NetApp adds data deduplication with Data Domain buy

NetApp will pay $1.5bn for Data Domain

Storage and data management firm NetApp has announced plans to acquire Data Domain, a data deduplication business.

NetApp claimed that the deal, which is worth around $1.5bn (£955m), will give customers access to better data and backup systems that can make sense of disparate multi-vendor systems.

"Data Domain is an innovative high-growth company with a complementary product line ideally suited for multi-vendor environments where customers want to minimise their use of tape for backup," said Dan Warmenhoven, chairman and chief executive at NetApp.

"NetApp has the distribution channels and international reach to offer Data Domain products to more customers, accelerating growth and market adoption. The combination will increase NetApp's reputation for delivering outstanding efficiency and operational breakthroughs to customers worldwide."

Frank Slootman, president and chief executive at Data Domain, added: " Notwithstanding the record sales growth Data Domain has experienced over the past five years, with NetApp's distribution channel and customer base we have an opportunity to accelerate even further."

Warmenhoven explained that NetApp's objective is to "amplify Data Domain's success and grow Data Domain's revenues as quickly as today's economy will allow ", and create systems and incentives within NetApp to bring Data Domain to its fullest potential.

"We will focus on new customer acquisition and maximum market share expansion. Data Domain's existing customers should see the benefits of NetApp's broader scale and support capabilities," he added.

NetApp said that it intends to keep Data Domain's products as a separate line, but that its sales, support, partner and service networks will be fully integrated with NetApp.