Electronic Discovery & Computer Forensics : RenewData : Austin, Texas

InfoStor
May 2, 2008

By Kevin Komiega

Searching thousands of backup tapes for individual files or e-mails is often time-intensive and costly. That is why RenewData is applying a new technology in its tape processing services that can quickly comb large volumes of tapes for discovery and risk management of stored information.
RenewData has developed a "single-pass" technology for processing backup tapes that allows files that have been segmented across more than one backup tape to be read as a whole without having to process each tape in the original sequence or read tapes more than once. It also allows processing of orphan tapes that may have originally been part of a sequence of tapes that no longer exist.

While backup tapes were originally intended for near-term recovery from full-system failures, today they are often retained for long periods of time and have become de facto archives. The problem is that there is little information beyond a date and server name to identify the content.

With the new single-pass technology, RenewData no longer needs to catalog all tapes in a given set before they can be processed. This means the company can process partial data from incomplete tape sets, thereby eliminating the need to locate all backup tapes in a set before starting the e-discovery process.

Now that RenewData can process more tapes faster, Bob Little, RenewData's vice president of marketing, says the company can help customers get out in front of e-discovery.

"Traditionally, companies wait until lawsuits happen to think about what they want to do from a discovery perspective," says Little. "But now we're seeing more and more companies that want to be proactive rather than reactive."

Little says RenewData's single-pass technology will reduce the cost of digging through data. "We realized the process of sorting through millions of tapes was inefficient so we developed single-pass technology so we can look across sets of tapes. It reduces the time it takes for us to get information back to customers and allows us to control costs and efficiencies. We pass those savings along to customers," he says.

Pricing for RenewData's new services with single-pass technology varies. Little says the cost is typically determined by the volume and complexity of the data being processed. However, he says taking the proactive approach to e-discovery can cost as little as one-quarter of the price for the same services in a reactive scenario.

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LTN Blog: EDD Update
May 1, 2008

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Byte and Switch
April 30, 2008

RenewData announces innovative technology developed to streamline processing of backup tapes

AUSTIN, Texas -- RenewData, a leading provider of e-discovery and electronically stored information risk management (ESIRM™) services, today announced it has developed a “single-pass” technology for processing backup tapes to better support its clients for discovery and risk management of ESI. The patent-pending “single-pass” backup tape processing technology allows files that have been segmented across more than one backup tape to be read as a whole without having to process each tape in their original sequence or read tapes more than once. It also allows processing of orphan tapes that may have originally been part of a sequence of tapes that no longer exist.

In recent years, the need for corporations to gain more visibility into their tape libraries has increased, as has the volume of tapes that ultimately need to be processed in the wake of discovery orders. This growing need is apparent, considering RenewData has witnessed a 300% increase in the number of backup tapes processed at their facility since 2004. “With the heightened need to identify information on backup tapes through the discovery process quickly, we see the need to process increasingly larger volumes of backup tapes to continue,” said Vivian Tero, Research Manager, Compliance Infrastructure, IDC. “Renew Data’s ‘single-pass’ processing technology is intended to address a need among corporations to turn around massive volumes of tape data quickly and efficiently, thus enhancing their ability to meet the eDiscovery deadlines.”

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Network World: Storage Alert
May 1, 2008
By Deni Connor

RenewData has a new service that processes tapes with a single pass

RenewData, one of the darlings of the e-discovery set, this week launched a new service for processing tapes with a single pass.

The company, who partners with AXS-One, Mimosa Systems, Index Engines and Attenex, has patents pending for a technology they call ‘single-pass’ processing. The technology allows files that have been divided across more than one backup tape to be read as a whole without having to process each tape in its original sequence or read tapes more than once. It also allows processing of orphan tapes that may have originally been part of a sequence of tapes that no longer exist.

As a result of regulations such as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), organizations have seen an increase in the amount of data that is stored on tapes and a need to recover that data more quickly and efficiently. RenewData, for instance, has seen a 300% increase in the number of backup tapes it processes since 2004.

