Recently, we announced the ability to perform NIST/DOD compliant system sanitizing at a file level, as a new feature of our Retention Lock software option. With deduplication storage systems, where underlying data patterns are potentially shared among many logical files, there is a particular challenge around ensuring that contaminated data is appropriately removed. In many cases, an entire storage system would need to be destroyed because of a single piece of inappropriate data, particularly in secure or classified data environments. For these customers, this feature provides tremendous value, as individual files or entire systems can now be sanitized by a process that meets the standards dictated by the DoD Clearing and Sanitization Matrix and the NIST Guidelines on Media Sanitization, while the “clean” data remains online and available for access.
Data Domain is the first to deliver secure shredding for an inline deduplication system on a per-file basis. It is not glamorous nor does it get the blogosphere all in a-tizzy. But blogs don’t sell products or decide what matters - our incentive to deliver this feature is driven directly by customers telling us they need it.Having a system that works well and solves customers’ problems is what makes us the leader.
I have always felt that Data Domain was about much more than deduplication – we have been speaking to our customers about, and delivering, our efficient and intelligent storage platform for years. Let’s set aside the arguments about inline vs. post-process for backup throughput or time-to-DR for a moment. The fact is, by segmenting and identifying every bit of data as soon as it enters the system we have knowledge about that data which enables many innovative capabilities. We started with inline deduplication and data invulnerability then added WAN-efficient replication to successfully address the challenges our customers were having with physical tape and traditional disk-based backup systems. Over time, we have followed through on the promise of SISL to create bigger and faster systems. And we continue to add value for our customers with features like deduped snapshots, enforced retention, and now secure shredding.
To quote Steve Winwood from a favorite Traffic song of mine: “Who knows what tomorrow may bring?”
