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NetBackup™ Security and Encryption Guide

Last Published: 2025-01-22

Product(s): NetBackup (10.5.0.1)

Multi-datacenter with client side encryption

A multi-datacenter with client side encryption option is defined as a medium to large group of hosts (greater than 50). These hosts can span two or more geographic regions and can be connected by a Wide Area Network (WAN). In this example one datacenter is located in London and the other datacenter is located in Tokyo. Both datacenters are connected through a dedicated WAN connection.

The example multi-datacenter can use client side encryption to ensure data confidentiality across the wire as well as on tape. This encryption helps to mitigate the risk of passive wire tapping within the organization. Risk of data exposure as the tapes are moved off site. This datacenter model assures a medium to large number (greater than 50) of managed hosts. Clients inside the datacenter as well as the DMZ, can have the potential for centralized naming services for hosts and user identities.

The multi-datacenter with client side encryption includes the following highlights:

NetBackup spans two or more geographic regions through a WAN
Useful for protecting off-site data
Data from client is encrypted and eliminates the passive interception of the data on the wire
Key management is de-centralized on to the clients
The original NetBackup encryption option
Client CPU is used to perform encryption
Must have the key to get data back. A lost key means lost data.
Useful when you need to scan tapes off-site or you need confidentiality on the wire

The following table describes the NetBackup parts that are used for a multi-datacenter with client side encryption implemented.

Table: NetBackup parts for a multi-datacenter with client side encryption implemented

