News & Updates

Don’t leave your System Recovery Plan until you need it most System recovery is often overlooked. Many organizations don’t realize the importance of having a robust system recovery plan alongside their application data backups until it’s too late. Accidents, natural disasters, hardware failures, and malware attacks can happen at any time, and without a proper system recovery plan, these incidents can lead to significant data loss and downtime.   Here are some reasons why system recovery is often overlooked: Lack of awareness: Many organizations are simply unaware of the risks involved in not having a system recovery plan alongside their regular data backup. Overconfidence: Some organizations may believe that their systems are too secure to be affected by problems. Complexity: Creating and maintaining a system recovery plan in addition to regular data backup can seem complex and time-consuming.   However, the consequences of neglecting system recovery can be severe. System downtime and data loss can have a significant impact on individuals and businesses, leading to financial losses, productivity issues, and reputational damage.   It’s essential to prioritize system recovery and take proactive steps to protect the vital infrastructure that hosts your data. This means creating regular system backups in addition to your application data, testing your system recovery plan, and staying up to date with security patches.   How Cristie Software Simplifies IT System Recovery Cristie Software offers a suite of tools designed to streamline and automate IT system recovery processes.    Here are 10 ways we simplify system recovery:     Automated Backup and Recovery: Cristie Software automates the process of system recovery, reducing the manual steps involved and minimizing downtime. Our solutions allow for the fast recovery of full systems, applications, and data after a failure or disaster. Bare Metal Recovery (BMR): Cristie’s BMR solutions enable recovery of entire systems, including operating systems, configurations, applications, and data, onto dissimilar hardware or virtual environments. This eliminates the need to manually reinstall software, saving time and reducing errors. Compatibility with leading Backup Solutions: Cristie’s tools integrate seamlessly with popular backup solutions from leading vendors such as Cohesity, Rubrik, Dell Technologies and IBM, providing a unified approach to data protection and recovery. Cross-Platform Support: Cristie Software supports recovery across different platforms, such as physical, virtual, and cloud environments. This flexibility makes it easier to adapt to a wide variety of IT infrastructures. Dissimilar Hardware Recovery: Our technology allows recovery to different hardware platforms without manual intervention, ensuring flexibility and continuity.  Virtual and Cloud Migrations: Cristie solutions facilitate the migration of systems between physical, virtual, and cloud environments seamlessly, making it easier to maintain business continuity and adapt to changing infrastructure needs. Test and Validation: Cristie’s software allows for easy and non-disruptive testing of recovery plans. Users can verify their disaster recovery capabilities without affecting live systems, ensuring preparedness without downtime. Rapid Recovery Time: By streamlining the process of restoring IT environments, Cristie helps businesses reduce recovery times (RTO), minimizing the impact on operations and improving resilience. Centralized Management: Cristie’s management console provides a single interface to manage backups, migrations, and recovery processes, simplifying the overall management and monitoring of IT systems. Advanced Anomaly Detection: Our software can detect the start of malware file encryption providing advance warning of ransomware activity. In essence, Cristie Software simplifies IT system recovery by providing automated, integrated, and efficient solutions that help businesses protect their infrastructure, data and minimize the impact of disruptions. Explore our solutions and use cases to discover how others are simplifying the implementation of IT System Recovery with Cristie recovery and replication. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about system recovery, replication and how we can automate system recovery to improve recovery times and simplify your entire disaster recovery workflow..

