ILM confusion helps resellers
Channel ideally placed to take advantage of misunderstandings, analyst claims
The channel is ideally placed to take advantage of medium-sized and large businesses' inability to understand Information Lifecycle Management (ILM), according to a study by storage analyst Macarthur Stroud International.
A survey of 250 firms across Europe found that while 67 per cent of end-users were familiar with ILM, many had no policies or procedures in place to protect data for its entire life span.
The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), an advisory body, defines ILM as "the policies, processes, practices, and tools used to align the business value of information with the most appropriate and cost-effective IT infrastructure from the time information is conceived through to its final disposition".
However, Macarthur Stroud's study did discover that 19 per cent of end-users had implemented an ILM strategy.
Hamish Macarthur, chief executive of Macarthur Stroud, said: "ILM growth is being driven by by information that's critical to businesses and that should be available easily when required.
"ILM allows resellers to go to a business, project, explain and implement the relevant policies."
Paul Talbut, chairman of SNIA Europe, said: "The channel is likely to be much closer to customers' business lines and can help them construct the best practices and policies. ILM is a process, not a product.
"People shouldn't be too concerned about the definition of ILM. Its business implications are far more important."