Zmanda Gives SMB Cloud Backups a Google-sized Boost

Zmanda is combining Google’s powerful cloud and the company’s open source-based backup software in its latest version of Zmanda Cloud Backup. “The primary goal is to make backup and recovery a simple process, even for small businesses that don’t have a full-time IT staff,” says Chander Kant, the CEO of Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Zmanda.

Given Google’s huge cloud services push, the timing is right for SMBs running Windows Server and Windows endpoints to seriously consider cloud backup when drawing up data protection plans, says Kant. “Google is coming into this business very strongly,” he adds.

Better yet, Google has the infrastructure to back up its cloudy ambitions. “Not just the back-end infrastructure, but also a global infrastructure,” says Kant.

He explains that Google’s massive cloud investments, sheer size and knack for setting up shop in desirable locations with close, fast links to telecommunications hubs, has advantages not only for the search giant but also for potential cloud customers.

“Google had to come close to as many customers as possible,” says Kant, and that is good news for small businesses struggling with settling on a cloud backup provider.

Bottom line, Google Cloud Storage gives SMBs speed and reliability. According to Kant, Zmanda backups can now travel through Google’s speedy, nearly-ubiquitous cloud infrastructure. The same IT expertise that delivers near instantaneous, as-you-type search results can help SMBs quickly store, secure and access their valuable data.

Open Source Roots

Zmanda Cloud Backup, like its Amanda Enterprise, an upmarket offering that supports more expansive, heterogeneous environments derives from the Amanda open source backup software project. (Incidentally, Google Cloud Storage support for Amanda Enterprise was also announced today.)

In fact, Zmanda is a major supporter and continues to contribute to the project. “We continue to write and publish open source,” he states.

For its commercial variant, the company blends Amanda’s backup engine with a user interface and features that promote ease of use. “Install the binary, answer four questions,” and a Windows machine is backing itself up to the cloud, says Kant.

Zmanda Cloud Backup protects Windows Server 2008 and 2003. It is also compatible with Windows desktop OSes, including Windows 7, Vista and XP. Users can opt to backup exclusively to the cloud on either Google Cloud Storage or Amazon Web Services, or institute a hybrid, disk-to-disk-to-cloud (D2D2C) setup. Scheduling and data retention options round out the product’s feature set.

Zmanda Cloud Backup with Google Cloud Storage support is available now through resellers. Pricing is $100 per 100 GB per year.

Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.