Plan-b launches perfect backup solution

Plan-b launches perfect backup solution for small business

The small or sole-charge companies that comprise 97% of New Zealand’s businesses get the ideal backup solution this month with the launch of Plan-b ProtectNOW.

Plan-b ProtectNOW offers a simple, cost-effective way to back up data daily via the Internet. What makes the product even more attractive is that, in an emergency, customers can get loan PCs with their data already loaded on it, so they can continue working as before!

“For small businesses, doing backups has traditionally been a problem area,” says Plan-b managing director Ian Forrester. “Either it was seen as too hard, too expensive, or data was backed up to media kept in the same location as the primary production PCs, which opens up the business to unacceptable risk should the location suffer water damage, fire or burglary. Plan-b ProtectNOW solves all these problems.”

Using Plan-b ProtectNOW is easy. The initial setup can be done remotely and after that customer data is backed up to Plan-b’s secure facility over the Internet every day. Because of the advanced de-duplication technology Plan-b uses, only the bare minimum of updates need to be transferred – only the actual data blocks that changed rather than complete files. In case a file is lost or deleted accidentally, customers can restore it easily using a secure online portal.

As New Zealand’s leading dedicated business continuity provider, Plan-b has a strong track record looking after the interests of larger corporate customers. The company launched a similar online backup service to larger customers in March.

“But this being New Zealand, with our tradition of small business, we realised there were many business people out there who wanted something different,” says Forrester. “These people are the backbone of our economy and it is for them that we developed our latest product.”

According to figures released by the Ministry of Economic Development in 2008, 97% of New Zealand businesses are SMEs, with 89% of enterprises employing five or fewer people.

A unique feature of Plan-b ProtectNOW that specifically addresses the needs of small business is that it gives customers who suffer computer or data failure access to emergency loan PCs.

“If a virus corrupts your data or your PC is stolen, or has to go in for repairs, you let us know and we’ll courier a loan PC to you wherever you are with all your data already loaded onto it, so you can just switch it on and carry on exactly where you left off.”

Plan-b ProtectNOW is very affordable, costing as little as $34.99 per month for data volumes up to 5GB and one loan PC.

“If you compare this with the potential impact it will have on your business if your data is lost or you cannot work for days because of PC failure, the investment is minimal,” says Forrester.

Plan-b ProtectNOW becomes available to businesses across New Zealand on 23 September 2009.
 

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