CA and Iomega have treats in store for SMEs

Computer Associates and storage company Iomega are teaming up to produce a backup system aimed at small and mid-sized businesses.

The Iomega NAS Backup product combines an Iomega network-attached storage (NAS) server with storage and security management software from Computer Associates.

Werner Heid, CEO of Iomega, said: "Customers today demand easy-to-install, easy-to-maintain, affordable data management solutions. The Iomega NAS Backup solution brings a welcome level of integration to the entry-level and midrange segment of the NAS market."

NAS technology centres on a hard-disk storage device that sits on a local area network, and often is used by smaller companies or work groups within large organisations.

The Iomega server in the product will be a Windows-based machine with up to 1.28 terabytes of usable capacity. It will come with Computer Associates' BrightStor ARCserve Backup data-protection software and eTrust Antivirus software.

The product, which includes a tape drive, will be shipped by the end of August, said Chris Romoser, a spokesman for San Diego-based Iomega. Pricing will be announced in August.

Other companies that sell NAS products include Dell and Snap Appliance.

NAS made up 11 per cent of the $3.2bn spent on external disk storage systems in the first quarter of 2003, according to research firm IDC. That compares with market share of 47 per cent for storage area network (SAN) gear and 42 per cent for direct-attached storage devices.

The NAS marketplace is about to have a little less competition. IBM has said it will stop selling two low-end NAS devices on 29 August.

Ed Frauenheim writes for News.com