Part	Description
London datacenter	Contains the primary server, media server 1 and clients 4, 5, and 6. The London datacenter also contains the encrypted data tape for clients 6 and 7 and unencrypted data tape for clients 4 and 5. The London datacenter connects to the Tokyo datacenter through a dedicated WAN connection.
Tokyo datacenter	Contains the media server 2 and clients 7, 10, 11, and 12. The Tokyo datacenter also contains the encrypted data tape for clients 7 and 12 and unencrypted data tape for clients 10 and 11. The Tokyo datacenter connects to the London datacenter through a dedicated WAN connection.
Wide Area Network (WAN)	Specifies that the dedicated WAN link connects the London datacenter with the Tokyo datacenter. The WAN provides connectivity between the primary server in London to media server 2 with clients 7, 10, 11, and 12 in Tokyo. The WAN also provides connectivity between media server 1 in London to client 7 in London.
Primary server	Specifies that the primary server is located in the London datacenter and communicates with media server 1 and clients 4, 5, and 6. The primary server also uses the WAN to communicate with media server 2, and clients 7, 10, 11, and 12 in Tokyo.
Media servers	Specifies that the multi-datacenter uses two media servers. Media server 1 is located in the London datacenter and media server 2 is located in the Tokyo datacenter. In London, media server 1 communicates with the primary server and clients 4, 5, and 6. Media server 1 also communicates with client 7 in Tokyo. Media server 1 writes unencrypted data to tape for clients 4 and 5. Media server 1 writes encrypted data to tape for clients 6 and 7. Note that client 7 is located in Tokyo but its tape backup is located in London. The encrypted tape for clients 6 and 7 is transported off-site to a vault in London. In Tokyo, media server 2 communicates with the primary server in London through the WAN and clients 7, 10, 11, and 12 in Tokyo. Media server 2 writes unencrypted data to tape for clients 10 and 11. Media server 2 also writes encrypted data to tape for clients 7and 12. Note that even though client 7 is located in Tokyo and is backed up in London, client 7 is also backed up in Tokyo. The encrypted tape for clients 7 and 12 is transported off-site to a vault in Tokyo.
Client side encryption	Specifies that the client side encryption (not shown in the figure) ensures data confidentiality across the wire as well as on tape.
Tapes	Specifies that both unencrypted and encrypted data tapes are produced in the London datacenter and in the Tokyo datacenter. The encrypted tape contains client side encrypted backup data. In London, the unencrypted tape is written for clients 4 and 5 and stored on-site at the London datacenter. The encrypted tape is written for clients 6 and 7. The encrypted tape is transported off-site to a vault in London for disaster recovery protection. In Tokyo, the unencrypted tape is written for clients 10 and 11 and stored on-site at the Tokyo datacenter. The encrypted tape is written for clients 7 and 12. Note that even though client 7 is located in Tokyo and is backed up in Tokyo, client 7 is also backed up in London. The encrypted tape is transported off-site to a vault in Tokyo for disaster recovery protection. Note: To decrypt the data, the key(s) used to encrypt the data must be made available.
Transports	Specifies that the multi-datacenter uses two transports. One transport is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. The transport truck in London moves the encrypted tape for clients 6 and 7 off-site to a secure London vault facility. The transport truck in Tokyo moves the encrypted tape for clients 7 and 12 off-site to a secure Tokyo vault facility. Note that a backup copy of client 7 is vaulted both in London and in Tokyo. Note: If in the remote case a tape is lost during transport, the datacenter manager has potentially reduced the risk of a data breach. The breach is reduced through the use of client side data encryption.
Vaults off-site	Specifies that the multi-datacenter uses two vaults off-site. One vault is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. Both vaults provide safe encrypted tape storage facilities off-site at different locations than the datacenters. Note: Storing the encrypted tapes at locations separate from the datacenters promotes good disaster recovery protection.
Clients	Specifies that the clients are located in both the London and Tokyo datacenters. In London, client 4 is a standard NetBackup type. Client 5 is a Web server type located in the DMZ. Client 6 is client side encrypted and is also located in the DMZ. All client types can be managed by the primary server and have their data backed up to tape through media server 1. Clients 5 and 6 communicate to NetBackup using NetBackup only ports through the internal firewall. Client 6 receives connections from the Internet using HTTP only ports through the external firewall. In Tokyo, client 7 is a client side encrypted client but outside of the DMZ. Client 10 is a standard NetBackup type. Client 11 is a Web server type located in the DMZ. Client 12 is client side encrypted also located in the DMZ. All client types can be managed by the primary server in London. Client 7 data is backed up to tape through media server 1 and 2. Client 10, 11, and 12 data is backed up to tape through media server 2. Clients 11 and 12 communicate to NetBackup using NetBackup only ports through the internal firewall. Client 12 receives connections from the Internet using HTTP only ports through the external firewall.
Internal firewalls	Specifies that the multi-datacenter uses two internal firewalls. One internal firewall is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. In London, the internal firewall allows NetBackup to access Web server client 5 and client side encrypted client 6 in the DMZ. In Tokyo, the internal firewall lets NetBackup access Web server client 11 and client side encrypted client 12 in the DMZ. Only selected NetBackup ports and possibly other application ports are enabled for data communication into and out of the DMZ. HTTP ports that are open in the external firewall cannot pass through the internal firewall.
Demilitarized Zones (DMZs)	Specifies that the multi-datacenter uses two DMZs. One DMZ is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. In London, the DMZ provides a "safe" area of operation for the Web server client 5 and client side encrypted client 6. That client exists between the internal firewall and the external firewall. The Web server client 5 and client side encrypted client 6 in the DMZ can communicate to NetBackup. Both clients communicate through the internal firewall using designated NetBackup ports. The Web server client 5 can also communicate through the external firewall to the Internet using only HTTP ports. In Tokyo, the DMZ provides a "safe" area of operation for the Web server client 11 and client side encrypted client 12. The client 12 exists between the internal firewall and external firewall. The Web server client 11 in the DMZ can communicate to NetBackup through the internal firewall using designated NetBackup ports. The Web server client 11 can also communicate through the external firewall to the Internet using only HTTP ports.
External firewalls	Specifies that the multi-datacenter can use two external firewalls. One external firewall is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. In London, the external firewall lets external users access the Web server client 5 located in the DMZ from the Internet over HTTP ports. The NetBackup ports are open for Web server client 5 to communicate through the internal firewall to NetBackup. The NetBackup ports are not allowed to pass through the external firewall to the Internet. Only the HTTP ports of Web server client 5 can pass through the external firewall to the Internet. The client side encrypted client 6 cannot be accessed from the Internet. In Tokyo, the external firewall external users access the Web server client 11 located in the DMZ from the Internet over HTTP ports. NetBackup ports are open for Web server client 11 to communicate through the internal firewall to NetBackup. The NetBackup ports are not allowed to pass through the external firewall to the Internet. Only the HTTP ports of Web server client 11 can pass through the external firewall to the Internet. The client side encrypted client 12 cannot be accessed from the Internet.
Internet	Specifies that there is only one Internet but there are two Internet connections in this multi-datacenter example. One Internet connection is located in London and the other is located in Tokyo. The Internet is a collection of interconnected computer networks that are linked by copper wires, fiber-optic cables and wireless connections. In London, the Web server client 5 can communicate over the Internet using HTTP ports through the external firewall. In Tokyo, the Web server client 11 can communicate over the Internet using HTTP ports through the external firewall.