When data turns into disaster
We live in a digital world where data is a critical constituent for business. But sometimes a disaster event affects good data.
Disaster may come in all forms and sizes and may happen due to multiple reasons: natural disasters, hardware failures, human errors (inadvertent or unauthorized modifications) or cybercrimes. Ultimately, any event that prevents a workload or system from fulfilling its business objectives in its primary location is classified as a disaster.
In Google Cloud’s Architecture Framework, the “Reliability” pillar provides sets of practices, guidelines and recommendations on how to architect and operate reliable services on Google Cloud. This helps customers to be prepared for disaster events.
Disaster recovery planning
When talking about disaster recovery and business continuity it can be easy to fall under the impression that these terms represent the same thing. Well, is there any difference?
The short answer — yes, there is! Disaster recovery is a subset of business continuity planning.
- Disaster recovery (DR) revives the company’s operations and processes once disaster strikes. It is about bringing things back (e.g. applications) — this is how you respond to a disruptive event.
- Business continuity (BC) is focused on mission-critical services that your business needs in order to properly function. It is about services and putting users back to work.
Assume you are using Gmail for sending and receiving emails within and outside your organization. A disaster happened due to whatever reason, and all servers are not available. To give more illustrative examples of DR and BC, have a look at the below:
Disaster recovery is a part of business continuity planning, and both expressions are used as BCDR in the industry. Both answer the “what if a disaster happened?” question and together determine what steps you need to take to ensure business continuity.
Business continuity key metrics – RTO and RPO
Recovery Time Objective and Recovery Point Objective are two core parameters that must be considered when planning for BC:
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO) – the maximum acceptable length of time that your application can be offline from when a disaster is declared. This value is usually
defined as part of a larger SLA. - Recovery Point Objective (RPO) – the maximum acceptable length of time during which data might be lost due to a disaster event. Note that this metric describes the length of time only: it does not address the amount or quality of the data lost.
RTO and RPO metrics can differ from one organization to another but should be defined with a business priority to ensure data availability. This can depend on several factors from an organization’s size to its business type, structure, existing in-house resources and other parameters. However, the smaller RTO and RTO values correspond to a higher cost in terms of resources spending, application complexity and operation.
The cost of disaster recovery solutions grows exponentially as RPO and RTO requirements get closer to zero. RTO and RPO values typically roll up into another metric: the service level objective. SLO is a key measurable element of an SLA, although SLAs and SLOs are often conflated:
- SLA is the entire agreement that specifies what service is to be provided, how it is supported, times, locations, costs, performance, penalties, and responsibilities of the parties involved.
- SLOs are specific, measurable characteristics of the SLA, such as availability, throughput, frequency, response time, or quality.
An SLA can contain many SLOs. RTOs and RPOs are measurable and should be considered SLOs.
Why Google Cloud?
The cost associated with fulfilling RTO and RPO requirements when implementing DR can be highly reduced on Google Cloud compared to traditional on-premise, and easier to implement.
Many elements need to be considered when planning traditional on-premise DR, including:
- Compute and storage resources – designed to provide the required performance and scalability.
- Network infrastructure – designed to provide reliable connectivity within the infrastructure and between two data centers.
- Internet and bandwidth – to provide remote access to the secondary datacenter with the planned bandwidth.
- Security – designed to ensure the protection of the physical and digital assets
- Colocation/ data center facility – for all needed IT infrastructure, including equipment and staff.
The disadvantages of traditional on-premise DR include:
- Complexity — a local data center recovery site can be complex to manage and maintain.
- Costs — setting up and maintaining a local site can be time consuming and highly expensive.
- Scalability — resource expansion requires following a traditional procurement cycle, which is not agile and costs a lot of time and money.
Google Cloud Platform helps in overcoming most if not all of these challenges and disadvantages. As well, GCP offers multiple tools and capabilities that allows organizations to efficiently plan their disaster recovery. Undoubtedly, there are certain benefits of DR in GCP, such as:
- Affordable cost — GCP services follow a pay-as-you-use pricing model.
- Accessibility — You’ll be able to access your system from any location.
Common DR patterns
The diagram below shows the DR patterns that are considered on Google Cloud. Different RTO and RPOs indicate how readily a system can recover when something goes wrong.
From left to right, patterns become more resilient and more costly. The naming refers to data temperature and how ready it is to be used by compute infrastructure on the secondary region (or zone).
Pervasive HA is HA between regions with transparent failover and load balancing. Customers may use a different terminology, for example, Geo HA, Active/Active, Disaster Avoidance and Business Contingency Group.
Architecture of the DR Patterns
A deep dive into DR patterns and building blocks are beyond the scope of this post. For now, let’s look at examples of the architecture of the various DR patterns.
