The organization and its members are leading the development of the Integrated Rule-Oriented Data System (iRODS). The GRAU DATA MetadataHub helps iRODS users transform unstructured data and its embedded metadata into valuable insights for analysis. The MetadataHub automates data preparation to make it AI-ready, improves training models, and integrates downstream applications while preserving data provenance and governance.

Since 2007, GRAU DATA has been developing software products to simplify data management and enhance data protection for businesses, research institutions, and government agencies. With specialized solutions in the areas of data archiving, data protection, and metadata-based search, the company focuses on security, scalability, and user-friendliness.

iRODS is open-source software used for storing, managing, and sharing large volumes of data and metadata. By providing mechanisms for defining rules for data storage, processing, and distribution, iRODS supports the interoperability and scalability of data infrastructures. The iRODS Consortium leads the development of iRODS and provides support, education, and collaboration opportunities for iRODS users.

David Cerf, Chief Data Evangelist at GRAU DATA, highlights how GRAU DATA’s products align with iRODS to enhance services and capabilities for the global iRODS user community: “Our solutions help iRODS users reduce storage costs by about 50 percent and better leverage unstructured data for AI and analytics. Getting the most out of unstructured data is critical for improving data quality and accelerating results.”

With its reporting feature, MetadataHub also provides a comprehensive overview of the data landscape to better manage storage resources, reduce costs, and save time on storage management. “Ultimately, this solution offers iRODS users a significant advantage in terms of efficiency, insight, and strategic value,” David Cerf continues. “We are pleased to be part of the iRODS Consortium.”

Terrell Russell, Executive Director of the iRODS Consortium, welcomes the newest member. “GRAU DATA has extensive expertise and understands the challenges organizations face in handling, utilizing, and protecting large data collections,” says Terrell Russell. “We look forward to expanding our collaboration and helping organizations leverage all the strengths iRODS has to offer.”

The iRODS software is used at thousands of locations worldwide for the long-term management of data across various industries, including the oil and gas industry, the life sciences, the natural sciences, archives, and media and entertainment. The iRODS Consortium’s development team is based at the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI), which is affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. To learn more about iRODS and the iRODS Consortium, please visit irods.org.