Escrow Service safeguards SaaS applications.May 22, 2007 -
Suited for small and medium Software-as-a-Service providers, SaaSProtect Escrow Service(TM) safeguards SaaS applications, data that runs those applications, and associated customer data. It protects subscribers in event of problems with provider, significant outages, or other service interruptions. Customer data, which typically resides with SaaS provider, is protected through LiveVault® online data backup and recovery solution within SaaS application.
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Original Press release
Iron Mountain Incorporated
745 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA, 02111
USA
Iron Mountain Protects both SaaS Applications and Data with New Escrow Service
Small and medium Software as a Service Providers can use SaaSProtect to Build Customer Trust
BOSTON, April 23 /-- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM), the global leader in information protection and storage services, today announced the general availability of SaaSProtect Escrow Service(TM) to safeguard Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, the data that runs those applications, and the associated customer data. SaaSProtect Escrow Service protects the subscribers of SaaS applications in the event of problems with the SaaS provider, significant outages, or other service interruptions. It also gives SaaS providers a way to build trust with their customers. Iron Mountain Digital, the technology arm of Iron Mountain and the founder of the technology escrow industry, is the first company to combine automated data backup and rapid recovery with technology escrow for a complete SaaS protection solution.
Iron Mountain's SaaSProtect Escrow Service is designed to help mitigate risks associated with entering into a relationship with small-to-medium sized SaaS providers. According to Gartner, the market for SaaS applications will grow from $6.3 billion in 2006 to $19.3 billion by 2011, with most of those dollars going to new entrants, rather than established software vendors.(1)
Executive Director of The Common Application, Inc. Rob Killion, is implementing Iron Mountain's SaaSProtect Escrow Service for the next version of the Common Application Online(R), a non-profit site that lets students apply to more than 300 colleges and universities using one common application over the web. Killion states, "The primary benefit is the security that we get. We know that if catastrophe strikes - either catastrophe in terms of a business relationship going bad or a natural or personal catastrophe - there is a 'plan B' that we can avail ourselves of quickly and securely with Iron Mountain, and that's something we haven't had before."
In the SaaS delivery model, software applications run by an outside provider are accessed over the Internet, cutting IT infrastructure and management costs and facilitating quicker deployment. SaaS deployments also introduce new risks. According to Forrester Research, "Application implementation, technology, and operational risks may be mitigated through the use of a SaaS solution. However, vendor, application, and business continuity risks may be increased." (2) SaaS subscribers can leverage Iron Mountain's SaaSProtect Escrow Service as part of a "best practice" business continuity strategy. In the SaaS environment, SaaS subscribers don't have actual software that they run in production, so issues like vendor bankruptcy are one concern, but there is also a real threat from extended service outages. With SaaSProtect Escrow Service, applications are protected with both source code and object code deposits. This provides all the components necessary to recreate the live production environment for the application - either on the customer's premise or at a fail-over site - and to restore service to end- users.
In addition, customer data, which typically resides with the SaaS provider, is protected through Iron Mountain's LiveVault(R) online data backup and recovery solution within the SaaS application. Backups are performed automatically and continuously over the Internet, and data is moved off-site to a remote and secure Iron Mountain data center, without manual IT intervention. Iron Mountain's SaaSProtect Escrow Service is the first complete escrow protection strategy that incorporates the application source code and maintenance materials, object code, and live customer data backup.
Features and benefits of the SaaSProtect Escrow Service include:
-- Protection for both SaaS subscribers and providers - Subscribers protect their investments in SaaS applications while SaaS providers are able to offer buyers peace of mind
-- Escrow for both the source code and object code enables users to get up and running quickly
-- SaaS-specific "demand" release conditions allow immediate access to applications and data
-- Verification testing provides assurance the application can be re-built quickly
-- Proven online, automatic data backup and recovery through LiveVault safeguards data
-- Iron Mountain Connect(TM) Escrow Management Center offers easy online access and real-time management of escrow accounts
About Iron Mountain Digital
Iron Mountain Digital is the world's leading provider of data backup/recovery and archiving software as a service (SaaS). The technology arm of Iron Mountain Incorporated offers a comprehensive suite of data protection and e-records management software and services to thousands of companies around the world, directly and through a world-wide network of channel partners. Iron Mountain Digital is based in Southborough, Mass. with European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. For more information on Iron Mountain Digital's Intellectual Property Management services, visit www.ironmountain.com/ipm.
About Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) helps organizations around the world reduce the costs and risks associated with information protection and storage. The company offers comprehensive records management and data protection solutions, along with the expertise and experience to address complex information challenges such as rising storage costs, litigation, regulatory compliance and disaster recovery. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain is a trusted partner to more than 100,000 corporate clients throughout North America, Europe, Latin American and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ironmountain.com/.
(1) "The Financial Economic Impact Of Software-As-A-Service" by Liz Herbert, Forrester Research, September 1, 2006
(2) "Vendors Missing the SaaS Wave" by Michael Hickins, ASPnews.com, March 8, 2007
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