Systems & Methods Inc. (SMI) supplies integrated hardware and software systems that help clients process information more efficiently and productively. SMI is a leader in information processing for state and local government human services agencies with a strong focus on systems for processing child support payments. Every SMI system incorporates precise data management capabilities and no-nonsense accountability that government agencies demand.
With the home office in Carrollton, Ga., and three other contract offices in Connecticut, North Carolina and Missouri, SMI ensures that intended recipients of child support payments receive money. In Connecticut, North Carolina and Missouri, the state governments are responsible for collecting child support payments and forwarding that money to the appropriate recipients. SMI handles the entire arrangement from beginning to end using its own Systems and Methods Automated Remittance Technology, or SMART solution. With these systems executing ongoing mission critical jobs, a dependable backup and disaster recovery solution was paramount.
"The reality of not having a reliable backup and disaster recovery solution is more than just a scary thought for us," said Opie Thompson, network administrator at SMI. "The state governments we serve rely heavily on us to maintain important databases, so losing data is unacceptable."
SMI's child support management solution works like this: The spouse responsible for paying child support sends a check with a remittance form to SMI. SMI compiles the information from the check and remittance form into one image document and loads it into a database. The check is deposited into a government account and a receipt file is sent to the bank. Depending on the state, the state government or SMI issues the check and sends it to the spouse entitled to it.
"It's not uncommon for us to process 17-18,000 image files/transactions per site on a daily basis, so backups need to be fast," said Thompson. "We could run into a problem if backups are too slow. We'd end up processing new transactions while backing up the old ones and that absolutely can't happen."
This type of government solution required a robust backup system that could handle extremely large amounts of data on a daily basis, quickly and efficiently. SMI also needed the capability to recover this data at any time.
SMI tried Computer Associates' ARCserve to solve its backup and disaster recovery needs, but had compatibility issues that didn't result in a reliable solution. The company also experimented with several other well-known backup products. After downloading a free live trial version from UltraBac Software's web site (www.ultrabac.com) and testing it, SMI chose UltraBac as the backbone for its backup and disaster recovery system.
SMI installed UltraBac Enterprise Edition backup and disaster recovery software on approximately 50 servers, roughly 12 at each location. Now SMI administrators run multiple nightly backups at each location. Data from state case workers compiled using SMI's proprietary software, as well as SQL database files and Microsoft files, are written to tape and disk and stored at offsite locations.
"There is not one megabyte of information on our servers that is not 100 percent crucial to our daily operations," said Thompson. "Part of the beauty of UltraBac's network disaster recovery tool is that we can quickly locate the backup from an entire server if necessary and restore it in a matter of minutes."
Thompson said UltraBac's reliability is its best feature, but fast backups and ease of operation run close seconds.
"Before UltraBac, we had to really nurse our backup system which meant working nights and weekends," said Thompson. "Now I can automate our entire backup and disaster recovery system and walk away, monitoring it periodically."
Thompson said his job has become easier with UltraBac because the solution creates a log describing the tasks it performed. It is also set to automatically e-mail Thompson to let him know the status of each server backup and whether any errors occurred during the process.
"Another key to good products is the people who support them," said Thompson. "UltraBac's sales staff and technical support team are exceptional. They are good at listening and comprehending challenges, and that helped us create a master game plan for our company's backup and recovery system. It's that kind of extra effort that makes new product implementations successful."
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, NT Server, Advanced and Terminal Server
Unix Server
SQL Database
Visual Basic
Microsoft Office and Outlook
Compaq servers with Intel processors
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