MidAmerica Bank Choose EMC

MidAmerica Bank has embarked on a comprehensive information lifecycle management (ILM) strategy based on EMCs tiered networked storage, information management software and professional services. Through intelligent data classification and by aligning its IT infrastructure to address the changing value of information over time, MidAmerica has already significantly lowered costs and enhanced customer service. EMCs networked storage and information management software are the foundation of MidAmericas ILM strategy. Bank statements, check images, loan documents and other critical customer information are handled by MidAmericas top tier of high-performance storage. Over time, as this information becomes less critical and is accessed less frequently, it is moved to lower-cost mid-tier storage. Once a check clears or a loan closes and becomes "Fixed Content," MidAmerica uses content-addressed storage (CAS) to archive these images for up to seven years and comply with federal retention regulations. Through CAS alone, MidAmerica has cut SAN storage requirements for imaging in half and freed up valuable high-end space for more frequently accessed data. To reduce management overhead and optimize asset utilization, MidAmerica uses EMC software to assess and provide detailed information on storage utilization, performance and retention requirements. Based on these metrics, MidAmerica then allocates storage based on the value of information to maximize availability, storage resources and application performance. For example, because performance requirements are less stringent at the branch level, MidAmerica moves branch data from high-end, mission critical storage systems to more cost effective, mid-tier storage systems. In addition, to protect its business-critical information and strengthen its business continuity environment, MidAmerica also uses EMC replication software to mirror data across long distances, as well as produce local copies for high- end, mid-tier and archived applications. MidAmerica enlisted EMC Global Services to design and implement its new ILM infrastructure, as well as assess and define its business continuity requirements. This infrastructure is tiered across EMC Symmetrix, EMC CLARiiON with Fibre and ATA storage, as well as Centera Content Addressed Storage. To more effectively manage and protect data across the various storage tiers, the bank has deployed EMCs storage and information management software, including EMC ControlCenter, EMC SRDF, EMC TimeFinder, EMC MirrorView, EMC SnapView and EMC PowerPath for business continuity, protection and recovery; EMC Navisphere and LEGATO DiskXtender for comprehensive storage and information management.