Nine Technology’s Deduplication IP Sold To Imation

Storage media and data protection provider Imation added some important cogs to its product line in acquiring block-level deduplication software, additional other intellectual property (IP), and two executives from Nine Technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nine Technology was founded in 2006 as an online backup software developer for Windows personal computers and servers. Its cloud-based services allow resellers to offer online backup and recovery services to their clients with near-continuous, scheduled or manual updates.

On Cloud Nine

Nine Technology also pioneered use of Imation-branded, RDX-cartridge portable hard drives to implement cloud backup services without requiring an initial over-the-wire backup.

The company will continue to operate as a stand-alone service provider of data protection offerings and be a strategic partner for Imation, the company said. Nine Technology’s founder and CEO Tom Gelson (pictured with Imation CEO Mark Lucas), and his CTO Alex Stoev will resign from the company and join Imation as key additions to the company’s scalable storage team.

The main item of IP acquired, Nine’s data deduplication software engine, eliminates redundant data, enabling shorter backup windows, quicker recovery, lower infrastructure costs, and more robust and reliable data protection. It was an important asset Imation lacked in its quest to become a major data storage player via its “scalable storage growth” strategy.

“Imation needs block-level deduplication to compete effectively in the new world order, and Nine Technology is the right partner at the right time,” said Steve Duplessie, founder and senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “The combination of Imation’s global reach and recent storage and security investments creates a potent opportunity.”