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Barracuda Networks Inc., a leading provider of security and storage solutions, and Drobo, makers of award-winning data storage products for businesses and professionals, today announced a joint relationship that will bring cloud accessibility and storage to Drobo users. Through this relationship, the Drobo 5N will be integrated with Copy™, a Barracuda Service, allowing users to access shared files from any location and any device.
Drobo 5N provides easy, affordable networked capacity for the connected home or small office. Copy is a new cloud-based file storage and sharing platform where users can easily store, protect and share data. This integration extends the Copy cloud functionality to Drobo users and enables:
- File sharing without limitations – Anything users store on the Drobo device and share with Copy can be accessed without the hassle of file attachments. Unlike email attachments with size limitations, Copy allows users to upload and share files of any size, including 1080p videos and photographs.
- Remote file access – Drobo users will be able to access designated files and folders in their Copy folder from any location or device.
- Unlimited online backup – Users who purchase a Drobo device will have the option of setting up a new Copy account or connecting with an existing Copy account directly from one of the Drobo configuration screens. Copy accounts provide 5GB of storage capacity free of charge, and users can license additional storage capacity directly from Barracuda.
- Comprehensive client support –
- Drobo users can easily access information across Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux computers and offers mobile device support for Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android, with Windows Mobile coming soon.
“In order for businesses to be able to effectively use online file sharing services, they have to be able to maintain control of the assets outside of their firewall,” said Steve Duplessie, founder and senior analyst at ESG. “The hybrid-cloud approach brought to market by Barracuda and Drobo is exactly what businesses and users need – corporate control with user ease. With customers in the multi-hundreds of thousands, this tandem should find a real market opportunity.”
“Barracuda’s significant growth in the storage market is underpinned by the increasing amounts of critical data our customers back up and share on a daily basis. The cloud storage capabilities introduced by Copy are the next iteration of our growth strategy,” said Guy Suter, general manager at Barracuda Networks. “Copy makes it easy to store, protect and share your information, and the Drobo 5N is an excellent platform for extending these innovations and delivering easy, affordable and ubiquitous access for Drobo users.”
“The Drobo 5N was designed to deliver the best local networked sharing experience for data, and the integration with Copy extends that experience to users on the go,” said Erik Pounds, vice president, product management, at Drobo. “We’re excited about our relationship with Barracuda because it enables a clean and simple way for our users to access and share their Drobo files securely from any device and from anywhere in the world.”
Pricing and Availability
The Copy application for the Drobo 5N is expected to be available in March 2013. The Drobo 5N is available from Drobo and starts at $599USD and includes an optional 5GB of Copy cloud storage functionality at no additional cost. Drobo customers must register with Barracuda to obtain access to the Copy service.
Copy is available on the Web at Copy.com (http://www.copy.com) and by installing the free software (http://www.copy.com/install). Copy also is available as a free app in the Apple App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/copy-for-ios/id546789632) for iOS devices and on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.copy) for Android devices.
