InfoStor : Abrevity upgrades classification software, October 2007 Page 1

By Kevin Komiega

October 3, 2007—In an effort to accommodate the data classification and management needs of larger enterprises, Abrevity has announced version 3.0 of its FileData Classifier and FileData Manager products, which are now capable of handling hundreds of terabytes of data across distributed enterprise data centers, departments, and remote office locations.

The new release of Abrevity's software features a combination of enhanced file discovery features, a business value-based classification and tagging mechanism, a new file movement and policy engine, and enhanced reporting and trending capabilities.

FileData Classifier (FDC) nodes provide file data discovery features over protocols such as CIFS and NFS and include a query and policy creation interface, automated data classification with tagging, content analysis and extraction capabilities, a reporting engine, and a new file movement and policy engine that can be used for functions such as tiering, data migration, or archiving.

FDC discovers data and builds a metadata repository that can be queried. The software adds content visibility based on key words, phrases, or patterns contained within files. Boolean queries are created to discover matching files, and the results are then ready to be classified, moved, secured, or even deleted.

The FDC then labels or "tags" matching files. The tag becomes an extended attribute associated with the file or files, and a policy or multiple policies can be assigned to the tag. Finally, FDC nodes create graphical or text-based reports based on tags, policies, or a customizable combination of file attributes and feed those reports up to the FileData Manager (FDM).

The FDM functions as a virtual traffic cop by controlling and enforcing classification and data-management policies. FDM is capable of setting policies and ensuring compliance globally, locally, or on a departmental basis by commanding FDC nodes to discover, classify, automate, and report on locally managed data.

FDM collects the information and serves it up in a single control point for all data policies across the enterprise without having to individually access remote FDC nodes.

Eric Madison, Abrevity's vice president of product strategy, says the 3.0 release represents the company's shift to focusing on enterprise customers. He says large organizations need a classification and management application that can scale to hundreds of terabytes—if not petabytes—of data.

"Version 3.0 is hundreds of times more scalable than previous versions of our product, because customer data is not always in one location; it's distributed across multiple data centers, remote facilities, and branch office locations," says Madison. "What we've realized is if you can't see all of your data, then it's of no value to you, and if you can't see your remote offices, then there is no way to ensure compliance."

Version 3.0 of FDC and FDM, which will be available later this month, are priced on a per-terabyte basis. The combined solution costs approximately $3,000 per TB.

Other players in the data-classification market include vendors such as Arkivio, CA, EMC, Index Engines, FAST Search & Transfer, Kazeon, Network Appliance, Njini, Scentric, Solix, StoredIQ, Symantec, and Zantaz.

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