Cold DR
Below is an example of an architecture for cold DR patterns, moving a VM instance in a new zone (backup-and-restore).
The simplest approach to resilience with zonal resources and recovery through snapshots with sets of building blocks has been selected to perform zone DR with zonal disks and snapshots:
- Zonal managed instance groups
- Zonal persistent disks
- Snapshots of persistent disk attached to VM1
- Internal LB VIP as application entry point, to sidestep potential issues with VM IP reuse
Recovery operations are performed by:
- Creating persistent disks and VM2 from snapshots in second zone
- Booting up VM2 and adding to instance Internal LB group
Synchronous replication between dual zone (active-standby) setup is used to achieve zone DR.
Warm DR
To improve RPO, regional resources can be leveraged to avoid snapshot-based restore operations. This could require:
- Usage of managed services such as Cloud SQL with native replication features
- Regional Persistent Disks with synchronous replication
Depending on the setup this pattern, recovery operations are performed by:
- Activating the standby instance in the secondary zone
- Reactivating a secondary instance in the primary zone when it becomes available
Hot DR
Synchronous replication between dual zone (active-active) setup is used to achieve zone DR.
In order to improve RPO and even leverage three zones, regional resources can be used to avoid snapshot-based restore operations. This could require:
- Usage of managed services such as Cloud SQL with native replication features
- Regional Persistent Disks with synchronous replication
Depending on the setup this pattern, recovery operations are performed by:
- Promoting the read replica in the secondary zone
- Reactivating a secondary instance in the primary zone when it becomes available
To achieve dual region resilience combined with synchronous and asynchronous replication, this could require:
- Database mirroring mechanisms in primary region with standby instances in the DR region
- Dedicated DB instance for Database snapshots
Recovery operations are performed by:
- Database failover (Secondary to Primary or Snapshot based)
- Internal Load Balancers
Pervasive HA
In the journey to fully leverage cloud-native features, there is the possibility of moving from a recovery to a disaster-avoidance mentality. This leverages cloud constructs and active-active services where multi-region and multi-zone resilience can be enabled:
- Regional MIGs and active-active front-ends across regions
- DNS based or Global Load Balancing to distribute user traffic
This setup would minimize or avoid manual recovery steps, achieving HA regardless of the failure radius, by leveraging:
- Active-active front-end and back-end services
- Managed multi-regional services (for example, Cloud Spanner or Cloud Storage)
- Auto-scaling to increase capacity in the secondary zone in case of failure
Final words
Disaster events pose a threat to your workload availability but, by using Google Cloud services, you can mitigate or remove these threats. By first understanding business requirements for your workload, you can choose an appropriate DR pattern. Then, using Google Cloud services, you can design an architecture that achieves the recovery time and recovery point objectives your business needs.
A hub of innovation at Leap 2023
CNTXT recently had the privilege of participating in Leap 2023, a world-renowned technology conference that brought together some of the world’s brightest minds and innovative thinkers.
Throughout the week, our booth was a bustling hub of conversations. We were honored to engage with such a high level of customer interest and excitement.
Announcing four strategic MoUs!
The highlight of our participation at Leap 2023, however, was undoubtedly the signing of four pivotal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). More than mere agreements, these MoUs reflect our unwavering commitment to spearheading innovation and digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Our new partnerships and collaborations
We started the tech conference by signing an MoU with Saline Water Conversion Corporation. This partnership will allow us to develop a Cloud Adoption program aimed at increasing business efficiency and reducing IT complexity through adopting cloud and industrial software solutions.
Next came an MoU with Cyberani Solutions to enhance our cybersecurity ecosystem. Through this partnership, Cyberani Solutions will be able to offer its clients managed cybersecurity and advisory services while jointly working with CNTXT to accelerate the adoption of Google Cloud by organizations and enterprises in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Our partnership with National IT Academy (NITA) represents another exciting step for us. Going forward, we will jointly develop upskilling programs to benefit young talent in the Kingdom and prepare them for success in contributing to the digitalization of the nation.
Finally, we signed an MoU with the Communications, Space & Technology Commission. This collaboration will see us promoting leading cloud services and supporting digital transformation in the Kingdom by localizing leading independent software vendors on Google Cloud.
Celebrating the success of Leap 2023
Leap 2023 was a truly inspiring and rewarding experience for all of us at CNTXT. We are grateful for the opportunities that arose and look forward to continuing our partnerships and collaborations when supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its digital transformation journey. Stay tuned for more updates on our exciting collaborations and initiatives at CNTXT!
