Austrian subsidiary A1 is certified as a partner for NetApp’s Backup-as-a-Service

Vienna, 07 December 2016

• Highest standards for backup in the Austrian cloud
• NetApp BaaS certification tests 100 criteria
• A1 presents the largest domestic cloud storage solution with S3 technology

The Austrian subsidiary of Telekom Austria Group, A1, has been certified as an authorized service provider for BaaS Made in Austria. This certification is the only one in Austria to guarantee performance standards for technology, software and managed services in addition to compliance with all legal requirements for the integrity and recovery of data. Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) from NetApp enables companies in Austria to backup their data in the Austrian cloud using a certified service provider.

Cleverly-designed and certified online backup

As a leading provider of IT and communications solutions A1 has developed into Austria's biggest data center operator. Certification in accordance with Backup-as-a-Service Made in Austria complies with Austrian data protection laws, the Eurocloud Austria manual and NetApp's best practices. More than 100 criteria covering everything from processes to architecture were comprehensively audited, including national law, cyber-attacks, crisis management, documentation and of course 100% availability on the NetApp Enterprise Storage system. NetApp also ensures that these high standards are continuously maintained with an annual re-certification obligation.

Martin Fluch, Director ICT Services at A1, opted for the extensive testing process because of the multiple benefits it offers to customers:

"We value NetApp's focus on professionalism and outstanding quality, the online backup system has been cleverly designed down to the smallest detail. The quality seal saves our customers the considerable effort and expense that would be needed to carry out their own evaluation. And NetApp enables them to use state-of-the-art architecture without having to make any investment themselves. To this end we have built the largest cloud storage system in Austria and we also use it for our own data."

Maximum security and top level quality

It is worth looking a little deeper at the technology behind the solution: A1's new cloud storage system is unique in terms of its technology, security and scalability. With 3.5 peta-bytes A1 has the biggest cloud storage system in Austria and also stores its own data there - because demonstrating confidence in its own system is the best way to build customers' trust. The very latest S3 technology guarantees interoperability with a host of services that are also familiar from Amazon environments.

Each customer's data is distributed between 3 data centers to ensure maximum security. As a comparison, most providers generally only have 2 data centers. Scalability is another advantage of S3 technology, the same infrastructure used by Amazon enables customers to easily integrate the solution into their existing systems thus permitting a phased changeover; tape backups can be replaced by S3.

Advantages for A1 customers

The complete package for BaaS is designed for customers of all sizes who want to store their data in Austria and offers security from a single source. Customers benefit from the outstanding quality of A1 service combined with secure backup technology provided by the leading storage provider NetApp. Small companies in particular appreciate the fact that no technical knowledge is required to implement the system. And they receive a level of security that up to now only large companies could afford and at an unbeatable price. Compliance rules and national data protection guidelines ensure the required legal security. Responsibility for the flexible scalability required by growing data volumes is handed over to the service provider. The customer's IT department no longer has to deal with routine tasks and thanks to transparent costs and usage-based billing the savings are immediate.

"We are delighted to have such a professional partner as A1 on board that has been a byword for competence and a comprehensive range of services Made in Austria for many years. Our customers' processes are increasingly data-driven. By relieving them of routine tasks, we can together enable them to focus on crucial topics for the future like digitalization," concluded Peter Hanke, Country Manager NetApp Austria.

A1 NetApp certification

Martin Fluch, Director ICT Services at A1 and Peter Hanke, Country Manager NetApp Austria