DataGravity Inc. was an American industry data management company, which produced security software. The company was founded in April 2012 by Paula Long and John Joseph.[1][2]
DataGravity announced its first products at VMworld in 2014. It won Best of Show, and New Technology awards for the event.[3][2] It began shipping their first products in October 2014.[4]
The company focused on protection and security of the data stored on the array,[5] and named this new type of storage as data-aware storage.[6] It publicly changed its product strategy in February 2016[7][8] from data storage appliances to a software solution focused on behavioral data security.[9] This product strategy change resulted in multiple rounds of layoffs.[10][11][12]
Fate
Multiple reports use conflicting terminology about the final fate of the company.[13][14][15]
Other reports, including a press release issued by HyTrust itself, say HyTrust acquired the assets of DataGravity after it was signed over to a liquidator.[19][20]
HyTrust told Fortune that founder and CEO Paula Long left DataGravity a few weeks before the transaction was announced, and that co-founder John Joseph left some time before that.[21]
According to some reports, DataGravity ceased day-to-day operations in June 2017, when it cancelled employee benefit plans and signed the company over to liquidator Barry Kallander of the Kallander Group.[22][23][24] In one such report, correspondence from DataGravity President Barry Kallander states "The corporation was not sold - the assets of the company were....Unfortunately the common shares are worthless."[25]
Conversely, DataGravity CTO David Siles was quoted as saying the company "did not shut down",[26] and that the transaction "wasn't a fire sale. We were acquired because we complete a vision, add value, have customers who love what we do. Together we will offer a very compelling offering to the marketplace solving very pressing needs for many enterprises."[27]
Approximately 20 former DataGravity employees joined HyTrust to support DataGravity's product integration, led by former DataGravity CTO David Siles.[28]
DataGravity's products remain a part of HyTrust's portfolio under its CloudAdvisor suite.[29]
