| The Sarbanes Oxley Act was one of those historical | | | | documents within 48 hours which is perfectly feasible |
| events that changed the face of business forever. In | | | | with tape storage. |
| its wake, many companies were left confused, | | | | Many companies that have been using disk storage |
| wondering which types of data needed to be saved | | | | are finding that they are quickly running out of room |
| under the Sarbanes Oxley Act and which types fell | | | | with all of the excess data being stored to meet |
| outside of the scope. In order to avoid potential | | | | Sarbanes Oxley requirements. However, this doesn't |
| problems, most companies have adopted an all | | | | mean that disk storage isn't an optimal solution for |
| inclusive data storage approach, holding onto all data | | | | many types of businesses. The biggest benefit of |
| that flows through the company. | | | | disk storage is that disk storage archiving doesn't |
| For most companies, the passing of the Sarbanes | | | | require a backup window and that data is quick and |
| Oxley Act means a complete overhaul of their | | | | simple to retrieve. Today's disk storage equipment is |
| current data storage processes and a switch to | | | | built to be scalable so that companies can afford to |
| smart, scalable, extremely safe methods of data | | | | grow. |
| storage. This article offers some points to consider | | | | The most prominent problem businesses face |
| when choosing data storage solutions designed for | | | | following the Sarbanes Oxley Act is the issue of |
| growing small to medium sized businesses. | | | | constantly shrinking storage space. The Sarbanes |
| Both tape storage and disk storage can be perfectly | | | | Oxley Act requires that all financial documents be |
| secure and sound solutions for complying with the | | | | saved - and that includes email correspondence. The |
| Sarbanes Oxley Act. However, tape storage and disk | | | | storage of all of this additional data has really put a |
| storage are very different types of storage and the | | | | strain on some companies that are outgrowing their |
| decision to choose one type of storage of the other | | | | data storage needs every 6-12 months or are having |
| is as individual as the company itself. | | | | difficulty organizing stored data. Luckily for most small |
| Tape storage is best suited for doctor's offices, | | | | to midsized businesses, large amounts of disk storage |
| insurance companies, dentists, and other businesses | | | | space is now affordable and designed for scalability |
| that need to keep records of customer data. Even | | | | to grow with the company. |
| though there may never be a need to access the | | | | NetApp and EMC, traditionally manufacturers of disk |
| stored data, keeping it safe and archived is essential | | | | storage devices for large corporations, have recently |
| for being prepared for lawsuits, investigations, or | | | | brought to the market robust storage solution for |
| general reference. | | | | small to medium sized businesses. The NetApp |
| The reason that tape storage is a favorable medium | | | | Storevault S500 and EMC's Clariion AX150 allow |
| for this type of business is that it is inexpensive to | | | | companies to add blocks of storage as needed so |
| store massive amounts of data on tape media | | | | that companies don't need to shell out big bucks for |
| before having to purchase new hardware. Retrieving | | | | storage space they don't yet need. HP and Dell are |
| data from tape storage often isn't as fast as with | | | | expected to release disk storage products to |
| disk storage, but that isn't too large of concern in | | | | compete in the SMB market very soon, meaning |
| terms of Sarbanes Oxley compliance. The Sarbanes | | | | more options and affordability for growing businesses. |
| Oxley Act requires that businesses produce | | | | |