IDC Study Finds Disk-based Data Protection Market to Generate More Than $50 Billion Over the Next Five-Year Period

Business Wire, August 1, 2006

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Disk-based data protection is a very large market, reaching $8 billion in user IT spending in 2006 and poised to generate more than $50 billion in software and hardware purchases through 2010, a new IDC study reveals. Fueled by increasing regulatory compliance, business continuity, and fast recovery, the disk-based data protection market will continue to expand at a rate two to three times faster than the overall storage market.

"We have seldom seen so much unmet pent-up demand for a market that is already so large," said Robert Gray, research vice president, Worldwide Storage Systems at IDC. "Latent demand is also high in the SMB market. However, traditional storage solutions are totally inadequate to meet current and future demand, creating significant opportunities for innovative suppliers."

"Users want a unified solution approach to data protection, security, and data management, supporting an orientation toward simplicity and integration," added Laura DuBois, research director, Storage Software at IDC. "Storage solution suppliers must build a broad ecosystem of data protection functions through innovation, acquisition or partnership, and collaboration."

The new IDC multiclient study, Disk-based Data Protection - 2006, examines the results of quantitative and qualitative research on current and future adoption of different disk-based data protection approaches and the impact of these approaches on tape technology usage and spending over the next five years. Existing and emerging data protection methods such as backup to disk, replication, continuous data protection (CDP), and virtual tape libraries (VTL) were researched to uncover current and future usage, key requirements, vendor preference, adoption drivers and purchasing inhibitors for these different protection methods. The study includes 2006-2010 market forecast for CDP, VTL, replication, and backup.

To purchase this multiclient study, please contact IDC's Sales hotline at 508-988-7988 or email sales@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. Over 850 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends. For more than 42 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

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