SNIA creates data security forum

Channel and vendors both benefit

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) has set up a storage security forum to deal with customers' concerns.

The SNIA board of directors announced the details of the Storage Security Industry Forum (SSIF) last week.

"We have realised that securing data is a critical issue for customers," said Mike Alvarado, chairman of the SSIF.

The forum will provide vendors and channel partners with marketing and promotional materials, he added.

"It is a dedicated group that will operate under the SNIA," said Alvarado. "Education will be a huge part of what the SSIF can offer the channel, so VARs can then educate the end-users who will then be more prepared to buy into storage networking."

He cited three main benefits the SSIF can offer integrators and resellers. First, Alvarado said, it can offer materials to inform end-users of best practices and best value propositions.

The majority of the forum's members are vendors, so the SNIA has formed an advisory panel in order to gain VAR feedback. "The advisory panel will allow us to create better standards and tackle interoperability issues, all with help and feedback from resellers," Alvarado said. P>Richard Russ, sales director at Source Consulting, said he believed that, if used properly, the forum could help to drive sales.

"Anything that helps end-users to understand how to secure their data and what can actually be done to do this, has got to be a good thing for the channel," he said.