BluPointe DRS, a well-established player in the storage cloud market, is starting fresh with the launch of a new cloud backup solution for businesses. The Atlanta-based company, which has been providing online data protection technology for nine years, aims to offer solution providers a quick and efficient way to store customers’ data on a storage cloud with both local and remote protection.
According to Ron Roberts, CEO of BluPointe, the new cloud-based backup solution is designed to get customers up and running on the cloud in just five to seven minutes. “The VAR signs up with us, and registers the opportunity,” he explained. “We give them a Web portal, which is their account. They can just download the software to the client, set it up, and start backing up data.”
BluPointe’s software can be installed on any physical or virtual Windows-based server to create either a local storage cloud, a remote one, or both. It ensures data security and integrity by encrypting the data during transit and while stored in the customer’s vault. The solution also offers instant access from anywhere and comprehensive reporting. Additionally, it supports popular applications such as Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, and Oracle, and includes features like e-mail message-level archiving.
While BluPointe already collaborates with several managed service providers, Roberts emphasized that the software is particularly well-suited for traditional solution providers. It allows data to be stored locally at the customer site, in the solution provider’s data center, or remotely, providing resellers with the opportunity to offer a complete solution including their own storage and servers. “We help them build private clouds for customers,” Roberts added.
By working with BluPointe channel partners, customers can establish a private storage cloud starting at under $7,000 for a system with 2 TBs to 4 TBs in capacity. Yearly maintenance costs begin at $1,500 for such a system and decrease each subsequent year. This package includes unlimited agents for any customer end-user devices. For those seeking a cost-effective disaster recovery solution, a second license can be purchased.
Roberts estimated that a three-year maintenance plan for this solution would result in a cost of approximately 8 cents per GB per month.
BluPointe DRS, previously known as the developer of the Robobak suite of network-based data protection software, eventually sold Robobak to VisionWorks Solutions, a company based in Ontario, Canada.