Backblaze Hardened Against Disaster

Backblaze Hardened Against Disaster

This weekend we moved into our new data center—a facility we share with companies including Sun Microsystems, Esurance, Ticketmaster, and CNET. It has all the high-tech wizardry you can imagine to keep our customers’ online backup data safe:

  • raised floor with seismic pedestals in case of earthquakeBackblaze Online Backup Datacenter
  • 16 data carriers
  • independent PG&E power feed
  • induction coupling system to avoid backup batteries
  • three 20,000 gallon fuel tanks
  • ten 2.1 megawatt generators (enough for 15,000 homes)
  • double-interlock pre-action system for fire suppression, and more.

However, the part I liked the best was the lowest-tech: 24×7 staffed security guards. In a world of zombie networks, phishing attacks, and cybercrime, it’s nice to know that it still requires having your driver’s license checked for authorization by a live person before you can come within 100 yards of any system.

About Gleb Budman

Gleb Budman is a co-founder and has served as our chief executive officer since 2007, guiding the business from its inception in a Palo Alto apartment to a company serving customers in more than 175 countries with over an exabyte of data under management. Gleb has served as a member of our board of directors since 2009 and as chairperson since January 2021. Prior to Backblaze, Gleb was the senior director of product management at SonicWall and the vice president of products at MailFrontier, which was acquired by SonicWall. Before that, he served in a senior position at Kendara, which was acquired by Excite@Home, and previously founded and successfully exited two other startup companies.