Hosted DAM FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Hosted Digital Asset Management
What is Merlin Hosted?
The Merlin Hosted Digital Asset Management System is MerlinOne's cloud computing solution for providing Software as a Service (SaaS). It includes a fault tolerant Merlin digital asset management system in a SAS 70 Type II hosting facility.
What are the key advantages?
Merlin Hosted provides reduced cost, due to economies of scale, rapid implementation and system scaling on-demand. It also enables our customers to respond rapidly to the changing demands of digital asset management, without a large up-front capital expenditure or IT staff.
Will our workflow have to change?
No. Your workflow will remain virtually unchanged, but we may be able to suggest improvements.
How long does Merlin Hosted take to implement?
It depends upon the size of the publication or digital library, however we expect that getting up and running would be complete within 30-60 days.
How do I know it will work for my newspaper or organization?
Software as a Service (SaaS) and hosted applications are becoming the norm. We have a proven methodology and track record. We are currently managing over 150 production servers and 120TB of digital assets for over 40 enterprise customers.
How can MerlinOne guarantee performance?
The Merlin Hosted Digital Asset Management infrastructure is 100% redundant and our Service Level Agreement guarantees performance. Network, server and storage redundancy guarantees delivery of all your digital assets. A high-performance Internet solution that uses patented route-control technology to dynamically identify the best path (over 6 different network backbones) for our applications and your data ensures optimal delivery of all your content. MerlinOne uses Internap (www.internap.com) to deliver the optimal hosting environment and high-speed Internet access with a 100% uptime guarantee.
What equipment do I need to install in-house?
You may not need any equipment in house! If you desire integration with some specific on-site systems, or support for single sign-on technologies, like Windows Active Directory, we can supply on-site servers that support the secure transmission of data and logon requests between your network and the Merlin hosted digital asset management system (see Question 15).
What training will be required?
Normal Merlin user training is required and MerlinOne manages this for you. In time, training will be available online.
How much will it cost (as opposed to installing an in-house system)?
Normally there is no requirement for capital budget, but there is a start-up fee after which monthly service fees are charged over the term of the contract - which is normally three years. We can confirm costs after a technical audit - taking into account the amount of digital assets and application requirements.
Is there any guarantee that prices will not rise?
The service agreement provides for a fixed price over a fixed term, and MerlinOne is committed to building long-term relationships.
Will my data be totally secure?
Yes. Apart from the high-security data center that employs multiple physical access checkpoints such as card readers, biometrics and security escorts to private cages under lock and key, Merlin Hosted provides single tenancy, which means your data is stored separately from other organizations' data. In addition, if desired, all access to the assets can be over SSL (https) and user authentication can be integrated with your existing single sign-on mechanisms.
What happens if the MerlinOne equipment or network fails?
It won't fail. All of our servers have redundant connections to separate switches that are configured in a fault-tolerant manner. In front of those switches is a pair of redundant firewalls that support automatic failover and that is all being fed from redundant internet feeds from our provider. Our servers are all fault-tolerant and can absorb multiple server failures without your end-users being impacted. Our provider's network redundancy ensures optimal delivery of your content and applications via a patented Managed Internet Route Optimizer™ (MIRO) technology that monitors the performance of each Internet backbone, routing your traffic across the best path to provide faster and more reliable content and data delivery than traditional routing methods.
How are technical problems resolved?
MerlinOne technical support is available 24/7. Our experts are always on-hand to resolve any technical issues.
What happens when my disk space becomes full?
You can delete the older data, or add more disk space to your service agreement.
How do I integrate solutions within Merlin Hosted with my existing systems?
We have an available option to use On-site Workflow Link (OWL) servers to facilitate secure data exchange and single sign on. These act as on-site portals for third party application access, if desired.
Can Merlin Hosted host non-MerlinOne supplied software?
No. Although Merlin Hosted includes some software developed by third parties, they are all tightly integrated into a specialized digital asset management system.
What happens if we either buy, or sell, properties?
If you wish to add properties, or users, an amendment will be made to the service agreement to include them. If you sell properties, the Merlin Hosted service agreement states that permission to transfer a license should not be unreasonably withheld, or their data can be exported.
Does MerlinOne use a single or multitenant environment - and what does this mean?
Single tenancy, means each installed customer will have its own separate copy of the software, rather than different customers sharing the same copy of the software.
Each Merlin Hosted customer receives their own database, asset storage and copy of the software. This approach to providing "Software as a Service" offers the customer the highest level of security. Beyond the security and compliance implications, the single tenancy approach allows for the maximum level of flexibility in timing maintenance and upgrades. It enables us to perform upgrades in a controlled fashion, rolling them out gradually, even individually.
Which organizations are using Merlin Hosted?
Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times Dispatch, Christian Science Monitor, Arizona Daily Star, Albany Times Union, Providence Journal, Portland Oregonian, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Baton Rouge Advocate, National Public Radio, Landov Media, The Humane Society, World Vision, One.org, Save the Children, Harvard University, Colgate University and many others all use Merlin Hosted. To see a more inclusive list visit our Customers Page.
Can I still buy an on-premise digital asset management system from MerlinOne?
Certainly. However due to the many economic and reliability advantages, MerlinOne believes that cloud computing (and SaaS) will become the norm in the industry.
What's the next step?
Request a demo by going to www.MerlinOne.com/demo or contact the Merlin Hosted team at .
