ComplianceVault™

Frequently asked questions

This FAQ page is provided to answer basic questions you may have about the ComplianceVault™ Email Archiving & Retrieval Appliance.

Do I need to have a network installed to use ComplianceVault™?

Yes. You need a network with DHCP to initially set up the ComplianceVault™. A "Configuration Utility" is provided to set up a static IP address afterwards, if desired.

How does the ComplianceVault™ work with existing data backup systems?

It runs independently for the single purpose of email retention and search/retrieval, so it does not need to be integrated with your backup system(s). It is a "data preservation" device, not a "data protection" or backup device. And installing it causes no disruption of your existing IT infrastructure.

What email servers does the appliance support?

It works with Microsoft® Exchange, Lotus® Notes, Novell® Groupwise, Mirapoint® Message Server, or virtually any email server that uses either the IMAP or POP3 protocol. And it can support multiple email servers.

Can the ComplianceVault™ also be used as a file server?

No.

Does the ComplianceVault™ support data compression?

The Sony AIT-2 tape drive compresses in a ratio of 1:2.6. Since the device is compressing email (which is mostly text), the compression rate is high. Sony states that the nominal compressed capacity of each of its 50-GB AIT WORM tape cartridges is 130 GB. Note: The appliance ComplianceVault™ stores only one copy of each email attachment - no duplicates on both the hard drive and tape.

Can I choose where I want my email saved - to either disk or tape?

No. The appliance saves all email to both media. To meet the requirements of the SEC and NASD regulations, all of a company's email must be saved to unalterable media, which is the AIT WORM tape with the ComplianceVault™ appliance. Saving to disk enables very fast content searching and retrieval.

What about network connectivity?

The ComplianceVault™ desktop models (CV120 and CV250) are supplied with 10/100 Ethernet standard. The rackmount models (CV1U320, CV1U500, CV1U800, CV1U1000) are supplied with 10/100/1000 Ethernet standard.

Are the units field upgradeable?

No. The ComplianceVault™ hardware cannot be upgraded when in the field. Both the desktop and rackmount models are designed as all-in-one appliances; however, they can be replaced with larger disk-drive capacity units if desired.

How can I receive software updates and what is the charge?

The ComplianceVault™ is updated via the Internet at no cost. New features of the software are made available regularly on Intradyn's web site, or the user can update the software with a single click from the web browser interface within the product itself.

Is the disk drive or the tape drive removable?

The desktop models (CV120 and CV250) do not have removable disk or tape drives. The rackmount models do not have removable hard disk(s), but can be used with different Sony AIT tape libraries.

What type of security features does ComplianceVault™ have?

• There is only one entry point into the ComplianceVault™, which is through the web browser-based frontend.
• The ComplianceVault™ uses the HTTPS protocol for communication between the web browser frontend and the ComplianceVault™ engines. HTTPS is http using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Secure Sockets Layer is an encryption protocol invoked on a web server that uses HTTPS.
• The ComplianceVault™ user can also implement IP Access Controls and Authentication Controls. IP Access Controls are rules that allow or deny a request from an IP address. Authentication Controls are rules that automatically commit after a certain time, or after a certain number of tries.

How often are tapes created? Can they be scheduled?
Does the software write to the tape after the hard drive is full?

Emails are recorded onto tape based on a time or frequency that the user specifies (at least once per day). The emails are appended to tape. So, on a single tape, there could be emails for a day, week, month, or year. The user may also rotate tapes – for example, seven tapes, one for each day of the week. This way, all the emails for Monday will be on one tape, Tuesday another, etc. Or, the user could change the tape once every week or once every month, depending upon company practice or policy.

What if the hardware fails?

All new ComplianceVault™ products are backward compatible. If you have been using the ComplianceVault™ for a period of time and the existing hardware fails, with the hardware product no longer being available, you can still use the tapes created by the older hardware. The tapes created by the first generation of the product, and any subsequent generation, can and will be readable by future generations of ComplianceVault™ appliances.

Can one ComplianceVault™ manage multiple domains for email retention?

Yes. The user can configure multiple email servers to send all incoming and outgoing emails to a single email address. That address can then be used by the ComplianceVault™ to retrieve all emails and save them to tape.

Can the ComplianceVault™ export email?

Yes. It can export email based upon a search result. The email message(s) are stored in a .zip file, which can then be downloaded to a user’s desktop.

Does the ComplianceVault™ have a log file of activities?

Yes. It maintains an audit log database that tracks every action taken by every user when working with the appliance.

Does the ComplianceVault™ have the ability to set a static IP address?

Yes. The appliance is provided with a "Configuration Utility," which allows you to set a static IP address.