RenewData developed the technology as it started to process even larger quantities of tapes for its clients. With single pass processing, the need to catalog all tapes in a given set before they are able to be processed is removed. It lets RenewData process partial data from incomplete tape sets, allowing users the capability to locate only some of the tapes before the e-discovery process. With single-pass technology, RenewData can process any tape in any order and discover the content immediately.

All contents copyright 1995-2008 Network World, Inc. http://www.networkworld.com

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Storage Soup: A SearchStorage.com blog
April 30th, 2008
By Beth Pariseau

Even as we continue to debate whether or not tape is dead, indicating at least that its salad days are probably behind it, some of the most interesting innovations in tape technology I’ve seen are happening right now.

For example, there’s Index Engines’ tape indexing and search software. If you’d been able to give backup administrators the ability to do a keyword search across dozens of backup tapes to identify what tapes should be restored, as well as the ability to extract single relevant files from said tapes, we might not have ever heard of a VTL.

I’d put the latest development from ediscovery services provider RenewData into that category as well. Renew says its tape-processing systems now only need to take a single pass through a given piece of linear media. Renew previously needed two or three passes, requiring its admins to mount tapes in proper order and reassemble data as it was ingested. The single-pass process will reduce the time it takes to find relevant information stored on its clients’ tapes.

The single-pass process is made possible by software that allows that data to be reassembled on the back end. Renew is not selling that software, except as part of the back-end of its hosted services. Renew’s VP of marketing Bob Little says the company doesn’t have any plans to offer it as an on-premise product.

But I have to wonder if someone else won’t find a way to develop something similar. I also wonder, if the tape space keeps coming up with finding new ways to access data randomly on linear media, whether this disk vs. tape debate could get much more interesting.

Posted: April 30th, 2008 under data backup, tape data storage.

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Patent-pending "Single-Pass" processing significantly improves efficiency of processing large volumes of backup tapes for discovery and risk management of ESI

AUSTIN, TX - April 30, 2008 - RenewData, a leading provider of e-discovery and electronically stored information risk management (ESIRM™) services, today announced it has developed a "single-pass" technology for processing backup tapes to better support its clients for discovery and risk management of ESI. The patent-pending "single-pass" backup tape processing technology allows files that have been segmented across more than one backup tape to be read as a whole without having to process each tape in their original sequence or read tapes more than once. It also allows processing of orphan tapes that may have originally been part of a sequence of tapes that no longer exist.

In recent years, the need for corporations to gain more visibility into their tape libraries has increased, as has the volume of tapes that ultimately need to be processed in the wake of discovery orders. This growing need is apparent, considering RenewData has witnessed a 300% increase in the number of backup tapes processed at their facility since 2004. "With the heightened need to identify information on backup tapes through the discovery process quickly, we see the need to process increasingly larger volumes of backup tapes to continue," said Vivian Tero, Research Manager, Compliance Infrastructure, IDC. "Renew Data's 'single-pass' processing technology is intended to address a need among corporations to turn around massive volumes of tape data quickly and efficiently, thus enhancing their ability to meet the eDiscovery deadlines."

While backup tapes were originally intended for near term recovery from full system failures, today they are often retained for long periods of time and have become de facto archives, albeit archives with duplicative and often outdated or obsolete data. Generally, there is little information beyond a date and server name to identify the content. This problem is compounded when the tapes have been inherited from other companies as a result of a merger or acquisition. If a discovery order compels production of evidence from these tapes, retrieving data from them can be a complicated and time-consuming ordeal, particularly if there are tapes missing from a backup sequence. With the addition of this innovative approach from RenewData, the time needed to process this information decreases, thereby allowing clients to gain access to crucial ESI more quickly and efficiently.

"The new 'single-pass' tape processing technology is a testament to our team of engineers, and it demonstrates that RenewData is leading the market in ESI discovery and management services," said Ellery Buchanan, CEO of RenewData. "At RenewData, we are constantly working to provide our clients with the highest level of service in the market to help them address current litigation and to be prepared for future proceedings."

