News Release
1 October, 2007

Pillar Data Systems introduces de-duplication into data protection strategy
~joins forces with market leaders to offer wide range of technology ~

Enterprises today are seeing rapid storage growth - both inside and outside of the data centre - posing a challenge to traditional data protection methodologies. In order to address these issues, Pillar Data Systems has expanded its strategic reseller relationship with FalconStor Software as well as its individual relationships with Data Domain, Diligent Technologies and Symantec to deliver a variety of data de-duplication capabilities.

These strengthened relationships will enable better backup capabilities allowing companies to dramatically increase the overall efficiency of their data centres.

As a testament to the importance of data de-duplication for overall backup solutions, several analysts have recognised the vital role the technology will play in enterprises' data protection strategies. Most recently, in an Enterprise Strategy Group report, analysts noted that data de-duplication is an ideal technique to optimise physical storage and bandwidth by using less of each to protect data. This reduces cost and capacity requirements, which translates as less bandwidth being required to move and copy that data across the WAN .

'We are big proponents of data de-duplication and it is almost impossible not to be at this stage of the game since the value proposition is so crystal clear,' said Tony Asaro, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. 'Pillar has taken a smart approach as a storage systems vendor by supporting a number of solutions and partners in this space. They realise it is about providing the customer with what they need and not trying to take a 'one size fits all' strategy.'

'We realise that data de-duplication is the next step in the evolution of backup technology,' said Chris Jones, vice president of EMEA at Pillar Data Systems. 'By working with global leaders such as Data Domain, Diligent, FalconStor and Symantec, Pillar can now offer comprehensive data de-duplication solutions for organisations faced with an overload of data and not enough bandwidth to house and move it all.'

As part of these relationships, the award-winning Pillar Axiom is now fully integrated with FalconStor VirtualTape Library (VTL) and is fully interoperable with Data Domain Gateway Series, Diligent PortecTIER software, and Symantec's Veritas NetBackup Pure Disk De-Duplication technology. By working with each of these companies, Pillar now brings one of the widest range and choice of de-duplication options on the market today.

'Data Domain and Pillar have been working collaboratively to help ensure that users can effectively deploy Data Domain's Gateway Series protection storage systems to bring the benefits of our high-speed inline data de-duplication technology to Axiom storage environments,' said Beth White, vice president of marketing for Data Domain. 'This relationship emphasises both Pillar and Data Domain's ability to continue setting new standards in the availability, efficiency and performance of enterprise data.'

'Diligent's ProtecTIER(TM) is the proven leader for de-duplication solutions for the high-end of the Enterprise, typically for customers who back up at least 10 -100 TB per night,' said Peter O'Brien, vice president business development, Diligent. 'Our open software architecture has enabled all of our customers to choose whatever hardware they prefer to run ProtecTIER on. Now that Pillar Axiom is certified with ProtecTIER, the range of opportunities open to end-users further increases.'

'Enterprises need a well-integrated, highly scalable VTL system that seamlessly incorporates de-duplication and works within increasingly demanding backup windows,' said Bernie Wu, vice president of business development, FalconStor. 'We believe that our enterprise-specific integration and optimisation efforts with Pillar's system engineering group, combined with our strategic reseller/support relationship and best-in-class VTL software, will provide a compelling offering to enterprises.' 

For more information about Pillar Data Systems visit: www.pillardata.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Pillar Data Systems
Founded in 2001, Pillar Data Systems develops enterprise network storage systems. The company's Pillar Axiom solution, driven by its innovative policy-based management capabilities, integrates SAN and NAS into a centrally managed storage platform. Pillar Axiom systems consolidate multiple tiers of enterprise network storage into a single, easily managed system capable of scaling to hundreds of terabytes of capacity.

Pillar Data Systems is privately funded by Tako Ventures, LLC, the venture arm of Larry Ellison. The company is headquartered in San Jose.. The EMEA headquarters is in Ireland, with initial operations across Ireland, UK, Germany and France.