Microsoft, CommVault Offer Simpana Data Management With Windows Azure

Simpana supports backup, recovery and archiving for the full range of Microsoft application environments.

CommVault announced an expanded collaboration with Microsoft to offer a cloud storage capability that combines Simpana software with the flexibility of storing data on the Windows Azure cloud platform. The offering provides enterprises with a solution to archive, index, search and access massive amounts of data for long-term retention and compliance. The combined data management solution for Windows Azure offers up to 62 terabytes of cloud storage capacity, and the data and information management capabilities of Simpana 9 Express for a starting price of approximately $50,000.

As data is expected to double every two years, organizations are grappling with flat budgets and costly primary storage that may contain up to 70 percent of infrequently accessed, stale data, said Sheila Childs, research vice president of storage technologies and strategies at IT analytics firm Gartner. Simpana software offers integrated source-side de-duplication, data encryption and integrated reporting and chargeback capabilities. Simpana also supports backup, recovery and archiving for the full range of Microsoft application environments, including Microsoft Files, SharePoint 2010, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server and Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V virtualization€”both on-premises and in the cloud.

The solution is designed to take advantage of the Windows Azure infrastructure and enable Simpana software to become a part of Windows Azure solutions developed by Microsoft and by third parties, and is available in two configurations: 62TB of non-geo replicated Azure Storage or 41TB of Standard Azure Storage for $50,000 per year. Pricing scales up for larger configurations (e.g., $100,000 for 124TB NGR storage).

"According to our most recent IT spending intentions survey, 74 percent of organizations plan to increase spending on cloud computing services in 2012. We attribute much of this massive growth to innovative solutions, such as this data management offering from Microsoft and CommVault, that simplify the transition to the cloud,€ said Brian Babineau, vice president of research and analyst services at IT research firm Enterprise Strategy Group. €œWhile both companies have extremely robust technology underpinning the combined data protection and archive service, customers may very well adopt it because of the all-inclusive, predictable pricing model and ease of implementation."

CommVault also announced that it has deepened its strategic alliance with Microsoft, expanding collaborative development and sales and marketing activities around the Windows Azure platform. "Big data keeps getting bigger, and enterprise IT organizations are in need of simple, cost-effective solutions for storing and managing massive amounts of data over long periods of time,€ said CommVault chairman, president and CEO N. Robert Hammer. €œCommVault and Microsoft have worked closely to enhance the capabilities of the Windows Azure platform, while adding substantial value to Microsoft applications."