In early 2009, the DMF Long-term Archive and Compliance Storage Initiative (LTACSI) is launching a new focus on database archiving and how to deal with the issues associated with long-term storage of the structured information.

LTACSI will help organizations to manage the growth of structured and unstructured data to achieve Information Lifecycle Management objectives, improve operational efficiency, reduce total cost of ownership and meet compliance requirements that are aligned with the current economic environment.

Initially our approach will be to address the following:

• How we can educate and develop the market for Database Archiving?
• How will data and information be protected for the retention or archive period?
• How will we maintain data and information authenticity for applications like eDiscovery and Enterprise Metadata Management?
• How will the retained and archived data and information interplay with storage optimization tools like deduplication?

What challenges would you like to address?

We are recruiting new members now. If you, or your company, offer products and services in this space, and YOU would like to influence the work of this initiative, the time to get involved is now!

Please email LTACSI Chair,Gary Zasman (NetApp) for more information today!

Don Deel (EMC) was approved by the DMF BOD to replace Jeff Porter who recently resigned. Don brings to the DMF years of SNIA experience and is currently on the SNIA Technical Council.

Welcome to the Leadership Team Don!

NEW! Educational Webcast
Data Deduplication in the Backup World
December 11, 2008
10am PT/11am MT/12pm CT/1pm ET

Meeting No: 791 458 597; Pwd:dmf2008
Audio Dial-in: 1-712-451-6000; Code: 1067412#

The DMF is launching a new series of educational webcasts beginning on December 11th. The goal of this program is to provide regularly scheduled education on a variety of topics. You are welcome to participate when we deliver the material live, or view the recording on-demand at your convenience.

The first webinar topic is “Data Deduplication in the Backup World,” and is based upon the current SNIA tutorial developed by the DDSR SIG. This session will focus on the specifics of deduplication for backup use cases.

Mark your calendar now! If you would like to contributing a briefing, or educational presentation to this program, email ebull@snia.org and we will put you on the calendar!

The adoption by IT of service level metrics such as Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) has improved communications and collaboration between IT and the lines of business that it serves.

Don’t miss the recently published article in SNS Europe“RPO/RTP: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” by Edgar St. Pierre (EMC) and Shawn Partridge (SNIA EUC). This article looks at some of the benefits and issues of establishing service level metrics and provides recommendations for how to avoid or address the issues.

Watch for these informative emails about twice a month with news on Data Management Forum activities and events. Comments, topic suggestions and questions are always welcome by emailing ebull@snia.org.