SunGard, EVault team up to secure online data backup

SunGard Availability Services and EVault Inc. have inked a partnership aimed at the growing market for securing online data backup and recovery solutions for medium- and large-size businesses, the companies announced Tuesday.

SunGard, an information availability provider based in Wayne, Pa., and EVault, a disk-to-disk backup and recovery company based in Walnut Creek, Calif., that helps customers manage backup operations, aim to help companies manage their data to comply with business continuity and compliance requirements.

Under terms of the agreement, SunGard will integrate and support the EVault Protect online data backup and recovery solutions into its line of availability products and services. SunGard customers can either subscribe to the EVault Protect data backup service or license EVault InfoStage software to manage their own backup and recovery.

“The combination of SunGard’s wealth of experience in providing information availability services and EVault’s industry-leading disk-to-disk data protection technology will provide customers with a practical and cost-effective business continuity solution,” said Phil Gilmour, EVault president and chief executive officer.

Backup and recovery is a growing market, according to a new study released by the Enterprise Storage Group, a research group based in Milford, Mass. According to the study, the worldwide market for all backup and recovery products will grow at a 16 percent compound annual growth rate through 2006. The study says IT departments are increasing spending in this area because of a growing interest in data protection and new compliance regulations and corporate governance, such as the recently implemented Sarbanes-Oxley legislation.