Deepfile Moves File Management From IT To End Users

Called Deepfile Sentinel, the software allows organizations to distribute the responsibility for file policies to the files' end users, said Jeff Erramouspe, chief marketing officer and co-founder of the Austin, Texas-based company. Many files are owned by end users--not by IT departments--and Deepfile Sentinel arose in response to IT staff requests for tools to deliver file policies to end users and inform them of their file management responsibilities, he said. The software also lets the IT department audit the process and monitor compliance.

For example, a company may want to reduce its number of old files, Erramouspe said. "A majority of those files probably can be deleted. So IT can use Deepfile Sentinel to contact end users every month and say the company policy is to take files that are 12 months or older off primary storage," he said. "Such files can be removed to secondary storage. But a link can be made to find them easily, or the user could check to keep a file on primary storage if needed. It's very simple. The end user doesn't have to go looking for the files."

Deepfile Sentinel could be a useful part of an information life-cycle management (ILM) strategy for end users and solution providers, Erramouspe said. "We're seeing storage resellers developing ILM practices," he said. "Because they sell storage from several vendors, they can put together a complete solution for customers."

Deepfile Sentinel is targeted at traditional solution provider, as well as those with compliance expertise in specific verticals, Erramouspe said. To use the software, customers first must purchase Deepfile Auditor, which builds a metadata repository, and Deepfile Enforcer, a rules engine used to define policies, he said.

Plans call for Deepfile Sentinel to be available to beta users later this month, with general availability slated for late July. Erramouspe added that Deepfile soon plans to close a new round of funding, and much of the raised funds are earmarked for expanding the company's channel business.