Imation and QStar Together for Active Archive Solution for SMBs

Imation Corp. announced the availability of a new archiving solution from Imation and QStar Technologies Inc.

The Solution for Archiving combines QStar Archive Manager software with the Imation RDX A8 Hard Disk Storage Array to deliver an active archive solution for SMBs and work groups.

"The Imation and QStar bundled solution brings the benefits of removable disc and enterprise storage technology to the global SMB community at a very affordable price point," said Eric Slack, senior analyst, Storage Switzerland. "For those users that want to leverage their infrastructure already in place this provides an easy, yet reliable answer for their archival needs."

Various industry-specific regulations and internally mandated requirements require the accessibility and long-term storage of business data. Companies, especially those with more rigid archive demands and large data sets – such as those in the healthcare, education, government and engineering industries – are challenged to implement archive solutions that scale to accommodate data growth while providing efficient data retention management and regulatory compliance.

The Imation and QStar Solution for Archiving:

• Creates an archive tier, managing both online and unlimited offline media;
• Reduces primary storage and backup needs, lowering overall storage infrastructure and running costs;
• Includes Retention Management schemes to secure files for a pre-defined period for regulatory compliance or internal mandates;
• Supports integration with SMBs chosen network security models as software can be installed on Windows or Linux servers;
• Enables scalability as QStar Archive Manager can support from one to 256 RDX A8 Arrays, which equals more than 2PB of online capacity; and
• Supports media replication for DR purposes to additional RDX media within the same A8 array or replicated to a remote second RDX A8.

"Small businesses have limited IT staff and resources, so any archive solution that is easier and more intuitive to deploy, configure and manage can pay substantial dividends," said Bill Schilling, director of marketing, Scalable Storage, Imation. "By testing and integrating Archive Manager software with the Imation RDX A8 Storage Array, Imation and QStar enable channel partners to deliver a flexible archive storage solution that is right-sized for data-intensive, compliance-driven businesses."

"Utilizing the Imation RDX A8 Array for online data storage and removable RDX media for offline storage, intuitively managed by our software, provides SMBs with a comprehensive, active archive infrastructure," said Riccardo Finotti, president and CEO for QStar. "By partnering with Imation on this solution, we can extend the reach of our Archive Manager software, and provide SMBs a cost-effective, fully featured archive solution by leveraging our combined sales and partner channels."

The Imation and QStar Solution for Archiving is the first offering in Imation’s initiative to bring new storage solutions to market that feature Imation hardware and storage software from ISVs. To expedite implementation, Imation has created new scripts to connect Imation hardware, such as the RDX A8 Array, with storage management software. Imation and its ISV partners also offer trial licensing and virtual trials to support channel partners’ marketing and sales efforts.

Imation plans to roll out additional solutions with ISVs through 2013.