Partnering for a safer digital future
RIYADH – November 9, 2022 – CNTXT, a leading cloud and digital transformation company in Saudi Arabia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) during the Global Cybersecurity Forum held in Riyadh. This partnership aims to advance the cybersecurity technology ecosystem in the Kingdom and boost the cyber resilience of digital transformation endeavors across Saudi Arabia.
“Digital transformation must go hand in hand with cyber resilience,” said Abdullah Jarwan, CEO of CNTXT. “In our partnership with SITE, we will work with public and private sectors to ensure that cybersecurity is an integral part of their cloud adoption programs and digital transformation journeys.”
Security by design
CNTXT and SITE will collaborate on advancing cyber resilience for organizations that pursue the adoption of hyper-scale cloud and disruptive technologies in the region.
“Tapping into SITE’s diverse cybersecurity services and capabilities, we can together instill security-by-design while delivering ambitious and transformational projects in the region,” said Jarwan
Localizing technology for the Kingdom
To ensure that the Kingdom has access to advanced technologies, CNTXT and SITE will work together to identify and localize cybersecurity technologies to address local market demands.
“By localizing technology, we empower local organizations with access to cutting-edge cybersecurity capabilities that accelerate innovation and adoption of public cloud services and disruptive technologies,” said Majed Alamri, Chief Cloud and Infrastructure Services at SITE. “Bringing us closer to the objectives outlined in the Kingdom’s Cloud-First policy and Vision 2030 objectives related to digital transformation”.
Aligning cybersecurity and digital strategy
“The opportunities are infinite for organizations to realize with the hyper-scale cloud and disruptive technologies. Our collaboration with SITE is an important step to reaffirm our commitment towards cyber resilience, where we collaborate on delivering cybersecurity services to our clients and ramp up the cybersecurity technologies market in the Kingdom,” said Wesam Al-Zamil, Head of Cyber Security at CNTXT.
As both the public and private sectors are reaping the benefits of digitalization, it is vital that cyber security is tightly aligned with the overall digital strategy. SITE and CNTXT will work together to enable compliance with the Kingdom’s cybersecurity and data residency laws and regulations and to help the public and private sectors become more vigilant and cyber resilient.
About the partners
About CNTXT
Founded in 2022 and based in Saudi Arabia, CNTXT is a joint venture between Aramco and Cognite that delivers premium cloud and digital transformation products and services in the Middle East and North Africa. CNTXT’s digital offerings, including Google Cloud and Cognite Data Fusion, enable customers to achieve greater efficiency, sustainability, and profitability throughout their digital transformation journeys. www.cntxt.com
About SITE
Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) is a national company established in 2017 and wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). SITE contributes through its national capabilities and international partnerships to the development of secure-by-design, innovative products, services and solutions in cybersecurity, cloud computing, enterprise optimization, and human capital development.
www.site.sa
CNTXT and SDAIA unite for digital transformation
RIYADH – September 14, 2022 – CNTXT, a leading cloud and digital transformation company in Saudi Arabia, announced during the Global AI Summit a collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). The aim of the partnership is to foster digitalization and cloud adoption in the Kingdom.
“The transformational potential of the cloud starts with a change in mindset,” said Nawaf Al-Sahan, Head of Computing at SDAIA. “We are therefore excited to partner with CNTXT to establish training and professional exchange programs through the Center of Excellence to provide upskilling opportunities to our employees and other government entity employees.”
Exploring integration possibilities
CNTXT, Google Cloud’s reseller and distributor for cloud solutions in the Kingdom, will also collaborate with SDAIA to explore how it can integrate government’s cloud, DEEM, with Google Cloud platform.
“We appreciate this opportunity to partner with SDAIA and we look forward to working together on initiatives that will accelerate digital transformation of the Kingdom,” said Abdullah Jarwan, CEO of CNTXT.
“SDAIA is paving the way for cloud-first strategy in the Kingdom,” said Nawaf Al-Sahan, Head of Computing, SDAIA. “Through our partnership with CNTXT, which will focus on Google Cloud and upskilling, we are making sure we are investing in digitalization of the Kingdom and delivering on the Vision 2030.”
About the partners
About CNTXT
Founded in 2022 and based in Saudi Arabia, CNTXT is a joint venture between Aramco and Cognite that delivers premium cloud and digital transformation products and services in the Middle East and North Africa. CNTXT’s digital offerings, including Google Cloud and Cognite Data Fusion, enable customers to achieve greater efficiency, sustainability, and profitability throughout their digital transformation journeys. www.cntxt.com
About SDAIA
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) was established in 2019 as the owner of Saudi Arabia’s national and artificial intelligence agenda, mandated with unlocking the value of data and artificial intelligence to elevate Saudi Arabia as a pioneering nation among the elite league of data-driven economies.