Ransomware Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide Ransomware attacks are a growing threat, crippling businesses and organizations of all sizes. These malicious programs encrypt your data, rendering it inaccessible until you pay a ransom to regain control. Unfortunately, paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee data recovery, and it fuels the cybercrime industry. This comprehensive guide explores strategies to prevent ransomware attacks and how Cristie Software empowers organizations to recover quickly if attacked. Preventing Ransomware Attacks: Your First Line of Defense Educate Employees: Phishing emails are a common entry point for ransomware. Train employees to recognize phishing attempts and avoid clicking suspicious links or attachments. Patch Systems Regularly: Unpatched vulnerabilities can provide hackers with backdoors to your network. Regularly update software and operating systems with the latest security patches. Implement Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Make it difficult for hackers to access your system by requiring strong passwords and enabling MFA, which adds an extra layer of security. Back Up Your Data Regularly: Maintain regular backups of your data on a separate, secure system. This will allow you to recover your data quickly in the event of a ransomware attack. Segment Your Network: Limiting access to critical data by segmenting your network can minimize the impact of a ransomware attack if it bypasses initial defenses. Utilize Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: Employ reputable security software that can detect and prevent malware from infecting your systems. Cristie Software: Your Ransomware Recovery Partner Even with the best prevention strategies, a successful ransomware attack is still a possibility. That’s where Cristie Software comes in: Faster System Recovery: Cristie’s Bare Metal Recovery (BMR) solution automates physical and virtual machine recovery, minimizing downtime and getting your business back online quickly. Secure and Verifiable Data Recovery: Cristie recovery solutions can help to ensure that recovered data is complete and secure before systems are brought back online. Through our isolated network recovery feature, complete systems can be recovered into a cleanroom environment for data integrity testing ahead of restoring production machines back to the live environment. Comprehensive Recovery and Replication integrated with your backup environment: Cristie’s solutions integrate seamlessly with leading backup solutions from vendors such as Cohesity, Rubrik, Dell Technologies and IBM, allowing you to restore systems and data efficiently without additional overhead. Disaster Recovery Orchestration: Cristie automates disaster recovery workflows, reducing human error and ensuring a coordinated and rapid response to an attack. Detailed Reporting and Auditing: Generate comprehensive reports on recovery activities, facilitating forensic investigations and post-attack analysis.   Benefits of Using Cristie Software: Minimized Downtime: Get your business back up and running quickly with rapid system recovery. Data Security Maintained: Ensure the integrity and security of your data during the recovery process. Reduced Costs: Avoid the financial burden of paying ransom by recovering your data quickly and efficiently. Peace of Mind: Gain confidence knowing you have a robust solution in place to respond to a ransomware attack.   Explore our solutions and use cases to discover how others are boosting their cyber recovery and cyber resilience with Cristie recovery and replication. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about system recovery, replication and features such as cleanroom recovery and advanced anomaly detection that can help prevent and recover from cyber attacks.

Industries with Stringent DR and System Recovery Requirements Several industries face stringent regulations regarding disaster recovery and computer system recovery time objectives. These regulations aim to ensure business continuity and protect sensitive data in the event of disruptions. Here are some prominent examples: Financial Services Banking: Banks are subject to strict regulations, such as the Dodd-Frank Act in the US and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) in the EU, which mandate robust disaster recovery plans. Insurance: Insurance companies must comply with regulations like Solvency II (EU) and the NAIC Cybersecurity Model Law (US), requiring strong data protection and business continuity measures. Capital Markets: Stock exchanges and other financial market participants face regulatory oversight through bodies such as the Securities Commission, often requiring specific data recovery and business continuity standards.   Healthcare HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the US imposes strict data privacy and security rules, including requirements for disaster recovery planning. GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU mandates data protection and recovery measures, especially for healthcare organizations handling sensitive patient data.   