CenturyLink SLA:
Data Protect Backup

Updated: February 26, 2019

1. Introduction

This Service Level Agreement (“SLA”) for Data Protect Backup sets forth the service levels (“Service Levels”) for the Data Protect Backup Service (“Service”) provided to Customer by CenturyLink. This SLA is subject to and incorporated in the Agreement and the applicable Service Schedule(s) between the parties and any terms not defined in this SLA shall have the meaning set forth therein.

In the event of a Service Level Failure, Customer may be entitled to receive the applicable service credit set forth herein (“Service Credits”).

2. Service Options

The Data Protect Backup Service is provided with different Service Levels that correspond to the Service Options described within this Section 2.

Basic Backup

CenturyLink will perform Full Backups and Differential Incremental Backups as part of the Basic Backup service offered within Data Protect Backup. Service Levels are measured on successful completion. To be considered successful, a Full Backup or Differential Incremental Backup must be started within the Backup Window(s) (as agreed by the parties).

CenturyLink shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate Customer-requested backup times, provided, however, that the backup commencement schedule consists of pre-approved offerings set at the sole discretion of CenturyLink. CenturyLink is not responsible for any services requested that fall outside of the scope of Service described herein including backup schedules, testing, and media retention periods associated with any government or regulatory authority or association requirements specific to the Customer. If CenturyLink fails to meet the Service Level set forth below, Customer may be entitled to a Service Credit as follows:

Service Level Category Service Level Percentage of
Successfully Completed Backups
Service Credit (% of Monthly
Recurring Charge for Data Protect
Backup Service(s) affected by
the Service Level Failure)
Basic Backup
(Full and Incremental
Backups)
99% and above 0%
≥ 97% and < 99% 2%
≥ 95% and < 97% 5%
≥ 90% and < 95% 10%
≥ 80% and < 90% 20%
≥ 70% and < 80% 40%
< 70% 50%

Digital Offsite Vaulting: Commencement and Completion Service Levels

“Digital Offsite Vaulting (“DOV”)” is a Service Option within the Data Protect Backup Service. DOV provides the transfer and retention of backup data at a CenturyLink data center different than where the data backup originated. DOV shall commence (“DOV Commencement”) within 24 hours of the source backup operation completing (“DOV Commencement Service Level”). If CenturyLink fails to meet the DOV Commencement Service Level, Customer may be entitled to a Service Credit set forth below:

Service Level DOV Commencement Processing
Delay Greater than 24 Hours
Service Credit (% of Monthly
Recurring Charge for Data Protect
Backup Service(s) affected by
the Service Level Failure)
DOV Commencement Up to and including 8 hours 5%
> 8 and ≤ 15 hours 10%
> 15 and ≤ 24 hours 20%
> 24 hours 40%

Digital Offsite Vaulting will complete the replication of data to the target site no later than 48 hours after the vaulting process commenced (“DOV Completion Service Level”). Due to unpredictable characteristics, notably size and structure, the first Full Backup that the Customer initiates after service setup will not be subject to a Service Level, and therefore no Service Credit shall be available (i.e., the 48 hour completion for Digital Offsite Vaulting does not include the first Full Backup the Customer initiates). If CenturyLink fails to meet the DOV Completion Service Level in any backup subsequent to the first Full Backup, Customer may be entitled to a Service Level Credit set forth below:

Service Level DOV Completion Processing
Delay Greater than 48 Hours
from Actual Commencement
Service Credit (% of Monthly
Recurring Charge for Data Protect
Backup Service(s) affected by
the Service Level Failure)
DOV Completion Up to and including 12 hours 5%
> 12 and ≤ 24 hours 10%
> 24 and ≤ 48 hours 20%
> 48 hours 40%

Data Restoration Service Levels

Customer must submit a completed restore request form, available from the CenturyLink Service Center, to CenturyLink in order to initiate a restore request. The Customer shall initiate all restore requests as priority one tickets either (1) through emailing or calling the CenturyLink Service Center, or (2) creating a ticket on the SavvisStation portal.

There are three types of Data Restoration: (1) Tape Based Media Restoration, (2) DOV Site Restoration, and (3) Local Restoration. The Service Level for the commencement of restoration (Restoration Commencement Service Level) specific to each type of Data Restoration is set forth below:

Tape Based Media Restoration

Tape Based Media Restoration Service Level Target for commencement
of Data Restoration
Tape Based Media Recall: The recall of Customer’s data stored at a remote facility, on magnetic tape. Commence Tape Based Media Recall from the remote facility within one (1) hour of receipt of Customer's restore request.
Data Transfer: The commencement of data transfer from tape based media to the local site. Commence data restoration within eight (8) hours of receipt of Customer's restore request, excluding any acclimatization time.

