Data Domain-CAA South Central Ontario

Vendor: Data Domain (NYSE: DDUP)
Customer: Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario www.caasco.com 
Vertical Markets: Automotive/Transportation/Insurance
State: International – Canada

Technology Used: Two DD560 systems, one DD410 system, one DD580 system, Data Domain Replicator Software.

Solution: The Canadian Automobile Association provides a variety of automotive, travel, and insurance services to its members. Comprised of nine automotive clubs, the CAA has over 140 offices across Canada and more than five million members. The South Central Ontario branch of the CAA employs over 1,200 people at its dozens of branch offices and its central call center.

Storing and protecting member data, including insurance information, is a necessary part of CAA’s operations. The South Central Ontario branch of the CAA relied on a tape system to complete backups, but this method had several limitations. Backups were slow, unreliable, and needlessly complex. Meeting backup windows was a challenge, and retention periods were short. Finally, restoring data was a time-consuming process. All of these issues prompted the CAA in South Central Ontario to begin the search for a better backup system.

After evaluating two disk-based backup products, the automotive services provider decided to go with a Data Domain platform. Factors involved in the decision included the simplicity of the Data Domain system and the ability to integrate it with CAA's existing backup software. The components of the backup solution CAA deployed were two DD560 systems, one DD410 system, one DD580 system, and Data Domain Replicator Software.

By switching to the Data Domain platform, CAA has been able to increase their data retention period from seven days to one month. Keeping more data on-site has streamlined the process for restoring files, in some cases allowing restores to be completed in minutes as opposed to days. Enhanced customer satisfaction and increases in productivity have both been noted, and compression rates are impressive. CAA has also made use of Data Domain products to establish a remote disaster recovery site.

Further details: http://www.datadomain.com/pdf/DataDomain-CaseStudy-CAA.pdf