Note: The download of Fortress RBackup 2008 for trial or purchase is currently not available through our website; however, we would be happy to provide it for you. Please contact us for further information and details.

Summary

Fortress RBackup 2008 is the full-featured backup and restore application used with the Fortress RBS service. It replaces troublesome tape drives and forgetful computer users, operating unattended and automatically to regularly save important data securely off-site. A versatile scheduler launches the software, usually at night when computers are not being used. It compresses and encrypts backup files using a choice of encryption methods and key lengths: DES, TDES-128, AES-128, AES-192, AES-256, or Blowfish (up to 448 bit key length.) RBackup then sends backup files off-site to the Fortress Data Vault through the Internet, Intranet, or direct dial-up modems. It has many failsafe features, and conforms to standard backup methodology.

Some of its advanced features include:

Features	Benefits
Business-quality client software available for 2008 Server, Vista, 2003 Server, XP, 2000 Server/Pro, NT4*, ME*, 98SE*, 95* * Some recently added features may not be available	Offsite backup service for PCs, laptops and servers running Windows 32 and 64-bit operating systems
Flexible, scheduler so backups can be automatically initiated during off-hours – or run on demand	Unattended operation using a broadband Internet connection with option to install as Windows background service
Better than military-grade encryption with data secured by a private encryption key	Helps you to meet HIPAA, SOX, SEC/NASD, GLB, PIPEDA regulations for information security and privacy
Mapped volume support to backup any device visible as a drive letter* from your Windows PC * Additional file sharing software may be required	Backup up information stored on network shares - including networked Unix and Mac workstations
Email notifications are sent after the completion of each backup. A log file provides a complete list of all files backed up and alerts you to any potential problems	Summary email notification may be sent to multiple users. This ensure that everyone involved can verify backups are properly operating
Automatically include (or exclude) files based on file extension using the Auto-select configuration option	Backup or exclude application-specific data files without knowing exactly where these files are located on your computer
User-configurable version control system maintains edit history (generations) of files based on number of days online or number of backups performed. Optional feature to always keep last version of a file online (never purge)	Quickly restore lost or deleted files using “self serve” Explorer-like client. Recover the most recent version or any previous generation stored online
Built-in SQL Agent permits you to backup open Microsoft SQL databases with complete fidelity if you have authentication credentials for the database	SQL-based databases can be safely backed up with no need to shutdown the underlying software application
Built-in Open File Agent (OFA) snapshot technology makes an on-disk copy of any file inadvertently left open or locked by an application	Files unintentionally left open, including Microsoft Outlook email, can now be backed up using Open File Agent technology. Previously, these files may have been locked
System State and Active Directory databases found on most Windows Servers can now be automatically backed up using built-in agent software	Recover your Windows Server system state configuration in the event of a failed software installation or corrupted Active Directory
Incremental backups use the file-modified timestamp field to determine when a change occurs. Previously, only the file archive flag (bit) was available	Online backups and local tape (or disk) backups can co-exist on the same system with reduced scheduling difficulties and less configuration complexity
Block-mode differential backups can detect and backup changed records within a file. This results in faster incremental backups	BitBackup technology can dramatically reduce the time needed to perform large file backups

Details

Fortress RBackup 2008 works like regular data backup software, but with one important difference. Instead of sending backups to a tape drive or other media, RBackup securely stores all files in encrypted format securely offsite in the Fortress Data Vault. It does this (usually) at night while computers are not being used. Backups can also be done on-demand, any time.

It is completely automatic. In fact, you may even forget its working. Most businesses put their livelihood on the line every night and don’t realize it. With businesses depending more and more on the data stored in their computers, proper backups are becoming much more critical.

Fortress RBackup 2008 software accomplishes several essential steps that are often overlooked or done improperly by other backup software - especially in the regular non-automated backup systems.

Online backups are done on schedule, reliably. Most businesses don’t do this. For one reason or another, they don’t keep a regular backup regimen. Usually it’s because the person responsible for doing backups (if there is one) is too busy doing something else, or someone is using the computer when it’s time for a backup, or they simply forget. Since remote backups are done with automated software usually at night, when nobody is using the computer, backups are always done on schedule.

The correct files are backed up. Ordinary backup software is often installed with a list of files to be backed up. This set of files usually represents the state of the system when the software was installed, and often misses critical files. Further, it often fails to back up files that get added later. Compounding this problem, very few businesses take the trouble to reset their backup software regularly to include new files.

Fortress RBackup 2008 software solves this problem by constantly re-evaluating the computer system, adding files to the backup as needed. Several full copies of files are stored using a sophisticated version control system unavailable in most other backup software of any kind. This is much too important to overlook.

The general definition of proper backups requires redundancy. One must keep multiple copies of the same files at different points in their development, called versions. As an example, you should have a different copy of each backed-up file for each backup session. Further, you should be able to easily restore any of your files up to any given point in time. Banks do it, big corporations do it, and so should small businesses. Only RBackup has such an easy to use version control system.

