Symantec has launched Data Insight for Storage, a tool to assist management of unstructured data, including files such as documents, spreadsheets and emails.

With pricing starting at $US676 USD, Data Insight for Storage promises to promote accountability for storage consumption through a new chargeback process. In addition, Symantec Data Insight for Storage gives organisations the management tools to improve storage reclamation, archiving and data lifecycle management initiatives and policies.

According to IDC, the amount of storage capacity shipped in support of file-based storage is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 60.1 percent from 2008 through 2013.1 Pinpointing ownership, understanding data usage, managing data consumption, and how to protect specific data becomes difficult with the ratio of incoming file data overcoming the ability to maintain it.

Symantec Data Insight for Storage allows IT managers to see who created, who utilises, and who is responsible for data. Individual users can be mapped to a department or line of business for consumption reports or chargeback. This allows for improved efficiencies of storage consumption by giving IT the ability to hold business units accountable for the storage space they utilise

By creating a simplified data owner identification process, orphan and dormant data can easily be located and organised. It creates candidates for reclamation, archiving or deletion processes thus creating a more efficient storage management practice.

“For many organisations, data growth is uncontrollable not only from a management of infrastructure standpoint, but also from a policy standpoint,” said Don Angspatt, vice president of product management, Storage and Availability Management Group, Symantec. “With Data Insight for Storage, IT managers can have the visibility and control of unstructured data, and also use the resources these files reside on more strategically”