Energy FERC: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the US requires electric power companies to maintain reliable operations and have robust cyber security and recovery plans. NCPA: The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (NCPA) in the US mandates critical infrastructure entities, including energy companies, to implement cybersecurity best practices.   Transportation FAA: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has strict regulations governing the cybersecurity and resilience of aviation systems. DOT: The Department of Transportation (DOT) in the US imposes cybersecurity requirements on various transportation modes, including railways and highways.   Government NIST: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides cybersecurity frameworks and guidelines that government agencies must follow. CISA: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the US mandates critical infrastructure organizations, including government agencies, to implement cybersecurity best practices.   These are just a few examples of industries with stringent disaster recovery and system recovery requirements. The specific regulations and standards vary by jurisdiction and industry sector. Industries with Stringent DR and System Recovery Requirements: How Cristie Software Can Help Several industries face stringent regulations regarding disaster recovery and computer system recovery time objectives (RTOs) and system recovery verification (SRV). These regulations aim to ensure business continuity and protect sensitive data in the event of disruptions. We explored above certain key industries facing such regulations. Now, let’s delve into how Cristie Software empowers organizations in these sectors to improve their system recovery capabilities and meet regulatory compliance. Strengthening System Recovery in Regulated Industries Challenges Faced: Organizations in regulated industries often struggle with: Meeting RTOs: Ensuring critical systems are back online within regulatory timeframes can be challenging. Data Security and Integrity: Balancing rapid recovery with data security and verification procedures can be complex. Compliance Management: Keeping pace with evolving regulations and demonstrating compliance can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.   Cristie Software Solutions: Cristie Software offers a comprehensive suite of solutions to address these challenges and enhance system recovery capabilities: Cristie BMR (Bare Metal Recovery): This software automates physical and virtual machine recovery, streamlining the process and minimizing downtime. Backup Integration: Cristie BMR seamlessly integrates with leading backup solutions from vendors such as Cohesity, Rubrik, Dell Technologies and IBM, enabling efficient data restoration and recovery. Automated Disaster Recovery Orchestration: Cristie’s solutions automate disaster recovery workflows, reducing human error and facilitating faster response times. Data Verification and Validation: Cristie software ensures recovered data is complete and consistent before bringing systems back online, meeting regulatory requirements for data integrity. Comprehensive Reporting and Auditing: Cristie provides detailed reports on recovery activities, facilitating compliance audits and demonstrating adherence to regulations.   Benefits for Regulated Businesses By leveraging Cristie Software, organizations can: Achieve Faster RTOs: Faster system restoration with automation translates to minimized downtime and improved operational resilience. Ensure Data Security and Integrity: Robust data verification procedures safeguard sensitive data during recovery, meeting regulatory compliance. Simplify Compliance Management: Detailed reports and automated workflows streamline compliance efforts and reduce administrative burdens.   Industry-Specific Solutions Cristie Software caters to diverse industry needs: Financial Services: Cristie’s solutions help financial institutions meet regulations like DORA, PSD2, and Solvency II, ensuring business continuity and data security. Healthcare: Cristie helps healthcare providers comply with HIPAA and GDPR, protecting patient data and ensuring rapid recovery of critical systems. Government and Critical Infrastructure: Cristie empowers government agencies and critical infrastructure entities to adhere to NIST, CISA, and other regulations, safeguarding sensitive data and national security. Ready to take control of your system recovery process and achieve regulatory compliance? Investing in Cristie Software solutions not only enhances system recovery capabilities but also positions organizations within regulated industries for long-term success by meeting compliance requirements and achieving optimal business continuity. Explore our solutions and use cases to discover how they can help your organization navigate the complexities of disaster recovery in today’s regulatory landscape. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about system recovery, replication and recovery testing to meet the requirements of industry regulation.