Fortress RBackup 2008 files are encrypted for complete security. Tape backups are not generally encrypted, so anyone can read them and gain access to client database, billing records, payroll, tax info, and everything else on computers. Files are encrypted using your choice of eight of the strongest cryptographic methods in the world for complete security so nobody, not even Fortress, can read your files.

Finally and most importantly - backups are immediately sent offsite and stored safely away from the clients' computers and their businesses. This is where almost every business makes its biggest mistake. Even if they do everything else perfectly, backups are of little use if their building burns or they are unable to physically recover their tapes from the premises. Most small companies who do backups leave the tapes where they can be destroyed alongside the computer by the same disaster.

Of course, you can see that this would be a problem in a fire or flood or an earthquake. But it's also useful in emergencies where businesses are forced to evacuate their offices quickly. Even businesses that do backups and have good, undamaged tapes have to shut down. Many go out of business simply because they don't have access to their data.

RBackup solves this problem by automatically storing this valuable data at more than one site. So, a business can be back up and running with new computers and their latest data no matter what catastrophe happens.

RBackup runs on all versions of Windows 95, 98, NT, XP, ME, 2000, and 2003 and supports all networks that run with these operating systems.

This is how Fortress RBackup 2008 works...

At a predetermined time the software “wakes up" and determines which files need backing up, and what kind of backup (out of three possibilities) is scheduled for that session. It then compresses those files into archives that can in many cases be only 5% to 15% of the original file sizes. These archives are then encrypted using an encryption key known only to the client.

After backup files are compressed and encrypted, RBackup activates the client's modem or Internet connection and sends it’s backup. The backup is verified for integrity before sending and while being sent, then again after it reaches the Fortress Data Vault. This ensures that the copy of the backup that's on the client computer exactly matches the copy that was sent.

After the backup is sent and verified, RBackup returns to idling state, once again hiding until the next backup time.

Restoring Data

RBackup restores data using an easy to understand user interface.

Simply pick the restore option from the menu and tag the desired files. Proceeding will instruct the client to restore to the original or an alternate location.

The Client sees a list of all the files available for restoration on the data server. This file listing is sorted by Backup Set Name and Backup Date and usually contains several versions of the same files. This is part of the exclusive Version Control system built into RBackup. This system lets a client restore any version of their files - not just the latest version.

Clients can select files and sets of files by tagging and un-tagging files individually or in groups. The File Finder feature of RBackup is extremely powerful. With a single selection clients can select (as examples) the latest version of all files; only a particular subdirectory; a single drive letter or files who's names match a certain criteria. Files can be untagged the same way. So, you can come up with virtually any set of files you want to back up by using combinations of any or all tagging options.

Major Features

The following are some of RBackup's major features. For an in-depth understanding of at all features, please review the user documentation after installation.

MS Exchange - RBackup backs up Exchange Server at the sub-mailbox level, incrementally. The first backup is usually big, but thereafter; only new messages and other objects are backed up. This feature works only on the computer running MS Exchange

SQL Server - RBackup backs up multiple instances of MS SQL Server running on the same computer that has RBackup installed

System State, Active Directory - RBackup can back up System State and Active Directory on the same computer running RBackup

Open Files - RBackup can back up files that are open and locked by other applications. This feature operates only on files that are on the same computer RBackup runs on

Encryption - RBackup (North American edition) supports these encryption standards and bit lengths. The multi-encryption feature makes RBackup the most secure backup software available DES 56 bits TDES (Triple DES) 168 bits Rijndael AES (new US Federal Standard) 128 bits Rijndael AES 192 bits Rijndael AES 256 bits Blowfish variable key length to 448 bits

Secure Key Generator - Clients can enter their own Encryption Key, or they can use RBackup's Key Generator. The Key Generator creates statistically perfect encryption keys that are much more secure than human users can create

Faster Streaming Transfers - Up to four times faster than previous versions, especially where many small files are being backed up

Map Clients to Drives - This Server-side feature lets you assign clients to drives. You can easily use multi-drive arrays, Storage Area Networks (SAN) or even Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to store data at locations other than at the main Server

Predefine Include/Exclude Files - You can predefine Backup Sets with files preselected for Include or Exclude, AutoSelect ON or OFF, and other Backup Set definitions

Administrator's Features - Entering the Administrator's password at the Client opens access to enhanced features on the Client software

Bigger Backups - Unlimited file size and count. RBackup supports backing up hundreds of thousands of files per Backup Set, and file sizes in the terabytes. (one thousand gigabytes)

Disaster Recovery System - Clients should make sure their Encryption Keys and Passwords are safe. But, just in case they don't, RBackup's Disaster Recovery System makes it easier to restore them from Key Disks that can be generated by the Client

Copy to Disk - Onsite backups can be done to a series of archives at the client facility, usually as first full backups. Archives are then transported and copied to the data vault. This is faster than remote backups which may not be practical for initial large full backups

Scheduled Start Date - Allows scheduling a Backup Set to launch at a future date