Introduction
Bezirksamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf (BSZ) is a municipal organization in south-west Berlin serving over 300,000 citizens with 2,000+ employees. Responsible for critical local government services including ID applications, social security payments, and building permits, BSZ handles vast amounts of personal data and must comply with stringent data security regulations requiring backup data immutability.
Challenges
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Lack of true immutability: Existing Dell EMC and Dell SC backup storage lacked advanced security features, particularly immutable backup capabilities
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Regulatory non-compliance: Current infrastructure failed to meet internal IT standards and external data protection regulations
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Ransomware vulnerability: Without immutable backups, potential cyberattacks could disrupt essential government services to 300,000+ citizens
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Urgent upgrade requirement: Management mandate for backup data immutability created pressing need for immediate infrastructure modernization
Solution
BSZ implemented Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box Immutability) by Object First, recommended by their IT partner interface systems. Following a successful proof of concept, BSZ deployed three Ootbi nodes with seamless installation and rapid implementation—the fastest backup solution deployment in BSZ's experience.
Results
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True immutability achieved: Zero-access architecture protects backups from tampering or deletion, providing robust ransomware protection
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50% workload reduction: Streamlined management reduced backup team requirements from two people to one person
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Regulatory compliance: Met internal IT standards and external personal data protection regulations
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Rapid recovery capabilities: Enhanced disaster recovery speeds ensure continuity of essential citizen services
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Cost-effective solution: Achieved comprehensive immutability benefits at reasonable pricing