Modular Structure and Guaranteed Up-to-Date Content
The focus is on the complete lifecycle of an IBM Storage Protect server: from installation, configuration, and storage pool management—through daily automation using scheduling and scripts—to ongoing administration.
This is complemented by security topics ranging from fundamentals to system hardening, the NIST framework, and industry-specific cyber resilience scenarios; the design of distributed multi-server and replication architectures, including disaster recovery; and in-depth specialized topics such as troubleshooting, performance tuning, and the IBM Storage Defender strategy.
Entry possible at any level
The modules are assigned to three proficiency levels—Beginner, Advanced, and Expert—ensuring that each participant acquires the specific knowledge relevant to their role: ranging from daily usage and independent server operation to strategic responsibility for the entire backup infrastructure.
Training is always conducted using the latest stable version of IBM Storage Protect.
The course is delivered as in-house training—either remotely or on-site at your own facilities. We offer flexible scheduling to ensure the training integrates seamlessly into your daily workflow.
Beginner Level (7 Modules)
Introduction to IBM Storage Protect — Operations rather than Administration
Target Audience
Users who operate the IBM Storage Protect Backup-Archive Client—performing backups, restores, and archiving tasks themselves—without having access to the server.
Also suitable for administrators who are new to IBM Storage Protect and wish to learn the fundamentals and technical terminology before taking on responsibility for the server side.
Prerequisites
- No prior knowledge of IBM Storage Protect is required.
- Proficiency in Windows or Linux and a basic understanding of client-server relationships are sufficient to get started.
What You Will Learn
- You will become familiar with the architecture and terminology of IBM Storage Protect.
- You will understand the client's various backup mechanisms and gain practical experience with the user interfaces: GUI, command line, and Web Client.
- By the end of the course, you will be able to independently perform backups, restore data, and archive data.
Module Content
- General Information & Documentation – Introduction to the architecture, terminology, and documentation sources for IBM Storage Protect.
- Backup Methodology – Overview of client backup mechanisms: Progressive Incremental, Incremental by Date, Selective, Image, journal-based backup, NDMP, and S3-compatible backup.
- Backup-Archive Client – Download, installation, and components of the client on Windows and Linux. Introduction to user interfaces: GUI, command line, Web Client, and administration interface.
- Backup-Archive Client Configuration – Client configuration: Include/Exclude rules, client option sets, encryption and compression, and firewall-related settings.
- Backup – Backup modes and the technical backup process, including client-side deduplication, compression, and encryption, as well as the creation of backup sets.
- Restore – Query vs. no-query restore, restoration to an alternative location or from a different node, and restore following a replication failover.
- Archive – Archive objects and retention periods, creating archives via GUI and command line, as well as retrieving and selectively deleting archived data.
Advanced (13 Modules)
Independent Operation of an IBM Storage Protect Server
Target Audience
Administrators responsible for the independent day-to-day management of an IBM Storage Protect server—covering everything from installation and ongoing configuration to daily maintenance.
Ideal for those already familiar with the basics (e.g., from the beginner level) who are now taking on responsibility for server operations.
Prerequisites
Recommended:
- Beginner-level knowledge or comparable practical experience with the Backup-Archive Client.
- Basic Linux or Windows administration skills are helpful.
What You Will Learn
- You will install, configure, and update an IBM Storage Protect (ISP) server; set up storage pools, devices, and policies; and implement fundamental security measures.
- Additionally, you will learn how to schedule and automate backups and confidently handle routine daily maintenance tasks.
Module Content
- Server Architecture & DB2 – ISP server components and their interaction, the role of the embedded DB2 database, and communication paths between client and server.
- Server Installation – Installing an ISP server on Windows and Linux – covering everything from system requirements and DB2 instance creation to automatic instance startup.
- Server Upgrade – The complete upgrade process on Linux and Windows, including validation, DB2 schema changes, and rollback procedures for failed upgrades.
- Server Config – Basic post-installation server configuration, focusing on licensing and additional server options.
- Devices – Connecting and configuring physical and virtual storage devices, libraries, and device classes.
- Storage Pools – Storage pool types (legacy and container-based), server-side operations, and migration between types.
- Domain & Policies – The policy hierarchy governing versioning and retention, and translating business SLAs into specific policy definitions.