Development of this new technology came about as RenewData began receiving increasingly larger quantities of backup tapes from clients in recent years, and the company's engineers recognized the need for a more efficient way to process them. With "single-pass" processing, RenewData removes the need to catalog all tapes in a given set before they are able to be processed, and this innovation also allows RenewData to process partial data from orphan tapes or incomplete sets – removing the burden on clients to locate all backup tapes in a set before starting the e-discovery process. Now, RenewData can process any tape in any order and delve into the content immediately. This allows for a reduction in labor costs, dramatically decreases the overall processing time, and alleviates much of the burden on clients when trying to locate, identify, and sort through expansive tape inventories. In addition, this quicker turnaround can help corporations more readily comply with the amended Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which require parties to provide a description of ESI to the other party involved and that both parties "meet-and-confer" to discuss issues related to the discovery of ESI.

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Sarbanes-Oxley : Technology
February 14, 2008 08:00 AM

AXS-One a leading provider of scalable, high-performance records compliance management (RCM) solutions, and RenewData, a leading provider of e-discovery and electronically stored information risk management (ESIRM™) services, have announced an agreement that will deliver a complete offering for enterprise-class proactive litigation readiness. An industry first, the solution leverages RenewData's market leading non-native data extraction, file filtering and data processing technology and processes and AXS-One's award-winning archiving and records management software platform.
 
This consolidated offering enables IT and litigation teams to proactively plan for and manage the processing of all electronically stored information (ESI) required for litigation -- identify, analyze, collect, archive, preserve, cull, review, produce and destroy. Uniquely, the entire process provides a legally defensible chain-of-custody process that will enable users to demonstrate the disposition of all pertinent records in their custody.
 
The solution includes RenewData's forensic collection, data extraction and processing of historical data and backup tapes with AXS-One's archival and indexing of all ESI. These archive records can include electronic record types including e-mail, PST files, records stored in file systems, reports, desktop documents and images. Leveraging AXS-One's single, integrated archiving repository, all records pertaining to a specific case or cases can be preserved and managed, in line with litigation hold orders. Organizations now will have an unprecedented level of capability in records management, allowing them to archive all records, including historical data, within a designated central repository. Additionally, the solution provides corporations with the ability to use AXS-One's tools to search the archive for potentially responsive information and to utilize RenewData's hosted tools for comprehensive litigation review and production.
 
The solution directly addresses the requirements introduced at the end of 2006 by the amended Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), which has stimulated organizations to get their electronic records in order or suffer the consequences in the judicial system. To meet FRCP regulations, which require corporations to quickly produce large or specific volumes of data, organizations must have forensically sound chain-of-custody procedures and archiving abilities to ensure data is handled appropriately in the event of litigation.
 
"The AXS-One Compliance Platform coupled with RenewData's ESIRM services creates an end-to-end solution that truly addresses current legal realities and can support a company in the event of litigation. The solution not only creates a single repository for all data, but also provides for the secure retention and disposition of it. Until now, there was a disconnect between the management of historical data and that of current data, which presented a challenge and a potential liability for corporations in terms of records management and archiving," said Bill Lyons, CEO, AXS-One. "Other products only address a portion of the electronic records lifecycle, but this is a complete solution that provides identification, de-duplication, reduction, consolidation and archiving processes resulting in the ability to proactively manage, retain, preserve, hold, export, and dispose of current and historical data."
 
"RenewData's ESIRM Services have given corporations the ability to identify, de-duplicate, and reduce large amounts of data stored on backup tapes. With this joint solution, corporations can actively archive current data together with large stores of backup tapes or other disparate legacy formats. Given the costs and risks associated with e-discovery, corporations must gain control of all their records including historical information. Corporations need to inventory the electronic records they have, develop retention policies and put those records in a central archive which can be managed and accessed in the future to ensure they are litigation-ready," said Ellery Buchanan, CEO, RenewData.
 
