Case Study: Arch Reinsurance halves backup window and replaces tape library with ExaGrid

Arch Reinsurance Ltd. Replaces Tape Library, Cuts Backup Window in Half with ExaGrid

Arch Reinsurance Ltd., a Bermuda-based specialty property and casualty reinsurer, was constrained by tape backups as data volumes grew: full backups increasingly missed the available window, restores were slow (especially when tapes were offsite), and tape reliability was a concern. The IT team needed a disk-based alternative that would shorten backup times, speed restores, and scale without disruptive upgrades.

Arch deployed ExaGrid’s scale-out GRID appliances (integrated with their Symantec Backup Exec), cross-replicating systems across multiple sites for disaster recovery. ExaGrid’s post-process deduplication and direct-to-disk writes let Arch run 4–6 concurrent jobs and cut the backup window from over 11 hours to about 5 hours, simplified restores, allowed seamless capacity expansion, and delivered significant storage savings and reliable support.

Arch Reinsurance

Sheridan Smith

Information Technology Manager