NIS2: Raising the bar on IT System Recovery for Organizations The EU’s Network and Information Systems Security Directive 2 (NIS2) raises the bar for cybersecurity across various industries. One critical area of focus is IT system recovery, demanding a more proactive and robust approach from organizations. This article explores how NIS2 impacts IT system recovery and how Cristie Software empowers organizations to navigate these challenges.   NIS2 and the IT System Recovery Imperative NIS2 mandates organizations across essential sectors to prioritize operational resilience. This translates to ensuring essential services remain operational during and after cyberattacks or system failures. Here’s how NIS2 specifically impacts IT system recovery: Mandatory Incident Response and Recovery Plans: Detailed plans outlining procedures for responding to incidents and recovering affected systems are no longer optional. Testing and Readiness: Regularly testing these plans ensures they function effectively in real-world scenarios. System Backup and Recovery: Frequent and reliable system backups are crucial for rapid system restoration. Business Continuity Management: Organizations must have strategies to maintain critical operations during disruptions. Supply Chain Security: The resilience of IT systems extends to dependencies on third-party vendors. Cristie Software: Your Partner in NIS2 Compliance Cristie Software equips organizations with the tools and expertise to overcome these NIS2-related challenges: Streamlined System Recovery: Cristie’s solutions offer robust system protection and recovery functionalities, ensuring business continuity during disruptions. Expert Guidance: Gain access to system recovery professionals who provide invaluable advice on achieving system recovery at scale and implementing recovery testing strategies to help achieve NIS2 compliance. Automation Advantage: Automation of system recovery processes minimizes human error and streamlines operations, ensuring efficiency. Meeting the Demands of NIS2 with Cristie Software By partnering with Cristie Software, organizations can: Strengthen IT System Recovery: Implement robust recovery strategies that meet or exceed NIS2 requirements. Enhance Overall Resilience: Increase your organization’s ability to withstand cyberattacks and system failures with confidence. Simplify Compliance: Benefit from Cristie’s expertise and solutions, simplifying the path towards achieving NIS2 compliance. Ready to Take Control of Your IT System Recovery? Cristie Software empowers organizations to navigate the complexities of NIS2 and emerge with a more resilient IT infrastructure. Explore our solutions and use cases to discover how you can effectively address regulatory requirements and safeguard your IT systems. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about system recovery, replication and recovery testing to meet the requirements of NIS2.

Addressing System Migration Challenges for MSPs with Cristie Software The complexities of system migration for MSPs can be significantly mitigated by utilizing system replication and migration tools from Cristie Software. Cristie’s CloneManager software allows MSPs to easily provide system migration as-a-service for their customers. Here’s how Cristie’s solutions address specific challenges: Diverse IT Environments: Platform Agnostic: Cristie’s tools support various systems, including physical, virtual, and cloud environments. This eliminates the need for multiple migration solutions across diverse client infrastructures.   Pre-migration Assessments: Tools can analyze source systems, identifying potential compatibility issues before migration commences.   Data Migration and Security: Automated Replication: Cristie’s software automates data replication, ensuring consistent and secure data transfer while minimizing manual intervention. Multi-tenant support: It is easy to create multiple tenants within the Cristie Virtual Appliance (VA). Tenants are totally isolated and cannot interact with, or view data from another tenancy. Encrypted Transfers: Secure data transmission protocols protect sensitive information during migration.   Application Compatibility: Live Testing Environments: Through the Cristie VA MSPs can create isolated testing environments to assess application functionality in the target system before full migration.   Application Shimming: Developers can apply fixes to adapt applications to function in new environments, reducing the need for extensive modifications. For example, the Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Infrastructure/Framework application shimming feature allows developers to apply fixes to applications (without rewriting code) that were created for Windows XP so that they will work with later versions of Windows. Within the framework, shims are created to act as a buffer between the program and the Windows OS. Isolated network migration using Cristie’s CloneManager and the Cristie VA provides an environment to test application shimming for functionality and security.     Downtime Management: Minimal Downtime: Cristie’s solutions often enable near-zero downtime migration, minimizing service disruptions for clients.   Phased Migration: Tools can facilitate phased migration approaches, allowing for a gradual and controlled transition to the new system.   Cost Optimization Automation and Efficiency: Automated processes and streamlined workflows lead to faster migrations, reducing overall project costs. Reduced Resource Consumption: Minimize reliance on manual labor by leveraging the software’s automation capabilities.   Staffing and Expertise: User-Friendly Tools: Cristie’s solutions are designed to be user-friendly, reducing the reliance on specialized migration expertise within the MSP team. Training and Support: Cristie offers training and support resources to help MSPs gain proficiency in using their migration tools.   Client Communication and Management: Detailed Reporting: Tools provide insightful reports on migration progress, allowing for clear communication with clients throughout the process. Real-time Monitoring: Monitor the migration process in real-time, enabling proactive troubleshooting and communication with clients. Summary In conclusion, Cristie Software equips MSPs with a robust suite of tools to navigate the complexities of system migration efficiently and securely. By leveraging Cristie’s solutions, MSPs can offer clients a smoother transition to new technologies, streamline cloud onboarding, all while minimizing downtime and optimizing costs, ultimately strengthening their value proposition. Learn how MSPs are utilizing Cristie’s CloneManager in our System Migration Use Case examples. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about system migration, automation and isolated compatibility testing with CloneManager.

