Acopia Networks Sponsors the ISIC's StorageNetworking.org Initiative.

UCSD-Based Program Addressing the Educational Needs of Data Storage Professionals

SAN DIEGO -- The Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) announced today that Acopia Networks[R], Inc., a leader in high-performance intelligent file virtualization, is now a sponsor of the ISIC's StorageNetworking.org Initiative. StorageNetworking.org is a non-profit, university-based program focused on assessing and addressing the educational needs of data storage technology users.

Now beginning its fourth year of operation, StorageNetworking.org is a university-based, non-profit initiative whose mission is to address the educational needs of data storage technology users. The initiative is currently supporting a network of local and regional storage networking user groups (or SNUGs), so that data management professionals can exchange information with their peers and other knowledge experts. The initiative also manages an online resource portal to provide access to industry-specific educational opportunities and advocates the expansion of university-based educational offerings focused on data storage topics.

"We are delighted to have been invited to join the ISIC's StorageNetworking.org Initiative. Its advocate and education programs are recognized and respected the world over by storage end users and vendors alike," said Kirby Wadsworth, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Acopia. "We look forward to assisting this influential organization as it plays a key role in furthering customer understanding of one of the most critical considerations in today's IT datacenter--the challenges associated with managing globally distributed file storage."

"Acopia Network's support of StorageNetworking.org is extremely positive," says ISIC Industry Relations Director Ron Durbin. "Their contributions enable us to further support the storage users that are the backbone of our SNUGs and to involve even more universities and affiliate organizations. We are grateful to Acopia for giving back to the industry in such a positive way, and we look forward to ensuring that their gift is a meaningful one."

The ISIC is one of 25 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Industry Centers at leading universities across the country. The StorageNetworking.org Initiative is funded through foundation grants and charitable gifts to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Current sponsors include the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), Hewlett-Packard, Computer Associates, Symantec, EMC Corporation, Trainer Communications, FalconStor Software, Servergraph, NeoPath Networks, Diogenes Labs, Abtech Systems, Acopia Networks, Storage magazine, InfoStor magazine, Byte and Switch, SNS Europe, and Storage Welt.