Modernizing copy management for databases

09 May, 2017
Greg Tevis
IBM

You’ve probably heard the term “IT modernization” bandied about.  To me, it’s all about the data; how quickly can you get it, how efficiently are you storing it and what value does it bring to you when you use it?  These issues matter most to application owners and developers who need access to the latest copies of data but don’t want to wait weeks for operations people to deliver.  Back in October, we launched a new product, IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management (CDM), that helps provide good answers for each of these questions.  Today we are releasing a new version that extends these capabilities into new areas of your environment including SAP HANA, SQL, InterSystems Caché and Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR).   With the latest enhancements for IBM Spectrum CDM, IT organizations can modernize their copy management and make database administrators (DBAs) and developers very happy.

It all starts with automating the copy process

The old method of creating copies used to take weeks or longer to complete.  Someone would create a request, the request would be added to the queue and then the operations group might have used a scripted process that was painful to manage or they might have created an ad-hoc copy.  Either way, the copy would usually be out from under the operations group’s supervision; in other words, no updates, no lifecycle management and lots of copy sprawl.

IBM Spectrum CDM provides a centralized, automated, policy-driven copy creation and management platform.  Customers can use the self-service template to create copies, delivering copy access in minutes instead of weeks.  Developers will appreciate the ability to create copies using the RESTful API so that they can stand copies up through their DevOps tools.  Not only can the IT operations group improve customer satisfaction by speeding up copy delivery, they can also do so while reducing copy sprawl through automated copy lifecycle management.

IBM Spectrum CDM 2.2.6 expands database support

The latest version of IBM Spectrum CDM expands the benefits of copy management to more application environments.

N key features include:

  • Support for SAP HANA on Linux (Intel-based x86 and IBM Power Systems)
  • Support for InterSystems Caché database and Epic Electronic Health Record software on Linux and AIX (IBM Power Systems)
  • Support for SQL Server 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016 on physical servers.

Faster copies, happier users

If IT operations managers want to make their customers happy, the first step is to empower them and speed up copy delivery.  DBAs and developers I speak with often refer to delays in copy access as one of their biggest barriers to productivity.  It makes sense.  If you’re developing a new application that requires a copy of the data to test against or you’re creating a space for data analysis that requires a copy of the latest data, you don’t want to wait weeks for access.  You want it immediately!

It usually takes IT operations teams weeks and a significant amount of staff time to create, move and deliver database copies whether it’s delivered on bare metal or virtual machines.  By the time the copy is delivered, the data is already stale, which can result in poor accuracy for analytics reports and more bugs for application developers.

With IBM Spectrum CDM, customers use a self-service template or APIs to request the infrastructure they require.  The copy job is then automatically processed by IBM Spectrum CDM in a policy-driven manner that can ensure compliance requirements are met and copies are properly registered and tracked within the IBM Spectrum CDM database.  Copies can also be automatically refreshed as often as needed to ensure that development and analytics are being done against a fresh copy of the data.  Plus, the data can be masked to protect actual contents from being stolen in the development process. And because all of this is done in central tool, IT operations staff still maintains ultimate control of copies throughout their lifecycle.

The results are: copy access that can happen in minutes instead of weeks, development and analytics run against the most up-to-date data, and reduction in copy sprawl though proper lifecycle management.  Another result is those happy developers and happy DBAs.

If you would like to learn more about how IBM Spectrum CDM can help you speed up copy access and simplify copy management for database environments, watch our March webinar here and make sure to come and visit us at SAP Sapphire in Orlando, Florida May 16 – 18 at booth #400.

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