Softpath Technologies - Storage/Backup Expert (3-5 yrs)

Position : Storage/Backup Expert

Location : Nagpur

Experience : 3+ Years

Notice Period : Immediate Joiners or 2 Weeks' Notice

Key Qualifications :

Education :

B.E. / B.Tech. / MCA or higher degree in a relevant field.

Experience :

- Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in Storage Array implementation, administration, and SAN (Storage Area Network) management, preferably in a large enterprise setup.

Certifications :

- OEM certifications related to storage and backup systems (e.g., EMC, NetApp, IBM, Hitachi, HP, Veritas, etc.). These certifications should demonstrate a strong understanding of the products, their implementation, and administration.

Core Responsibilities :

1. Storage Array Implementation and Administration :

Storage Systems Management :

- Manage, configure, and administer different types of storage systems including but not limited to NAS (Network Attached Storage), SAN (Storage Area Network), and DAS (Direct Attached Storage).

- Install, configure, and manage enterprise-grade storage solutions from leading OEMs like EMC, NetApp, IBM, and others.

- Perform routine maintenance tasks such as firmware upgrades, disk management, and troubleshooting on storage arrays.

Capacity Planning and Performance Tuning :

- Perform capacity planning and monitoring for storage arrays to ensure optimal usage of storage resources.

- Conduct performance tuning to enhance storage system performance based on usage patterns and business requirements.

- Implement and manage storage tiering strategies for efficient data placement and performance optimization.

2. SAN Implementation and Administration :

SAN Configuration and Management :

- Oversee the implementation, configuration, and administration of SAN environments in large-scale data centers or enterprise setups.

- Manage Fibre Channel (FC) SAN or iSCSI SAN configurations, ensuring high availability and performance.

- Conduct zoning, LUN mapping, and LUN masking to ensure proper storage allocation and isolation in SAN environments.

Storage Provisioning and Allocation :

- Provision storage across physical and virtual environments by creating and allocating LUNs (Logical Unit Numbers), VMFS Datastores, and other storage resources.

- Work closely with the virtualisation and server teams to ensure proper allocation and optimal use of storage resources.

SAN Switch Management :

- Manage and configure SAN switches, including zoning and fabric configuration, ensuring that all connected devices communicate efficiently and without any conflicts.

- Perform regular health checks on the SAN fabric to ensure connectivity and redundancy are maintained across the environment.

3. Backup and Disaster Recovery (DR) :

Backup Strategy and Management :

- Administer and manage backup infrastructure and processes, ensuring that critical business data is securely backed up and recoverable in case of failure or disaster.

- Work with backup tools such as Veritas NetBackup, Veeam, EMC Avamar, or similar to automate and manage backup tasks.

- Conduct regular testing of backup solutions to ensure they meet recovery point objectives (RPO) and recovery time objectives (RTO).

Disaster Recovery Planning :

- Develop, implement, and test disaster recovery (DR) strategies for data backup, replication, and recovery.

- Ensure that backup systems are capable of quickly restoring business-critical systems in the event of data loss or system failures.

Data Retention Policies :

- Implement and enforce data retention policies to ensure compliance with internal data governance and regulatory requirements.

- Manage long-term backup storage, including the movement of data to offsite or cloud storage.

4. Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution :

Storage and Backup Issue Resolution :

- Proactively monitor storage and backup systems to identify and resolve issues related to storage performance, backup failures, and system availability.

- Work with cross-functional teams to resolve issues in a timely and effective manner, minimizing downtime or service disruptions.

- Troubleshoot and resolve hardware or software failures in storage arrays, SAN switches, and backup solutions.

Root Cause Analysis and Reporting :

- Perform root cause analysis (RCA) of storage, backup, or disaster recovery failures and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

- Create detailed incident reports and provide actionable insights for process improvement.

5. Security and Compliance :

Storage Security Management :

- Ensure the security of the storage infrastructure by implementing access controls, encryption, and security policies to safeguard sensitive data.

- Ensure that storage systems meet security best practices, including restricting unauthorized access to data and applying encryption to sensitive information.

Compliance and Audits :

- Ensure that storage and backup processes are compliant with internal security policies and external regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.

- Assist with compliance audits by providing necessary documentation and evidence of storage, backup, and disaster recovery operations.

6. Performance Monitoring and Optimization :

Storage Monitoring :

- Utilize storage management and monitoring tools to continuously monitor the health, performance, and capacity of storage systems.

- Generate regular performance reports, monitor storage utilization trends, and ensure proactive management of storage resources.

Optimization of Storage Resources :

- Regularly analyze and optimize the performance of storage systems by adjusting configurations, managing workloads, and implementing tiered storage strategies.

- Implement proactive measures to minimize bottlenecks and enhance system performance.

7. Documentation and Reporting :

System Documentation :

- Maintain clear and up-to-date documentation for storage and backup configurations, procedures, and incident management processes.

- Create and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) and runbooks for storage and backup systems to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

Reporting :

- Prepare and deliver regular reports on storage and backup performance, issues, incidents, and trends to relevant stakeholders.

- Provide detailed reports on storage usage, backup status, and disaster recovery readiness to the management team.

8. Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams :

Team Collaboration :

- Work closely with the virtualization, network, and server teams to ensure seamless integration of storage and backup infrastructure with other IT systems and applications.

- Collaborate with IT teams to plan and execute system migrations, expansions, and upgrades while ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

Desired Skills and Competencies :

Technical Skills :

- Strong hands-on experience with enterprise storage systems (EMC, NetApp, IBM, Hitachi, HP, etc.).

- Deep understanding of SAN technologies and protocols such as Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, and FCoE.

- Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions such as Veritas NetBackup, Veeam, EMC Avamar, or similar platforms.

- Proficiency in storage virtualization technologies and techniques.

- Familiarity with network-attached storage (NAS) systems and the integration of storage into virtualized environments (VMware, Hyper-V).

- Experience with scripting (PowerShell, Bash, Python) for automation and process improvement.

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills :

- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, especially in large-scale storage and backup environments.

- Ability to perform root cause analysis and address storage-related performance and availability issues.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills :

- Strong communication skills to effectively interact with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

- Ability to explain complex technical issues in clear terms for non-technical audiences.

- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) :

Storage Availability and Performance :

- Minimize downtime and ensure high availability of storage systems.

- Maintain optimal performance levels across storage systems, ensuring smooth data access and operations.

Backup Success and Recovery Time :

- Ensure successful completion of backup jobs according to the defined schedule.

- Achieve defined recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) during disaster recovery tests.

Capacity Utilization and Planning :

- Proactively manage storage capacity and ensure that adequate resources are available for business needs.

- Provide regular reports on storage utilization and make recommendations for future capacity planning.

Incident Resolution :

- Measure and reduce the time taken to resolve storage-related incidents and backup failures.

Working Environment :

- The role will involve working in a fast-paced IT environment with a strong focus on storage, backup, and disaster recovery management.

- Occasional on-call or after-hours support may be required to handle critical storage or backup issues.