Cloud storage can be extremely useful, automatically backing up data in a secure remote location, but it’s not foolproof. The biggest mistake users make is assuming they can always access their data.
A recent lawsuit filed by Nine PBS, a branch of PBS based in St. Louis, Missouri, highlights the risks of relying on cloud storage. The channel was cut off from its cloud storage system after the vendor, Open Source Storage, went defunct.
The archives remain in Iron Mountain’s data center, but the company won’t let Nine PBS access the data, which includes 50 TB of archival footage spanning 70 years of broadcasts. This footage includes documentaries on the history of East St. Louis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nine PBS has filed a lawsuit in response to Open Source Storage’s abrupt bankruptcy and Iron Mountain’s actions. According to court filings, the channel was denied access to its data “upon termination of services” as allegedly stipulated in the cloud services contract.
The lawsuit claims that Nine PBS’ representatives felt they “had no choice but to file this lawsuit” to preserve their valuable footage. An Iron Mountain spokesperson stated that the company has “acted appropriately and responsibly at every step to safeguard customer data and honor our contractual commitments to OSS.”
Nine PBS initially filed two lawsuits: one against Iron Mountain and one against Open Source Storage. However, the lawsuit against Open Source Storage was paused after the channel got in touch with James Tramel, Open Source Storage’s then-new “managing partner.”
It was later discovered that Tramel had “been defrauded” into purchasing Open Source Storage, and the lawsuit against the company is now back on. Open Source Storage and Iron Mountain are currently playing a game of hot potato with blame and responsibility.
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A district judge has granted Nine PBS “temporary and preliminary relief” to ensure that the data stored on the cloud can’t be deleted, modified, or overwritten. This is a temporary solution, but it highlights the risks of relying on cloud storage.
In practice, this development means that users of cloud storage services need to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect their data. This can include using local storage as a backup and being cautious when selecting a cloud storage provider.
As the situation with Nine PBS and Iron Mountain continues to unfold, it’s clear that cloud storage is not a foolproof solution. Users need to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect their data.
For now, the fate of Nine PBS’ archival footage remains uncertain. The channel is still trying to retrieve its data, and the lawsuit against Iron Mountain and Open Source Storage is ongoing. They serve as a reminder to users of cloud storage services to be cautious and take steps to protect their data.
According to the court filings, Nine PBS is trying to preserve its valuable footage, which includes documentaries on the history of East St. Louis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The channel’s representatives felt they “had no choice but to file this lawsuit” to protect their data.
Nine PBS is taking steps to safeguard its data.
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