XYTHOS SUPPORTS MULTI-TIERED STORAGE, CONTENT PROTECTION STRATEGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Demand for Secure Content Collaboration and Storage Virtualization Drives Selection
San Francisco, CA – September 26, 2006 - Xythos Software, a leading developer of Basic Content Services solutions, today announced the selection of its Digital Locker and Xythos Drive software by the University of Minnesota (UMN). The University, a recipient of more than $561 million in sponsored funding in fiscal year 2005, has licensed Xythos enterprise-wide to address its need for collaboration between research institutions and manage access to that data centrally. UMN will leverage its new enterprise storage and collaboration capabilities to better protect institutional content, securely exchanging information and supporting web-enabled storage access for up to 90,000 users throughout the UMN system.
“Working on a current Natural Science Foundation grant with Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, the University of California, Berkeley and others, researchers at UMN need to securely collaborate with their colleagues – yet also be assured that the data they are using never leaves the university. “In addition, our best practices require that data in transit over public networks must be encrypted,” stated Carl Follstad, Manager of University Data Management Services. The Xythos implementation is part of a multi-tiered storage and data protection strategy initiated by the university’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) intended to provide enhanced campus-wide data security, compliance and disaster recovery capabilities.
Two years ago the Big 10 University recognized that research funding was increasingly being awarded to institutions engaged in collaborative, multi-disciplinary work. To support its goal of becoming one of the top three public research institutions in the world, OIT designed a new technology infrastructure which included centralized document and file management, upgraded security and the ability to access and protect sensitive data.
The plan also introduced a two stage process for improved authentication utilizing a combination of Active Directory and Xythos to manage internal and external collaboration. “Previously we used point solutions to protect our institutional content,” observed Nick Choban, Director of Central Computing and Operations. “We found, however, that they were not scalable enough to meet our growing needs.”
Increased focus on research is causing many colleges and universities to seek improved methods to manage and protect the valuable content that results from these activities. According to a recent Gartner Research Report (“Hype Cycle for Higher Education, 2006, Michael Zastrocky et al., 30 June 2006) "The priority for many higher education institutions is to invest in technologies that will secure institutional data, manage access and preserve privacy. Institutions faced with setting priorities are investing in new and emerging technologies that provide competitive advantage."
Security risks associated with email use are one of the key factors cited by organizations which have adopted BCS solutions. Universities have become much more aware of the consequences of exposing sensitive data via email and are developing policies to address the issue. “In addition to research data, we also have patient health information and other sensitive data that must be protected when it is being shared. Rather than email this sensitive data over the Internet, our staff can now use Xythos’ tickets capability to share the information - while we manage and maintain a centralized repository that is secure, auditable and proven,” added Choban.
“With grants such as the NSF’s National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics and a new storage and collaborative technology infrastructure the University of Minnesota looks well positioned to become one of the leading research institutions in the world,” commented Ed Miller, CEO of Xythos. “We are pleased that UMN has chosen Xythos’ open standards-based solutions for safely managing and sharing their institutional content.”