Online Backup - Case Studies

Pegasus Health, Canterbury

The medical sector has come under increasing pressure to be vigilant with regard to the protection of confidential patient information. Leading the way in Canterbury, Pegasus Health has partnered with Nexus to offer a secure, offsite computer backup solution to its 90+ members (medical practices within Canterbury).

The solution for Pegasus differs from Nexus's normal model of backing up to managed servers within a Nexus data storage facility. In this case, the medical data is stored separately on a dedicated server in an undisclosed location. This provides an additional layer of security by separating the data from other information, and physically separating the server from other shared systems.

Doctors and other medical-related practices within the Pegasus group have access to this system. All other details of the arrangement between Nexus and Pegasus remain confidential.

Pharmaceutical Services Limited, Wellington

Pharmaceutical Services Ltd (PSL) were looking for a solution on behalf of their members to ensure improved security of private information. Common practice within the industry was to back information up to a portable device (such as a portable USB drive) and the owner, or staff member, would take it home. It was recognised that this system, although inexpensive and simple, had some vulnerabilities. The main concerns were:

• Theft of the device
• Information being stored unencrypted on the device
• Possibility of data loss (hardware failure)
• Misappropriation of the information in the wrong hands

During 2007, Nexus and PSL arrived at preferred supply agreement that provides all members of the PSL group with an effective, secure and affordable solution for the offsite backup of their information. Many of PSL's 500+ member base have already subscribed to the service, and Nexus is working hard to keep up with the increasing demand.

As a spin-off benefit to the arrangement, pharmacies are now able to automatically back up information that was previously being overlooked. This includes emails, documents, spreadsheets and financial data. The added benefit of the automated system means that the owner of the business does not need to rely on staff members to remember the backup task each day.