CrashPlan Legal Hold vs OpenAxes

CrashPlan Legal Hold preserves and collects backup data tied to legal matters as part of eDiscovery. A preservation policy sets which files are kept and for how long; a matter applies that policy to a group of users. CrashPlan collects regular file updates from custodians’ devices without notifying them, and the hold’s backup set is not shown in the CrashPlan app. Data access and policy changes are logged for audit, and CrashPlan says it retains file timestamps, permissions, and directory paths. An open API and integration documentation let an existing eDiscovery platform access preserved data. Collection requires an active hold and an active CrashPlan app on the target device. Console collection is unavailable for archives using an Archive key password or Custom key, though the data remains preserved. Custodians continue using a subscription while a matter is open. Releasing a custodian or closing a matter starts permanent deletion of data preserved by that hold. Pricing is on request; there is no free plan.

OpenAxes is a data utility for legal, privacy, governance, and public-records workflows. It supports legal holds, investigations, subpoenas, FOIA and public-records requests, privacy requests, retention, governance, and remediation. Instead of requiring a migration first, it indexes cloud and on-premises repositories where data already resides. Teams can search connected systems by keyword, date, or concept, assess and scope content, then collect responsive items while preserving SHA-256 hashes and original metadata. Listed sources include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, SMB/NFS file shares, network archives, S3, Azure Blob, and enterprise content management systems. Legal-hold workflows issue templated notices, track acknowledgments, send reminders, and preserve data in place. Searches, previews, collections, exports, and releases are recorded in an immutable audit log. Exports include Concordance DAT, Opticon OPT, and native formats for Relativity, Reveal, Everlaw, and DISCO. Protection tools analyze permissions and can restrict access, encrypt, archive, redact, or relocate content. Pricing is on request; the contact page offers a demo and workflow-scoping conversation.