PoINT Archiver: Archiving, Compliance & Disaster Recovery

PoINT Archiver 2.0 is a Windows server application for centralized administration of the complete process of data archival and data storage management. Using an intuitive user interface, Archive Jobs are created with PoINT Archiver to provide monitoring, protection, migration, tranparent access and recovery of information, so that virtually every compliance and business continuity issue relating to data storage and access can be addressed and satisfied.

Additional modules provide Retrieval, Data Protection, and Authentication features. Retrieval allows selected archive data to be restored to its original location, or to a new location. Data Protection applies encryption of Archive Volumes, which prevents unauthorized access. Data Authentication monitors Archive Volumes for changes and alterations to data, and creates a series of reports to assure the accuracy and authenticity of data. For additional security, multiple storage devices in multiple locations may be used in parallel and multiple CD/DVD/BD disc production systems can also be used. A database of all archived files is presented in an Explorer like view where individual files, directories and the entire Archive Job can be searched and retrieved as needed. Files can be retrieved to their original location, or to a new location.

Archival and Compliance
PoINT Archiver provides the security, availability and authenticity of information which is required to fulfil the constantly rising number of compliance regulations. Archive jobs are created which can:                                                                  

Filter Based Data Archive

PoINT Archiver uses a network-wide process of Filter Based Data Archiving, whereby multiple Archive Jobs can be created and configured to “Monitor” specified folders. Monitored folders can be locally attached devices as well as any accessible network share. According to user defined Conditions (time, size, age, attributes), files contained within these monitored folders are either copied or moved into Archive Volumes. Archiver can store the Archive Volumes on multiple Devices, in multiple locations. Devices can be “On Line” magnetic storage such as a NAS hard disk, as well as “Off Line” optical media which are produced using automated CD/DVD/BD disc production systems.  Secondary storage devices such as optical and tape libraries may also be used as On Line Archive Volume storage Devices. (Additional Library management software is required)

Monitoring and Migration
Based upon user defined archiving conditions, files within the monitored data source folders are either copied or moved to the Archive Volume. Conditions include size, time, hash value and attribute changes.

Tiered Archive File System - WORM File Attributes & Transparent Access

Archiver incorporates PoINTs Tiered Archive File System (TAFS). When applied to local, monitored folders, TAFS provides settings & controls for attribute management of files within these folders, allowing existing or new data shares to be secured as Write Once compliant volumes. Additionally with TAFS, files which are migrated into Archive Volumes located on secondary storage devices can be replaced by links at their original location. TAFS allows specifying independent conditions for Archival of data and for replacing source data files with Links to the Archive Volumes, freeing up valuable server space while maintaining transparent read access to the archived data via the file system.

Archive Volumes

Archive Volumes can be created on a wide assortment of storage devices including:

Automated Disc Publishing
Archive Volumes may be automatically written to a CD, DVD or BD Disc, labelled & indexed. All media are produced using a standardized file system (UDF) assuring the accuracy and recoverability of the data.

Search and Retrieval

Individual files, directories or complete archives can be searched and copied back to hard disk.

Archiver displays the complete directory tree of all archived data in an Explorer-like window. All file information along with the corresponding Archive Volume can be queried for each stored file version. Individual files, folders as well as the complete Archive can be selected and restored. Retreival from On Line Archive Volumes is completely transparent. In case of retreival from offline Archive Volumes, Archiver generates a list of all media necessary for retrieval of a file, directory or complete archive. These media are placed in the publishing system and the files are restored automatically. Files may be retreievd to their original location, or to a new location, and overwrite of existing files is selectable.

Authentication Module for Data Security
PoINT’s Authentication module can check the integrity of archived files and verify if a medium or file has been manipulated. This assures the trustworthiness of the archive. Digital fingerprints of the archived files as well as of the complete volumes are encoded and stored in the volume itself as well as in the database. Thus any individual Archive Volume can be examined for consistency and compared with the database. Additionally, the files in the origin folder can be compared with the database or with the archived files. Documents which have been deleted or changed are identified and reported to the administrator.

Data Protection Module

An optional Data Protection module uses encryption which further protects the entire contents of the Archive Volumes, preventing unauthorized access to archived data. The combination of a system key and different archive keys makes the files illegible outside of the specific PoINT Archiver installation. The PoINT Secure File System secures data written to any Archive Volume and when used with disc publishing systems combines the advantages of removable media with the security of closed systems.

Supported