution through the Storage Group of Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions and its network of value-added resellers (VARs), the combination of NetVault: Backup and NetApp NearStore VTL enables enterprise customers to simplify data management and significantly reduce backup and recovery times.

“BakBone support for NearStore VTL provides for the deployment of fast and reliable data protection across a wide range of storage environments,” said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Products and Partners at Network Appliance, Inc. “The combination of NetVault: Backup and NearStore VTL delivers immediate benefits without requiring major changes to the existing backup infrastructure.”

BakBone support of the NetApp NearStore VTL solution underscores its standing commitment to offer mutual enterprise customers integrated solutions to help manage their data protection environment holistically. The ability to centrally manage and integrate data protection solutions across heterogeneous networks is a key component of BakBone’s Integrated Data Protection (IDP) strategy.

“Our community of enterprise storage partners are eager to go to market with data protection solutions that ease administration and lower costs while meeting higher service levels,” said Mike Arends, vice president, Storage Group, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions. “The BakBone and NetApp NearStore VTL solution offers our partners a tiered storage solution to help enterprise customers manage data from creation through long-term archive.”

The NetApp NearStore VTL, in combination with NetVault: Backup, provides a powerful solution that seamlessly integrates into any existing open systems storage environment. Using a single management interface from NetVault: Backup for heterogeneous disk-to-disk-to-tape protection, customers can automate policies to manage their most critical data assets, directing the backup stream to the NearStore VTL for disk-based protection and then to tape for long-term archival and disaster recovery. Rather than relying on conventional direct attached methodologies, NetApp NearStore VTL replaces tape as a primary backup target allowing end users to ease deployment, simplify data management and immediately improve backup-and-restore times.

“BakBone is pleased to be working with Arrow and NetApp to offer this tiered storage solution to our mutual channel of VARs,” said Mark Milford, senior vice president of worldwide sales for BakBone. “Fundamental to BakBone’s stated IDP strategy, we understand the needs of growing organizations to centrally manage data protection across networks, storage and applications. The combination of NetVault: Backup and NearStore VTL enables customers to achieve their data protection goals in both NetApp and heterogeneous systems environments while reducing complexity and total cost of ownership.”

In keeping with BakBone’s tradition of delivering first-to-market products, BakBone’s support for NetApp NearStore VTL builds on a track record with NetApp that includes SnapVault® Manager, SnapMirror® to tape, Snapshot™ Manager, and Open Systems SnapVault (OSSV).