For many organizations, cloud services can provide significant operational and bottom-line benefits at every stage of growth. Simplified scalability, robust data security and continuity, great flexibility, and reduced capital costs are just a few of the possible advantages of operating in the cloud. For many different reasons, organizations are now adopting multiple cloud solutions. A multicloud approach can, for example, help businesses optimize factors such as pricing, service levels, and compliance for their unique needs. Companies making this move must consider the potential challenges. In some multicloud environments, increased complexity and compatibility issues could compromise core tasks such as data backup and disaster recovery—but that is not always the case. In recent tests, we found that some multicloud approaches can actually improve the efficiency of critical data-management tasks over that of a single-cloud approach.

We tested the flexibility and ease of use of a multicloud solution that combined Dell APEX Data Storage Services Backup Target, Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Elastic Disaster Recovery. In this multicloud context, we conducted three backup and disaster recovery scenarios: private cloud local volume backup and restore, VM backup and restore to a cloud storage tier, and disaster recovery orchestration.

In our testing, it was simple to use Dell APEX Data Storage Services PowerProtect Data Manager to back up and restore private cloud local volumes. In addition, the Dell solution’s Cloud Tiering function made it simple to backup and restore private cloud local VMs to a cloud storage tier. We also discovered that by utilizing AWS's Cloud Disaster Recovery capability with Data Manager, cloud failover and virtual machine disaster recovery was easier, requiring 29% fewer steps than with AWS alone.

Using the Dell APEX solution in conjunction with AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery let us complete multicloud backup, restore, and disaster recovery scenarios faster than with AWS alone, while offering greater flexibility and functionality. Our tests show that for organizations considering a multicloud solution, a Dell APEX-based solution combined with AWS can improve outcomes for critical data-management tasks such as backup and recovery.

To learn more about our cloud data backup, restoration, and recovery tests, check out the report and infographic below.