Many disaster recovery solutions often categorize themselves as turnkey "appliances," touting ease of use and fully automated capabilities. Yet, not all of these solutions fit the true definition of an appliance and are apt to cause frustration when claims of simplicity do not match reality.
Five Questions to Ask your Recovery Vendor:
#1: How easy is setup, operation & maintenance? Can I just plug it in and let it run?
#2: Is the appliance completely integrated and automated in order to minimize my time and risk?
#3: How easy is it to test my disaster recovery plan so that I know my systems will work when I need it most?
#4: How easy is it to recover my server, storage or entire site if a disaster occurs?
#5: What "hidden" costs should I be aware of?