SDAIA delivers on its mandate through three executional arms: 1) the National Data Management Office (NDMO) which is the main regulator and enabler of national data policies and best practices, 2) the National Information Center (NIC) which is the main operator of government data infrastructure, advanced analytics and AI-powered insight platforms, and G-Cloud services, and 3) the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) which drives the national AI strategy execution, AI innovation and capabilities building.
SDAIA’s Board of Directors reports to the Prime Minister and is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister.
CNTXT names as an official reseller of Spot® robot
RIYADH – 18 May, 2023 – CNTXT, a leading cloud and digital transformation company in Saudi Arabia, has been appointed as the preferred solutions provider and reseller of Boston Dynamics, global leader in mobile robotics, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As the only authorized reseller of Boston Dynamics’ Spot® robot in the country, CNTXT is positioned as the pioneer in industrial robotics in the Kingdom. This will accelerate the adoption of Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot for autonomous inspection and AI-based data processing at industrial sites throughout the Kingdom, enabling organizations to improve their operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability by leveraging industry 4.0 technology.
Exciting partnership expansion
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Boston Dynamics and bring their cutting-edge robotics solutions to our customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Abdullah Jarwan, CEO of CNTXT. “This will unlock new opportunities for CNTXT to help organizations in Saudi Arabia leverage advanced robotics technologies to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability.”
New standard for industrial inspections
CNTXT will integrate Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot with Cognite Data Fusion and Google Cloud to ingest, contextualize, and analyze raw data generated by robots during their autonomous inspections, providing valuable insights to businesses.
“As the world’s leading mobile robot, Spot is a highly effective autonomous inspection tool and an excellent fit for the Kingdom’s many industrial applications,” said Maddy Hawkins, Boston Dynamics’ Director of Partnerships. “We look forward to working with the CNTXT team to deploy the robot at industrial sites throughout the region.”
CNTXT signs MoU with Boston Dynamics
RIYADH – September 14, 2022 – CNTXT, a leading cloud and digital transformation company in Saudi Arabia, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boston Dynamics, a global leader in mobile robotics. The aim is to accelerate the adoption of its Spot® robot for autonomous inspection and AI-based data processing at industrial sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make operations more efficient, safe, and sustainable.
“The key to this partnership is that it brings together industry-leading hardware, cloud and software solutions. This represents a significant opportunity to transform asset-heavy industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Abdullah Jarwan, CEO of CNTXT.
CNTXT: A preferred partner for strategic data insights
CNTXT, Google Cloud’s reseller and distributor for cloud solutions in the Kingdom and the exclusive reseller of Cognite Data Fusion® in the MENA region, will be a preferred partner of Boston Dynamics for commercial industrial robotics applications and engagements in the Kingdom.
“To turn the data that robots collect into business value, industrial companies need software that makes data insights available and meaningful,” said Jarwan. “By integrating Cognite Data Fusion with Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, we can collect all the raw data, process it, and make insights available to all data consumers.”
Powering autonomous inspections
Contextualizing large amounts of raw data is key toward helping companies conduct more effective autonomous inspections using robots. Reliable data collection and analysis will help drive scale for industrial AI solutions and applications, which will save workers’ time and improve safety by reducing the need for people to access hazardous environments.
“Aramco and Cognite have teamed up to form CNTXT and based on the success of our partnership with Cognite, Boston Dynamics is pleased to enter into this MOU. Complex industrial sites have stairs, uneven surfaces and obstacles that can only be negotiated with legs. As the world’s most advanced walking robot, Spot can autonomously navigate industrial sites to monitor production equipment, reducing downtime and enhancing the productivity & safety of maintenance staff,” said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics.
About the partners
About CNTXT
Founded in 2022 and based in Saudi Arabia, CNTXT is a joint venture between Aramco and Cognite that delivers premium cloud and digital transformation products and services in the Middle East and North Africa. CNTXT’s digital offerings, including Google Cloud and Cognite Data Fusion, enable customers to achieve greater efficiency, sustainability, and profitability throughout their digital transformation journeys. www.cntxt.com
About Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics is the global leader in developing and deploying highly mobile robots capable of tackling the toughest robotics challenges. Our robots are equipped with advanced mobility, dexterity and intelligence, enabling automation in unstructured or hard-to-traverse spaces, from manufacturing plants and construction sites to distribution centers and warehouses. We have three robots in our portfolio: Spot®, a quadruped that conducts industrial inspections for enterprise asset management; Stretch™, a box-moving robot currently deployed with early adopter logistics customers; and Atlas™, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot. For more information on our company and our technologies, please visit www.bostondynamics.com.