Data Redundancy in The Cloud – A Closer Look
So, we’ve got our data redundancy in the Cloud, our company BDR (Back-up & Disaster Recovery) plan sorted, and smugly think all our bases are covered. We boast how we are N1 compliant – N, referencing backup components, and the plus 1 referring to at least one backup system.
There are, of course, N+2’s for simultaneous component failures where downtime isn’t an option. Better still, with 2N architecture, where N represents 4 Application Delivery Controllers (ADCs) with various configurations available, we may deploy an entire system replacement if the active N fails.
It’s so neat, right?
Why opt for Data Redundancy in the Cloud?
The simple answer is that there is no better way to protect and save your data. Deep inside we all know that’s true, and that unimaginable occurrence can afflict the best safety redundancies. Don’t imagine for one minute that you can do it without professional help.
Things go awry up there people, and no one is immune!
Case in point of Data Redundancy in the Cloud: Giant Cloud platforms like AWS (Amazon Web Services) blew Netflix on Xmas eve, explaining that the Cloud broke down after a control system failure caused…wait for it….“multiple, redundant cooling systems to fail in parts of the affected Availability Zone….due to a bug in the third-party control system logic…We have disabled the failover mode that triggered this bug on our control systems to ensure we do not have a recurrence of this issue. We have also trained our local operations teams to quickly identify and remediate this situation if it were to recur.”
Hm, sounds a bit cloudy? The simple solution lies in the old adage never to put ‘all your eggs in one basket’.
Enter Cloud Native: “cloud-native applications are built as a set of microservices that run in Docker containers, and may be orchestrated in Kubernetes and managed and deployed using DevOps and Git CI workflows.” If that’s a bit of a mouthful, just know that it is every business’s dream to have data redundancies in the cloud with infrastructure that is simple for developers and controllers alike to keep a handle on.
“Companies who adopt cloud-native and DevOps (ops that combine software and IT ops for continuous deliver) best practices like GitOps (a paradigm where observations and descriptions of systems bring out continuity) can increase mean time to deployment from 1 or 2 deployments a week to 150 deployments or more in a single day.”- Anita Buehrle
In short, understand that the company you choose to see to your data redundancies need to be on ‘cloud 9’ – way above the rest, to give you the absolute best service no matter what. They will be testing a variety of platforms and they will find the right one for you. Take your hats off to those techies who can play in cyberspace like the pros in Wall Street watch the rise and fall of graphs, so they know when to buy or sell.
Data Redundancy and Load Shedding
The importance of having an accessible backup when load shedding hits is no joke. Our new reality makes data redundancy in the cloud unavoidably essential. According to Business Insider (March 2021), ‘South Africa was hit by almost 860 hours of load shedding last year.’
Bear in mind, that was during lockdown when many companies were closed. As lockdown restriction lifts, so load shedding increases. Are you ready? There are sound reasons for taking a closer look at the condition of your data redundancy in the cloud.
There’s no shortcut to the solution.
The smart recommendation is to run a series of tests that factor in the kind of loading you know happens at your end-of-year processing for example. Play around with increasing daily loads and sustained loads to ascertain what’s best for you.
There’s help is on the way.
As a very important first step to redundancy, Huge Connect’s secure data connectivity and managed solutions will enable access your cloud applications when and where needed, giving you peace of mind.
Visit us anytime and view our solutions where our team will assist you with your company’s specific needs.