DOV Site Restoration

DOV Site Restoration Service Level Target for commencement
of Data Restoration
DOV Site Restoration: The restoration of Customer’s data stored at a secondary CenturyLink facility, referred to as the Digital Offsite Vaulting target site, on disk. Commence data restoration within four (4) hours of receipt of Customer's restore request.

Local Restoration

Local Restoration Service Level Target for commencement
of Data Restoration
Local Restoration: The restoration of Customer’s data stored locally on disk, at the originating CenturyLink Data Center. Commence data restoration within one (1) hour of receipt of Customer's restore request.

Data Restoration Service Credits

If CenturyLink fails to initiate a restore request within the Service Level Target, set forth in the table above, Customer may be entitled to a Service Credit as follows:

Service Level Category Processing Delay Greater than
Data Restoration Service Level Target
Service Credit (% of Monthly
Recurring Charge for Affected Data Protect
Backup Service(s))
Data Restoration Up to and including 30 minutes 10%
> 30 and ≤ 60 minutes 15%
> 60 and ≤ 90 minutes 25%
> 90 minutes 40%

Processing Delay outlined above begins after the Service Level Target commencement period (as outlined above) has expired.

3. Definitions

“Backup Client” means a system that is being backed up.

“Backup Window” means scheduled time period during which Backups should be started.

“Differential Incremental Backup” means backup to tape of all data files that have changed since the last backup (Full Backup or Incremental Backup).

“Digital Offsite Vaulting” means the transfer of backup images from one CenturyLink data center to a separate CenturyLink data center.

“Digital Offsite Vaulting Target Site” defines the secondary location where the originating backup is transferred and stored on disk for a predefined period of time.

“Full Backup” means complete save of Customer chosen data files on a given Backup Client, not including operating system software.

“POD” (or “Point of Deployment”) means the CenturyLink backup infrastructure platform from which backup services are provided.

“Maintenance Windows” are posted here and are subject to change at any time.

“SavvisStation Portal” is the name for the interface that ties together centralized systems that CenturyLink uses to provide services to customers. Included in SavvisStation Portal are systems for order processing, provisioning, procurement, management and monitoring, change management, billing, customer support/ticketing and reporting.

“Service Credit” means an amount deducted from fees billed to Customer in the event of a Service Level Failure.

“Service Level Failure” means CenturyLink’s performance for a particular Service fails to meet the applicable Service Level set forth in this SLA.

4. Process

Customer must request any Service Credit due hereunder by submitting an e-mail to billing.department@centurylink.com within sixty (60) calendar days of the conclusion of the month in which the Service Level Failure(s) occurs. Customer waives any right to Service Credits not requested within this sixty (60) calendar day period. Service Credits will be issued once validated by CenturyLink and applied toward the invoice which Customer receives no later than two (2) months following Customer’s Service Credit request. All performance calculations and applicable Service Credits are based on CenturyLink records and data unless Customer can provide CenturyLink with clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

5. Limitations

The applicable SLA provides Customer's sole and exclusive remedies for any Service interruptions, deficiencies, or failures of any kind. To clarify, such sole and exclusive SLA remedies shall not apply to breaches of unrelated obligations under the Agreement such as infringement, confidentiality, etc. Any tape media errors that may impact restore services are not deemed a failure of the Service. A Service Level Failure shall not occur, the SLA, including any remedies hereunder, will not apply and Customer will not be entitled to receive a Service Credit in the case of an Excluded Event. Excluded Event means any event that adversely impacts the Service that is caused by (a) the acts or omissions of Customer, its employees, customers, contractors or agents; (b) the failure or malfunction of equipment, applications or systems not owned or controlled by CenturyLink; (c) Force Majeure events; (d) scheduled and/or emergency maintenance; (e) any suspension of Service pursuant to the Agreement; or (f) the unavailability of required Customer personnel, including as a result of failure to provide CenturyLink with accurate, current contact information. Customer will not be eligible to receive any otherwise applicable Service Credits if Customer is in breach or default under any provisions of the Agreement at the time the Service Level Failure(s) occurred or at the time when such Service Credit is requested by Customer until such breach is cured, at which point the Service Credit will be issued. The Service Credits set forth herein are not cumulative and in no event will the Service Credits accrued in any calendar month exceed, in the aggregate across all events, fifty percent (50%) of the Affected Service MRC.