Softcat strengthens recoverability with Harbor

Softcat is widely recognised for helping organisations modernise and manage their IT. What's less visible is the resilience discipline required to run internal IT at pace, especially when balancing operational continuity, security requirements, and audit expectations.

Softcat is also a long-standing partner of Harbor, and a Harbor customer, using Harbor to protect and recover its own data.

In this case study, Megan Leadbetter, Head of IT Operations at Softcat, and Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, share how Softcat has evolved its approach over time, from managed backup to a more mature recovery posture underpinned by replication, runbooks, and regular testing.

From managed backup to a broader resilience foundation

Softcat operates across two data centres in London and Manchester and has worked with Harbor internally for close to 10 years.

Initially, the Harbor service focused on protecting Softcat’s core backup requirements.

As Ian explains:

“Originally it was just a BaaS service… covering our main data centre for core backups, and our DR site as a replication point.”

Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, Softcat

Alongside this, Softcat leveraged Harbor’s archive service to maintain a separate, fully offsite copy of key data.

“We utilise Harbor’s archive service for completely offsite backups of key data.”

Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, Softcat

This provided a foundation that supported both operational recovery and longer-term retention requirements.

Adding replication for core services

Around 2 to 3 years ago, Softcat expanded its use of Harbor to include disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) with Zerto, enabling continuous replication between its sites.

“Since then it’s grown to include the DRaaS service. So Zerto… we are always replicating about 50 servers directly from London to our secondary site.”

Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, Softcat

This approach was intentionally focused. Replicating everything is rarely practical, so Softcat prioritised the systems that keep the business running.

Megan described this as replicating the “heartbeat” of Softcat, focusing on the applications that matter most when time to recover becomes critical.

The turning point, proving recovery through testing

Following an ISO audit, Softcat identified a gap. Disaster recovery and business continuity processes were not being tested regularly enough.

The technical capability existed, but Softcat needed a more structured and repeatable approach to readiness.

Working with Harbor, Softcat introduced runbooks, playbook reviews, and structured recovery testing.

Ian highlighted how this has become more important as the environment evolves:

“Our environment continues to grow in complexity… having strict clarity on what we back up, what we don’t, how we restore it, and how we test it is becoming more important as we do audits.”

Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, Softcat

Softcat worked closely with Harbor to ensure testing was approached in a consistent and effective way:

“We’ve had support from Stefan and the team around testing Zerto, how do you test it, the right way of doing things, and they’re always really open and helpful.”

Ian Southwell, Infrastructure Manager, Softcat

Operational rhythm, service reviews that drive action

Softcat highlighted that resilience is sustained through ongoing operational governance.

Regular service reviews play a key role in maintaining alignment and ensuring the environment evolves alongside business needs.

“We’ve got regular reviews on the BaaS and DRaaS service… and they’re really useful.”

Megan Leadbetter, Head of IT Operations, Softcat

Crucially, actions are followed through:

“It’s part of that partnership, we feel like we’ve been listened to. It’s not a case of we bring things up in a meeting and they don’t go anywhere.”

Megan Leadbetter, Head of IT Operations, Softcat

What’s next, cloud backup and continued alignment

Softcat is now extending its backup and recovery planning into cloud services, including Microsoft 365 and Azure.

“We are starting to look at how we back up from a cloud perspective better… 365 applications… and Azure services.”

Megan Leadbetter, Head of IT Operations, Softcat

Softcat also highlighted the importance of alignment across Harbor, the underlying platforms, and the wider partner ecosystem:

“There’s always a good communication path between us… where we need to go, where Harbor’s going, where Rubrik’s going… to ensure it’s fit for purpose long term.”

Megan Leadbetter, Head of IT Operations, Softcat

A partnership built on delivery and evolving into advisory

For Softcat, the relationship with Harbor continues to evolve beyond technical delivery into a broader advisory partnership.

It is a model Softcat understands from both sides, as a reseller partner and as a customer relying on Harbor internally.

Today, the value is clear. Softcat has greater confidence in its recovery readiness, supported by regular testing, clear processes, and alignment with future cloud direction.

As Softcat’s environment continues to grow in complexity, the requirement remains the same. Not just to back up data, but to demonstrate that it can be recovered when it matters most.