The Architect Registration Board Build A Relationship With Databarracks
15th July 2010
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The Architects Registration Board is the body set up by
Parliament as the independent UK regulator of architects. Anyone
who is involved in designing and constructing buildings and
describes themselves as an architect must be registered with
ARB.
ARB's responsibilities are set out in the 1997 Architects Act
and include, amongst others, deciding what qualifications are
required to become an architect, keeping the UK register of
architects, setting standards for education and professional
practice, and investigating complaints about an architect's conduct
or competence.
With these statutory obligations to deliver to stakeholders that
include over 33,000 architects, consumers, and schools of
architecture, ARB considers the uptime of IT systems and security
of data to be vital. A lack of confidence in data backup systems
that rely on tape storage media and are susceptible to human error
led ARB to seek alternatives. An automated online backup
solution appeared to be the most logical to ensure that ARB's IT
systems and data were being protected by a dependable, robust and
cost efficient service. After substantial research into prospective
suppliers and reviewing their Disaster Recovery(DR) requirements,
ARB consulted Databarracks for guidance.
ARB is a public interest body that collects and processes
significant quantities of personal, confidential and sensitive data
as part of its day-to-day business activities. Deploying a system
with a high level of security was therefore essential and
fulfilling this demand was the initial challenge for Databarracks.
Other requirements included removing the potential for human error
whilst remaining within the organisation's testing Recovery Time
Objectives (RTO).
With all of this in mind, Databarracks proceeded to design,
recommend and package a solution that would enable ARB to
completely remove any human interaction in the backup
process. Backups are encrypted to military standards, they run
automatically without the need for the physical removal and storage
of backup media, and are backup operations which are constantly
monitored by the Databarracks support team.
ARB is now reassured that backups of critical servers including
File/Print, Exchange and SQL are monitored round the clock by
consummate professionals. The backup solution, centred around
Databarracks' Asigra-based software, seamlessly integrated with
ARB's Windows- and Linux-based platforms, ensures complete and
comprehensive coverage.
Karen Holmes, ARB's Deputy Registrar said, "as an organisation
with limited IT resources, we were keen to outsource this important
but often mundane and time-consuming process to dedicated
professionals. Since the service was deployed, our IT staff
has been less strained, allowing us to focus on adding value to the
organisation as well as bolstering our Business Continuity. Like
any other business, the financial implications of receiving an
enterprise level of service might have raised a few eyebrows; but
with Databarracks' completely transparent, fixed monthly rate
model, we have found it easy to build this into our expenditure
plans. We find the service to be excellent value for
money.