"Developments in the legal and regulatory landscape are compelling organizations to formalize and execute records and information management policies," said Vivian Tero, Program Manager, Compliance Infrastructure, IDC. "Archival solutions that can extend support beyond email to multiple file and content types and that include integrated functionality for legal, compliance, and operational worfklows are designed to address this need."
 
AXS-One Inc. is a leading provider of high performance Records Compliance Management solutions. The AXS-One Compliance Platform enables organizations to implement secure, scalable and enforceable policies that address records management for corporate governance, legal discovery and industry regulations such as SEC17a-4, NASD 3010, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, The Patriot Act and Gramm-Leach Bliley. Founded in 1978, and headquartered in Rutherford, NJ, AXS-One has offices worldwide including in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom and South Africa.

For further information, visit the AXS-One web site at www.axsone.com

RenewData is a leading provider of e-discovery and ESI (electronically stored information) risk management services to assist corporations and law firms responding to lawsuits, investigations, and audits. Superior legal expertise, scalable technology, and a state-of-the-art facility featuring government level physical security enable RenewData to provide clients with secure, accessible, and manageable data in a cost effective and timely manner. RenewData's e-discovery services cover the five critical steps of the e-discovery process, including planning, preservation and collection, processing, review, and production. RenewData's ESI risk management services, which include backup tape liability management, data migration, and evidence storage, provide corporations with a proactive means of managing the risks associated with ESI. RenewData has been ranked a "top provider" in the Socha-Gelbmann Electronic Discovery Survey Report for three consecutive years and was ranked in the 2006 and 2007 Inc. 500 lists of fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S.

For more information, visit www.renewdata.com

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Do you shred your tax returns?

Unified Communications Alert By Michael Osterman , Network World , 02/28/2008

Do you file an income tax return? Do you make a copy of that return before sending it to the IRS, Revenue Canada, HM Revenue and Customs or to whomever you owe income taxes? Do you file that copy in a filing cabinet? After 30 or 60 days, do you remove that copy from your filing cabinet and then run it through your shredder? If your answers are Yes, Yes, Yes and No, then you understand the value of preserving critical business or personal records. If your answers are Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes, then you're consistent with the majority of businesses that don't adequately archive their e-mail and other messaging system content.

That’s really the argument for e-mail archiving. A growing proportion of e-mail system content contains valuable business records that you need to keep for one year in some cases, three years in others, seven years, 10 years, indefinitely, etc. However, while you can deploy an archiving system that will begin archiving content starting now, most organizations have backup tapes, disk-based backups, etc. that contain critical business records (Compare Message Archiving products).

To allow all content to be archived – including all the content on backup tapes – AXS-One and RenewData have established a strategic partnership that will permit active archiving of current messaging system content moving forward using AXS-One’s archiving technology, and the processing of old backup tapes using RenewData’s services. 

This service, and those like it, are valuable ones for a couple of reasons. First, from an operational perspective, migrating all data on backup tapes into an archive allows decision makers to determine if there are any business records stored on backup tapes where they would otherwise be very difficult to access. Second, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require organizations to understand what their “inventory” of electronic content is shortly after becoming involved in a legal action (Compare Network Auditing and Compliance products).

The key takeaway is that organizations a) should archive their business records and; b) should migrate content on backup tapes to a more readily accessible format.