- Storage Rules – Defining, querying, and monitoring automated storage pool processes in a production environment.
- Security Basics – Administrator privileges and LDAP integration, password rules and multi-factor authentication, encryption, and certificate management.
- Scheduling – Centralized control of backup operations via client, administrative, and storage rule scheduling.
- Volume Management – Fundamentals of tape volume management: SCRATCH vs. PRIVATE volumes, as well as tape check-in and check-out.
- Daily Operations – Recurring daily administrative tasks – maintenance planning, database backups, and controlled node decommissioning.
- Monitoring – Monitoring the ISP environment for early problem detection and ensuring SLA compliance.
Advanced (13 Modules)
Independent Operation of an IBM Storage Protect Server
Target Audience
Administrators responsible for the independent day-to-day management of an IBM Storage Protect server—covering everything from installation and ongoing configuration to daily maintenance.
Ideal for those already familiar with the basics (e.g., from the beginner level) who are now taking on responsibility for server operations.
Prerequisites
Recommended:
- Beginner-level knowledge or comparable practical experience with the Backup-Archive Client.
- Basic Linux or Windows administration skills are helpful.
What You Will Learn
- You will install, configure, and update an IBM Storage Protect (ISP) server; set up storage pools, devices, and policies; and implement fundamental security measures.
- Additionally, you will learn how to schedule and automate backups and confidently handle routine daily maintenance tasks.
Module Content
- Stgpool Maintenance – Central server processes for storage pools—expiration, reclamation, migration—and error handling for damaged volumes.
- Enhanced Security – Security risks for backup environments, hardening measures, an introduction to the NIST framework, and SIEM integration.
- Cyber Resilience for Banks – Cyber resilience requirements for banks in the context of the EU’s DORA regulation and the maintenance of critical banking services.
- Cyber Resilience in Hospitals – Cyber resilience in the hospital environment: dealing with legacy systems, high availability requirements, and diverse software landscapes.
- Multiserver – Setup and management of multi-server environments using Library Manager, Config Manager, and cross-server command routing.
- Replication – Replication functionality ranging from basics to multi-target and failover scenarios with differing retention policies.
- Retention Set – Retention sets as point-in-time snapshots for long-term retention, including retention holds for legal hold purposes.
- DRM – ISP’s Disaster Recovery Manager: workflows and recovery plan files for server restoration in the event of a disaster.
- DB2 – In-depth administration of the embedded DB2 database: resource planning, manual instance creation, and tablespace reorganization.
- Script – Automation of ISP administrative tasks via server scripts and macros, including logical control structures.
- SQL – Querying the ISP database using SQL for custom analysis regarding utilization, the activity log, and node management.
- Operation Center – Centralized graphical control and monitoring of ISP environments, including the connection of additional servers as spoke instances.
- Troubleshooting – Systematic error diagnosis in server, client, and DB2 environments, including tracing and automated data collection.
- Tuning – Performance analysis and tuning parameters on the server and client sides, as well as IBM reference architectures (Blueprints).
- Tiering – Implementation of tiering concepts for the cost-efficient storage of backup data across multiple storage tiers.
- Defender – Introduction to the IBM Storage Defender strategy and its integration with Storage Protect for threat detection and defense.
- Cloud – Integration of cloud storage targets into IBM Storage Protect to complement traditional storage pools and tape libraries.
- Cloud Server – Setup and deployment of an IBM Storage Protect server in cloud environments such as AWS or Azure, based on IBM reference architectures (blueprints).
Your Training Environment
Hands-on exercises take place in an environment provided by you, allowing you to train directly using a setup that mirrors your own infrastructure. Windows, Linux, and AIX are supported.
To ensure a smooth process, we provide support beforehand:
- Assistance with setting up the training environment
- An overview of technical prerequisites tailored to the modules you have booked
- Technical support for any questions arising before or during setup
Your personalized learning plan
Since the modules can be freely combined, we strongly recommend coordinating your personal learning path with us in advance—taking into account your prior experience, your role, and the specific requirements of your IBM Storage Protect environment.
This ensures that you take exactly the modules relevant to you and do not skip any important fundamentals.
Send me an email directly if you are interested in the course. We will address your questions and create your individual module plan.
Andreas Wagener, Information Security Officer
Phone +49 172 761 94 15