HP Launches Dragon

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- HP today announced a new data retention solution for telecommunication service providers that are being asked by governments to join the fight against global terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

The worlds service providers face a formidable challenge as many might be asked by governments to collect and store data from a variety of sources, such as fixed and mobile telephony, email and voicemail, Internet usage, IP (Internet Protocol) telephony, text messaging, and even usage of custom calling features such as call waiting, three-way calling and call forwarding.

This means the typical network operator might be storing billions of daily call records and event transactions. Though actual content is not stored, the volume could easily add up to hundreds of terabytes of data storage each year – and could accumulate for multiple years depending on local requirements.

The HP Data Retention and Guardian ONline (DRAGON) solution goes beyond conventional storage. It is a comprehensive solution designed specifically for service providers that need a scalable system that enables them to capture massive volumes of voice and data traffic on their networks, retain it for months and years, and retrieve selected records – almost in real time – if asked by government agencies. The system also has robust security features to protect individual privacy.

HP DRAGON is currently deployed with seven telecom service providers in Italy and Turkey. The European Union has approved data retention requirements and its 27 member nations are incorporating the legal framework into national legislation."The HP solution was integrated into our existing infrastructure, and we now have the flexibility to meet data retention requirements that we expect to grow and change," said Luca Rizzo, chief security officer, FASTWEB S.p.a. "FASTWEB respects the laws and norms of law enforcement agencies, and is committed to combating crime and terrorism, and at the same time, protecting the privacy of our customers. HP expertise and products have been a valuable tool in our efforts."

Hewlett-Packard Co.