Episodes

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis and Prasanna discuss how to choose the best password manager in light of recent security breaches. They examine the LastPass hack that resulted in $150 million of stolen cryptocurrency and what that teaches us about password manager security. The hosts break down the critical security features to look for in the best password manager, including encryption strength, iteration counts, multi-factor authentication options, and passkey support. They emph...

Tape backup isn't dead – but it's glory days are gone. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why tape backup remains relevant despite its diminished role in operational backups. They reveal how cloud giants have become the biggest consumers of tape technology while explaining common misconceptions about tape's performance. The hosts break down four core advantages tape backup still maintains: unbeatable cost (one to two orders of magnitude cheaper than alternatives)...

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss critical strategies for securing your backup disk against cyber threats. They explain why the default configuration of storing backups in easily accessible directories makes your backup disk vulnerable to threat actors who specifically target backup systems before launching attacks. The conversation covers several effective methods to protect your backup disk, including using proprietary protocols like OST ...

Ever wonder why your recovery time objective seems impossible to meet? In this episode, we challenge the common assumption that a four-hour RTO is achievable for most organizations. Host W. Curtis Preston and guest Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why these aggressive recovery time objectives often exist only on paper. From ransomware attacks to natural disasters, we examine the real-world factors that make rapid recovery more complex than most realize. We break down the differences between recovery...

In this eye-opening episode about passwords vs passkeys, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi expose why traditional password protection isn't enough for your backup systems anymore. They break down the evolution from basic passwords to MFA, and explain why passkeys and FIDO compliance represent the next level in security. Learn why hackers target backup systems first, how they exploit password vulnerabilities, and why even multi-factor authentication has its weak points. Discover why ther...

Understanding your backup window is crucial for effective data protection, but there's a twist - it's not just about backup speed. In this episode, we explore why focusing solely on backup speed misses the point entirely. The real measure of success? Your recovery capabilities. Join W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi as they share war stories about backup windows gone wrong, including a memorable tale involving tape drives that could write but couldn't read. Learn why traditional backup ...

Artificial intelligence in backup isn't just marketing hype - it's changing how we protect our data. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the practical applications of AI in backup systems, from intelligent scheduling to ransomware detection. Learn how artificial intelligence helps with capacity planning, especially with deduplication systems where predicting storage needs gets tricky. We discuss AI's role in asset discovery, anomaly detection, and even creating...

In part two of our disaster recovery testing series, we explore the critical steps of executing a DR test. From coordinating teams and documenting issues to maintaining communication channels during the test, this episode covers everything you need to know about running an effective DR test. Host W. Curtis Preston and co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi share practical advice from their extensive experience with disaster recovery testing. They discuss the importance of having backup communication metho...

Looking for the best cloud backup for small business? This episode cuts straight to what matters. Host W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi share their expert insights on choosing the right cloud backup solution for your small business needs. They break down the critical features every small business should look for in a cloud backup service, including true immutability, proper implementation of the 3-2-1 rule, and transparent pricing. The discussion covers why cloud backup makes sense for...

A personal laptop restore that should have taken days stretched into weeks, highlighting critical lessons about backup and recovery. When our guest's laptop hard drive failed, he thought replacing it with an SSD and restoring from Carbonite would be straightforward. Instead, he faced constant system crashes, hardware challenges, and a restore speed that would make a snail look fast. (Carbonite did not cause the crashes.) Listen as we break down this laptop restore saga, including why the system ...

Getting the right backup IT budget can feel like pulling teeth, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi share real-world strategies for securing the backup IT budget you need to protect your organization. Learn how to partner with the security and GRC teams to make your case stronger. Find out why ransomware has changed the game when it comes to backup IT budget discussions, and hear practical tips for documenting your...

(For frequent listeners, I made a mistake with last week's episode. THIS is the episode I meant to publish last week. I know it has the same description. Sorry about that.) This disaster recovery case study takes you inside a real DR scenario when a hurricane devastated an island's data center. Our guest shares his firsthand experience managing recovery efforts with limited resources, no mainland connection, and countless unexpected challenges. (This is the on-the-ground account of the story we...

