Datto, Inc. was hired to assist backing up data in 2013 by Platte River Networks, the technology company based in Colorado that managed Clinton’s private email server.
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Johnson chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that has been inquiring about Clinton’s use of a personal e-mail server. A few time in 2013, Datto was hired to back up Clinton’s email to an on-site device, so there would be another server if the one controlled by Platte River Networks failed.
A spokesman for the Clinton campaign did not respond to an email request for comment.
Datto officials, anxious about the “sensitive high profile nature of the data”, then recommended upgrading security by adding sophisticated encryption technology to its backup systems, said the Datto official, who requested anonymity to discuss an issue involving a client.
This raises new questions about the wisdom of doing government business with private servers, something Hillary Clinton eventually apologized for.
The goal? Recovering the 31,000 emails Clinton deleted because she said they were “too personal”.
Emails sent between employees at Datto Inc, based in Connecticut, discussing concerns that they had been involved in “shady” dealings have emerged through an open letter from a senator.
“It was not immediately clear whether the attempted intrusions into Clinton’s server were serious espionage threats or the sort of nuisance attacks that hit computer servers the world over”, the AP said, citing a congressional document. Investigators want to know “how top secret material was sent to Clinton’s private email by State Department aides”.
The AP reported last month that Russia-linked hackers sent Clinton emails in 2011 – when she was still secretary of state – loaded with malware that could have exposed her computer if she opened the attachments.
The letter also noted that Platte River employees were directed to reduce the amount of email data being stored with each backup.
Boian said that Platte River, which today employs 43 people, continues to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation – and it’s taken a toll on the company.
“Datto is working with the FBI to provide data in conjunction with its investigation”, said Michael Fass, general counsel at Datto, according to WaPo. It’s still up to a judge to decide whether all the emails should be made public, and it’s doubtful this Justice Department will ever pursue charges if it turns out Clinton did break the law.
In other developments, the State Department is asking Clinton to search again for any emails, regardless of format, from the first two months of her tenure, according to a document filed by the State Department in response to a lawsuit about the emails Tuesday.
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The committee is demanding the documentation of SECNAP’s work on Clinton’s server – particularly information about the type of cyber threats detected.