Why Upgrading to the Latest Windows Version is Crucial Keeping Windows based servers updated to the latest version is regularly overlooked, but it is crucial for maintaining your system’s security, performance, and overall functionality. Windows OS updates can be automated with Cristie’s CloneManager replication and migration software simplifying the upgrade process between major OS versions and providing a sandbox test environment to evaluate application compatibility. Let us delve initially into why upgrading to the latest OS version is so important.   Enhanced Security Protection Against Threats: Modern threats like ransomware, malware, and viruses are constantly evolving. Microsoft regularly releases updates to address these threats, safeguarding your system and data.   Closing Security Gaps: Older Windows versions might have vulnerabilities that have been patched in newer ones. By upgrading, you’re effectively plugging these security loopholes.   Improved Performance Optimized for Newer Hardware: Newer Windows versions are designed to take advantage of the latest hardware, resulting in faster boot times, smoother performance, and better application compatibility. Resource Management: Updates often include optimizations for memory management, CPU usage, and other system resources, leading to a more responsive system.   Access to New Features Innovation at Your Fingertips: Windows updates introduce new features and functionalities to enhance your user experience. This can range from improved productivity tools to innovative multimedia capabilities.   Compatibility with Modern Applications: Many modern applications require the latest Windows version to function optimally. Upgrading ensures compatibility and prevents potential issues.     Support and Compatibility Extended Support: Microsoft provides support and updates for a specific period. Outdated systems might miss out on critical patches and security fixes.   Hardware and Software Compatibility: Newer Windows versions offer enhanced compatibility with the latest hardware and software, ensuring seamless integration.   How to Upgrade Safely and Systematically Backup Your System: Before upgrading, create a complete system backup to prevent potential data loss. Check Compatibility: Ensure your hardware and software are compatible with the new Windows version. Update Drivers: Update drivers after the upgrade to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. Simplify Windows OS updates and compatibility testing with CloneManager Cristie’s CloneManager® enables you to safely test Windows OS upgrades in a cloud-based sandbox environment. This ensures compatibility before deploying the upgraded image to production systems. CloneManager® automates Microsoft Windows OS updates after initial image migration CloneManager® offers the capability to automatically update Microsoft Windows OS after transferring the initial image to the target system. By selecting this option, a replication sandbox is established within the target system, creating a snapshot of the migrated image for a thin-provisioned copy-on-write layer that can receive changes and serve as a bootable test instance. Once the system is booted, the upgrade process for the Microsoft OS is started. Any necessary OS licenses post-upgrade must be applied by the user. When system upgrades are complete, two outcomes are possible: the system can either boot into the new operating system for application validation, or, if needed, further upgrades can be performed to reach the latest version. Automatic upgrades can advance the system to the newest Windows OS, eliminating the need for manual intervention. However, any necessary application upgrades must be manually applied to the final image. Summary In conclusion, upgrading to the latest Windows version is not just about getting new features; it’s about safeguarding your system, enhancing performance, and ensuring compatibility with the latest technology. By prioritizing these updates, you’re investing in the long-term health and security of your systems. Remember: While it’s essential to stay updated, always take a full system level backup image before undertaking any major system changes. Contact the Cristie Software team to learn more about OS upgrade automation and isolated compatibility testing with CloneManager.