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For more information, contact:
Karen Higgins
A & E Communications for SafeData
(610) 831-5723
khiggins@aandecomm.com |
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| 12/18/06 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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SafeData Provides Ahlstrom with High Availability Solution |
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| Warwick, R.I. – December 18, 2006 – SafeData, LLC, a technology company focused on helping companies protect their data, minimize downtime and recover and
restore data quickly, today announced that it has implemented its high availability solution for Ahlstrom, a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing
of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, e.g. in filters, wipes,
flooring, labels and tapes. Its 5,525 employees serve customers in more than 20 countries on six continents. |
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| Ahlstrom is ranked among the top 10 nonwoven manufacturers with two locations in Windsor Locks, Conn. and Chirnside, Scotland. Employing about 850 employees, these two
Ahlstrom locations were making a change from their AS/400 (now iSeries) platforms and legacy systems to a new, proprietary manufacturing system. While the 22-person IT staff
for these two locations was focused on the transition to the new manufacturing system, Ahlstrom needed to find a way to manage the existing system running its mission-critical
legacy applications to ensure continuous operations. |
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| Additionally, because Ahlstrom has made significant capital investments in its costly paper machines, the manufacturer needed to ensure its systems would be operational on a continual
basis during the transition in order to remain profitable. Its 24/7 operations are critical to its business. "We looked at three vendors to provide us with a high availability solution,"
said Paul Bakutis, CIO at Ahlstrom. "We selected SafeData because we were very comfortable with the team, its iSeries and high availability expertise, its technology infrastructure and its
flexibility. Not to mention that SafeData's proposal was very competitively priced." |
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| SafeData/HA (high availability) is a cost-effective, subscription-based high availability solution for mission-critical systems. Using iTera's Echo2 replication solution, SafeData creates
and maintains a mirror of Ahlstrom's legacy systems in its carrier class data center in Medford, Mass. Equipped to meet regulatory and compliance requirements, the SafeData data center hosts
Ahlstrom's systems. Therefore, if the Windsor Locks or Chirnside locations experience a system failure whether it be a natural disaster, power outage or system maintenance, SafeData/HA provides
a "switch ready" option to ensure access to data 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
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| "We have been very happy with our decision to go with SafeData and its high availability solution," said Bakutis. "They have certainly lived up to their promises." |
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| While Ahlstrom's IT team is intensely focused on the design and rollout of its new manufacturing solution, it has comfort in knowing that its existing system and legacy
applications are in good hands with a team that understands its organization's business continuity requirements. |
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| "We see SafeData as part of our IT team," said Bakutis. "We have an excellent working relationship with them. They have been extremely flexible. As we make changes, they are
very accommodating and work with us to make our system work for us." |
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About SafeData, LLC
SafeData, LLC is a technology company focused on helping small and midsize businesses protect their data, minimize downtime and recover and restore data quickly. Offering Business Continuity Hosting Services to small and midsize businesses
via its state-of-the-art data centers, SafeData provides the necessary support to protect businesses during disasters, technology failures or power or utility outages and minimize the management and financial burdens often associated with
data security. SafeData’s suite of high availability and disaster recovery offerings allows companies to choose the solution that matches their specific needs. Some of SafeData’s clients include: The Calvin Klein division of Warnaco, Nypro,
Inc., Ocean State Job Lot, Quaker Fabric Corporation, Symmons Industries and Wachovia. Founded in 2005, SafeData is headquartered in Warwick, R.I. For more information on SafeData, visit www.safedata.net. |
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