My Inaugural De-Dupe Matters Blog

This is my first of many blogs for Dedupe Matters. I am embarking on a journey with my friends and colleagues at Data Domain that I have worked with for years. I was first introduced to Data Domain while at the Enterprise Strategy Group back in 2003 - at that time I just started a hands-on testing service with Brian Garrett of ESG Labs performing analysis of storage and data management products. The concept of data de-duplication was very new back then and of course we were skeptics about claims of 20-to-1 dedupe ratios. Not only were we blown away by what our test results for Data Domain showed us, but also by the conversations we had with their customers - which confirmed our lab findings. Consistently our tests and their customers were getting 20-to-1 and 25-to-1 data de-duplication ratios. The value of this was such a no-brainer - I realized then and still feel that the economics of data de-duplication changes the entire backup landscape, further diminishes the value of tape, and we are still in early days with much more to come. 
 
Over the years skepticism has been abound concerning data deduplication, and more specifically Data Domain, in terms of having a long term competitive edge. Comments like "data de-duplication is just a feature" were so off the mark that it actually served Data Domain well to some degree - their competitors thought they could just sprinkle some data deduplication algorithms into an appliance and crush Data Domain. But here we are in 2009 and if we are going to be blunt and candid - Data Domain still doesn't have a formidable competitor. 
 
For those who do not know me - I have been in the high tech industry for over 23 years with experience as an end user and system integrator. I have worked for IT vendors as a systems engineer, product manager, in business development and as an executive. I have done time as an entrepreneur and was senior analyst at the Enterprise Strategy Group focusing on storage and data management. I am now senior consultant and founder of the INI Group. I have a blog site - Contemplating IT - and I write and draw a comic that is a satire of the IT world (Blah Systems)- in addition to writing for Dedupe Matters - and I have a blog in Computerworld (Technology Matters). The written word is a powerful thing and social media is our new printing press. 
 
My goal is to provide information and insight for IT professionals and in doing so not bore you to tears. I am a believer in creating a dialog and encourage you to leave comments. Yes, I am a big proponent of Data Domain - which is why I am doing this. I like their products, people and company.  If I didn't I would be doing this for someone else. It is also important to note that none of my blogs are filtered or edited. 
 
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by one of the most brilliant minds this world has ever known - Albert Einstein:
 
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
 
Think about that the next time you can't recover from tape ;)
 
Tony