Endpoint protectors spread wings, Druva flies into Microsoft cloud

Endpoint data protector Druva is adding Microsoft's Azure to its public cloud target list, adding security and sharing features to its backup capabilities and trying to appeal more to enterprises – a link with Microsoft is good news in that department.

"Druva has quickly grown to become the de facto standard for data protection workloads in the public cloud,” said CEO Jaspreet Singh, which may be stretching a point a little.

Using Azure adds more regions to store customers' sensitive data, Microsoft having 21 regions worldwide with its data centres in each of them. We might call them safe harbours for countries with data residency needs.

Apparently, enterprise customers who have standardised on Microsoft's platform can put their contract licence credits towards their Druva purchase. Druva inSync plans begins at $6/user per month. Microsoft Azure support will be generally available in 45 days.

Endpoint data protector Code42 is adding security and migration features to its product. CrashPlan 5.0 software features a legal hold app for use directly by litigation support staff, and simpler, faster data migration with end-user data protected before, during and after migration.

The user interface has been improved as well; the word "elegant" has been used to describe it, and its reporting features have been enhanced.

With the migration functionality we're told files and folder structures move seamlessly across platforms. Individual device settings and preferences transfer automatically with the Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT), reducing time spent on reconfiguration by end users and IT staff.

It's interesting to see endpoint protection providers moving away from having point products to building software suites, and also moving into or towards the data centre.

They are no doubt seeing data centre data protection product suppliers look hungrily at endpoints and thinking there should be a single overall data protection (and security and governance, etc.) covering both data centres and endpoints.

With this collision between suppliers happening it will be interesting to see who makes the most progress. ®