This disaster recovery case study takes you inside a real DR scenario when a hurricane devastated an island's data center. Our guest shares his firsthand experience managing recovery efforts with limited resources, no mainland connection, and countless unexpected challenges. (This is the on-the-ground account of the story we told last week with "Harry Potter.") Listen as we explore how basic DR assumptions fell apart, from authentication dependencies to satellite communication limits. Learn why...

Get ready for one of the most compelling disaster recovery stories we've ever featured on the Backup Wrap-up. (It's a very popular episode from a few years ago.) A veteran backup administrator shares his firsthand experience of what happened when a hurricane hit their island data center, leading to a massive flooding event that took out both their primary facility and their Iron Mountain storage location. Our guest takes us through the three-week recovery process, sharing candid details about r...

S2|DATA has released a free NetBackup reader that gives users complete control over their backup data without requiring a full NetBackup environment. This standalone application allows anyone to quickly catalog and restore data from NetBackup disk images, even if they no longer maintain their NetBackup infrastructure. CEO Brendan Sullivan joins the show to explain why they created this free tool and how it helps organizations maintain access to their legacy backup data. We discuss the challenge...

In this eye-opening episode, we examine a real-world disaster recovery test gone wrong from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our guest Paul Van Dyke shares his story of intentionally taking down an entire server environment over a weekend, armed with only backup tapes and determination. This disaster recovery test example showcases both what not to do and valuable lessons learned. Paul walks us through his bold 2001 decision to reorganize storage across five servers by completely wiping them all at once....

Ready to level up your disaster recovery testing game? This episode covers everything from basic restore testing to full-scale DR scenarios. Curtis and Prasanna share real-world experiences and practical advice for implementing effective disaster recovery testing strategies. Learn why starting small is crucial, how to define clear success criteria, and ways to test without risking your production environment. We discuss different infrastructure types, from physical servers to cloud platforms, a...

WC continue =====================DESCRIPTION=============== Detecting ransomware requires more than just good antivirus software - it demands a comprehensive approach using multiple tools and techniques. In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, security expert Mike Saylor breaks down the essential components of ransomware detection, from endpoint protection to network monitoring. Learn about the latest detection tools like XDR, EDR, and SOAR, and discover why many organizations might benefit fr...

In this essential episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we dive deep into RTO vs RPO – the foundational concepts that drive backup and recovery system design. Curtis and Prasanna break down why these aren't just technical metrics, but crucial business decisions that should come from your stakeholders. Learn why different applications need different RTOs and RPOs, how these metrics influence your backup frequency and system design, and why getting them wrong can cost your company millions. We'll show y...

Experience the backup from hell in this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up. What started as a straightforward 40TB backup spiraled into a months-long battle with 400TB of data, failing tape drives, and directories containing hundreds millions of files. Host W. Curtis Preston shares his first-hand account of tackling this backup from hell, including the challenges of dealing with SMB protocol limitations, tape drive failures, and the infamous "million file problem." Learn why backing up 9...

In this important episode, we tackle the crucial topic of election integrity. As a seasoned poll worker and site manager, I take you behind the scenes of our voting process, revealing the numerous safeguards and checks in place to ensure fair and accurate elections. We debunk common myths, explain the importance of paper ballots, and discuss how mail-in voting actually works. You'll learn about the rigorous signature verification process, the role of election observers, and why it's nearly impos...

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we look at the dangers of the consolidating backup market, a trend that's reshaping the industry. We talk about recent major acquisitions like Cohesity's purchase of Veritas and Salesforce's takeover of OwnBackup, examining the implications for customers and the market at large. After covering each acquisition, we talk about the often-overlooked risks of keeping legacy backup systems operational post-consolidation, including security vulnerabil...

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up that proves Curtis right :) we look into the shocking case of a rogue administrator who held an entire company's IT infrastructure hostage. We explore how Daniel Rhyne, a core infrastructure engineer, managed to lock out his colleagues and demand a $750,000 ransom. This real-world example highlights the critical importance of safeguarding against insider threats. We look into practical strategies to prevent such incidents, including implementing least privi...

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, we explore the critical process of a business impact analysis (BIA) and its importance for organizations of all sizes. Our expert guest, Dr. Mike Saylor, shares valuable insights on conducting effective BIAs, including why it's best to have a third party perform them. We discuss how business impact analysis informs disaster recovery plans, aligns IT with business needs, and helps justify crucial investments in resilient systems. You'll learn about the steps...