GSS Blog
Just because you backed up your data doesn't mean you are ready for a disaster!
In various conversations I have had recently, and even in the press, there seems to be a common misconception that if you backup your data you are ready for a disaster. There are situations in which this is the case but with the emergence of disk-based backup often this is no longer true. Knowing whether or not you are ready for a disaster is a matter of examining where your data resides.
Are bigger businesses better when it comes to customer service?
Gresham Storage Solutions is not a large organization and even though we have a three letter acronym – GSS – we are not known by this name or held in the same regard as EMC, IBM, SUN, etc, so I frequently hear people say things like “we only deal with big corporations” or “who is Gresham”. This is the plight of many organizations of similar size to Gresham Storage Solutions; to be dismissed not because of product quality or organizational capability but because smaller organizations don’t fit the stereotypical purchasing mold that some organizations have chosen to adopt. If you recognize this as being something that happens in your organization, read on…
I want to challenge the wisdom of this way of working and suggest that not only does such a mentality hinder your organization’s ability to procure the best products at the most competitive prices but it often leads to an overall poorer experience in the short, medium and long term. And, it is really that post-sale experience where I think things begin to unwind quickly because, if we are honest with ourselves, when has technology worked perfectly? So, it isn’t a matter of if you are going to have to call upon your vendor to help you resolve a problem but a matter of when. How they respond should speak volumes to the true value the company delivers.
When the money dries up, print some more
It might sound like I am encouraging you to commit a federal crime but trust me, I don't want you to go to jail. What I do want to do is help you identify ways to take advantages of inefficiencies in your current storage environment that will let you discover hidden pockets of money that can be used more wisely.
The importance of delivering value rather than volume
We are in a tough economy where the 'do more with less' mantra reigns supreme...and, in fact, is often a necessity to ensure survival. It is odd, then, that so few vendors seem to understand the importance of delivering value rather than volume. It seems that they would rather overlook this fundamental shift in the market. It seems that many vendors would rather sell you more of just about anything (i.e. deal in volume) rather than looking at how they can help you get better results from what you have today (i.e. deal in value). And, while this problem is widespread throughout the IT industry, let's focus on how this plays out in the world of data protection specifically.
