Future of Health with the Cloud – PowerON’s Simplified Data Recovery for the NHS
Historically NHS England’s data protection policy limited how, and what, the NHS could use Microsoft Azure for, especially with the challenges surrounding data residence. Following the launch of Microsoft’s UK datacentres in 2016 NHS Trusts began to look at the opportunities available within the Cloud.
Working with Microsoft, we have seen a combination of the following being used and of key interest to the NHS:
- Azure Backup – Supports point in time recover events and long term retention
- Azure Site Recovery – Full Service or Site Failover for significant downtime events
Why use Azure Backup & Site Recovery?
For many Trusts, using Azure for Disaster Recovery offers a strong business case as it allows consolidation of Datacentres and ability to remove having to manage and maintain a second site. Azure Backup offers a low risk, scalable solution that can support simplifying backup and recovery processes and eliminate the need for tape management.
Depending on your requirements Microsoft solutions are designed to either complement or replace existing technologies. Furthermore, customers looking to adopt a managed transition to the Cloud can leverage Microsoft components as required.
Microsoft understands many of the challenges facing Trusts today and supports the adoption of a Hybrid Model. Trusts can deploy Cloud solutions to ensure short –term recovery data remains onsite and no data or services are migrated to the Cloud unless stated; supporting cost reduction and driving a more rapid recovery experience.
PowerON Recovery Appliance
Whilst many NHS customers see the long term, scalable, cost saving benefits of Azure Backup the deployment time associated and services support still raises many questions.
As a result, PowerON designed a Recovery Appliance that leverages the power of Microsoft Azure and PowerON’s unique tools and processes. PowerON’s Recovery Appliance delivers comprehensive Backup and Recovery for virtual servers and physical environments allowing customers to easily scale on premise/off premise or both. While delivering against your recovery point and recovery time objectives.
Customers
Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals have been one of the early adopters of these technologies. Over the past 6 months they have been undertaking a number of organisation changes to deliver service improvements. One of the key elements of this was moving to a Microsoft based infrastructure leveraging Hyper-V, Azure Backup and Azure Recovery. Through implementation of these solution they have been able to reduce their annual revenue spend and consolidate their site locations; removing the need to maintain Tape Management and an additional Data Center location for recovery.
The Future
Whilst many Trusts are reflecting on their options, PowerON appreciates the many challenges they face. Cloud offers many scalable benefits for NHS Trusts, but where do you start? In partnership with Microsoft, PowerON is holding 2 Free Immersion Workshops; one in London and Manchester. To find out more information register here.
Register for one of our Free Immersion Workshop in London and in Manchester