This story appeared on Network World at
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/gwm/2008/0225msg2.html

All contents copyright 1995-2008 Network World, Inc. http://www.networkworld.com

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PRODUCT FLASH

Vivian Tero

This IDC Flash evaluates RenewData’s recently announced Backup Tape Liability Management Service.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On October 2, 2007, RenewData, a provider of data extraction, migration, and electronic discovery services, announced the availability of its Backup Tape Liability Management Service. This service offering uses a secure process to identify, analyze, reduce, and consolidate electronically stored data on a corporation’s backup tapes. This offering is intended to enable organizations to reduce the dormant liability and IT storage costs associated with maintaining large inventories of backup tapes. The solution encompasses professional and IT services, which the vendor segments into several distinct phases that corporations can complete to better manage their backup tape inventories:

• Physical media audit. RenewData will visit the customer’s site or work with the client’s offsite physical records and storage provider to discover and identify critical physical information about the media, such as location, types, capacity, condition, and storage environment. This service is intended to enable RenewData’s clients to craft a disciplined response to Rules 26(a)(1) and 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and determine the most appropriate tapes for sampling.
  
• Tape sample analysis. This service is intended to enable RenewData’s clients to determine the media’s content as well as implications about the total tape inventory. The information gained from this analysis is instrumental in determining how to proceed with data reductions and, in some cases, can assist a "burdensome" argument if litigation occurs.
  
• File-level and data content reduction. The intent of these two services is to enable clients to identify data that should be retained to meet their legal and regulatory requirements, as well as allow deduplication and deletion of system and application files. The file-level and data content reduction processes provide a detailed media content database report that clients can use for their required initial disclosures under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1).
  
• Data consolidation. Once the client has developed its tape reduction plan, RenewData can extract, migrate, and consolidate the associated content into the appropriate platform (typically a disk-based archival system). The extracted data can eventually be hosted within RenewData’s datacenter infrastructure, RenewData’s hosted archiving partners, or the customer’s own datacenter infrastructure. RenewData has existing partnerships with several established content archiving players.

RenewData will certify the process and provide written and oral testimony in the event of legal challenges.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

The requirements of Rules 26(a)(1) and 26(f) of the revised ediscovery rules for civil litigation continue to open up opportunities for content extraction, restoration, and migration service providers. Despite these opportunities, this service market is highly fragmented and increasingly price sensitive. Client demands for process efficiencies and the introduction of disruptive technologies that enable more visibility into the content

of the legacy backup tapes are compelling service providers to come out with service offerings that would provide them with a tactical differentiation.

In May 2007, RenewData launched its Data Migration Service offering, initially targeting the migration of legacy email from backup tapes, content-addressable storage (CAS), and optical platters. IDC research conducted in the summer suggests that the majority of organizations are not automatically ingesting potentially responsive email from nonarchival media back into their archival systems. These companies are becoming more aware of the criticality of making distinctions between their archival and backup operations (for business continuity and disaster recovery [DR] purposes). The research also indicates that many organizations recognize the potential dormant liabilities that reside in their legacy backup tapes. These trends are particularly prevalent among large, highly litigious and regulated industries that have heterogeneous and distributed IT infrastructures. These trends also point to a need among businesses to develop a disciplined and legally defensible approach for evaluating and judiciously migrating or disposing of content in their legacy backup tapes and other media.

RenewData’s Backup Tape Liability Management Service is intended to address this need and differentiate the vendor’s services. This new line of services is a component within RenewData’s Data Migration Service

Please contact the IDC Hotline at 800.343.4952, ext. 7988 (or +1.508.988.7988) or sales@idc.com for information on applying the price of this document toward the purchase of an IDC service or for information on additional copies or Web rights. Visit us on the Web at www.idc.com. To view a list of IDC offices worldwide, visit www.idc.com/offices.

Copyright 2007 IDC. Reproduction is forbidden unless authorized. All rights reserved.

Filing Information: October 2007, IDC #209029, Volume: 1, Tab: Vendors offering. RenewData senior management indicated that the Backup Tape Liability Management Service is targeted at organizations from highly regulated and litigious industries that have more than 10,000 backup tapes in storage.

Eliminating backup tapes is a strategic exercise, so within RenewData’s defined target segment, the most likely early adopters of this service offering would be organizations that have ongoing enterprisewide records management and information retention programs. Other likely early adopters include organizations that have expressed intent or ongoing plans to reduce their reliance on third-party physical storage services.

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