Storage for the small office and home office (SOHO) can be a challenge. Face it, each of us can be a “server-hugger.” This means that we want something tangible to know where our data is residing. Data protection can be among the largest challenges for the SOHO, as frequently challenges such as limited IT staff and funding are available to architect solutions that may come easily to larger organizations.

Selecting an on-site storage device can be the cornerstone of a data-protection strategy for the SOHO. The ioSafe series of storage devices are marketed as disaster-proof hardware for storage. I recently started using one of the units and was surprised by the toughness of these USB drives. Here are some of the performance characteristics of the storage devices:

-Fire and extreme heat protection up to 1,550° for up to 30 minutes

-Underwater submersion up to 10 feet for 3 days

This enclosure is tough and heavy and is designed to survive physical disasters. Figure A shows an ioSafe.

Figure A

The device is definitely tough in regards to water, humidity, and fire protection. The underlying technology is still a traditional disk, so there is no shock protection that would be different than other storage technologies. With this durability, an incredible investment is not required. The ioSafe Solo 1.5TB model has a list price of under $400.

Included with the ioSafe devices is the Data Recovery Service. This service provides a forensic recovery on the device in the event of a catastrophe if required. All devices include one year of this service, and up to 5 additional years can be added to the device.

The SOHO can benefit by crafting a comprehensive solution that includes a backup that goes off-site, with a service such as Mozy. Other offerings from ioSafe include systems with a RAID configuration for protection against disk failures, internal hard drives in lieu of external connections, and network-attached storage (NAS) disk systems. Other creative configurations include connecting the ioSafe device to a device that enables sharing of the USB-attached storage system for concurrent access. For smaller organizations that are also subject to a regulatory footprint, ioSafe provides guidance on using the devices as part of a compliance strategy.

Do you see a fit for data protection in the SOHO with this type of device? Share your comments below.