In-Q-Tel signs agreement for MAID

In-Q-Tel, an investment firm that works in conjunction with the CIA, has signed a business development agreement with Copan Systems, a company that develops data storage technology.Copan uses a technology called massive array of idle disks (MAID) to store what is known as persistent data, or data that must be stored but is not needed frequently. MAID systems activate only when the data is needed rather than being available at all times, reducing the power and cooling needs for a data center.“Some of the biggest challenges faced by the intelligence community are created by the massive amounts of data generated and the need for timely access to that information," said Richard Wirt, In-Q-Tel’s chief scientist, in a written statement.Under the agreement for initial business development, In-Q-Tel will help Copan make its technology available to the government and national security markets, according to Copan.