Symantec pushes Backup Exec with Altiris

SNW Symantec plans to integrate its latest Windows recovery software into the Altiris management platform next month. The move was made today in step with Storage Networking World in Dallas.

The two products will marry using Backup Exec System Recovery Integration Component for Altiris — which conveniently is both the name and a punctilious description of the addition (we'll use BESRICfA for short, although Symantec doesn't officially approve of the acronym. Serves them right though).

BESRICfA lets customers use key features from Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 7.0, such as reporting, status, backup job, and overall system protection information within the Altiris console and assign policies to their systems. That is, assuming they have both products.

The integration also provides Altiris customers with the ability to convert physical systems to virtual and virtual to physical as well as granular recovery for Microsoft Exchange. End-user file recovery capabilities can be utilized via Google Desktop or Backup Exec Retrieve.

Symantec senior product manager L D Weller said customers should expect more products to be manageable from Altiris in the future, as customers are taking a shine to having fewer user interfaces to negotiate.

The integration should hit the floor around 5 November, according to Weller. Customers using Altiris will be able to purchase Backup Exec at upgrade price.

But do you need a backup plan?

Ah, do they have a study for you

Symantec announced the finding of an international study that shows woeful business trends regarding disaster planning and preparedness.

I wonder if they have an angle? Ah well, let's dive into the numbers:

While 91 per cent of polled organizations carry out full scenario testing for their disaster recovery plans, nearly 50 per cent failed those tests.

What IT professionals consider a threat to their systems is worthy of note. Sixty-nine per cent cited natural disasters, 57 per cent named virus attacks, and 31 per cent specified war and/or terrorism. IT-specific threats keep the most managers nervous, with 67 per cent citing computer failure and 57 per cent naming external computer threats.

Almost 90 per cent of respondents have sat down with the team and agreed upon acceptable levels of risk with non-IT business executives in their organization. Only 33 per cent have gone to measures to protect themselves from the threats to which they feel exposed.

Symantec said its 2007 report was conducted by independent market research firm Dynamic Markets during June and July 2007. The study polled IT managers in large organizations spanning the US, 11 European countries, the Middle East, and South Africa.

Sean Derrington, storage product marketing director at Symantec said it's imperative that IT executives take a hard look at their disaster recovery strategies to prevent data pandemonium.

He recommends a product that rhymes with romantic. ®