Monday, April 11, 2011

Storage as an IT function has a number of ‘moving parts’. These include primary storage (usually on disk arrays), backup (disk and tape), archival (longer term storage of lower-tier data), replication (to move data off-site for DR) and a remote copy (including infrastructure and facilities as needed). Each of these components is typically associated with a set of capital and operational expenses - in other words hardware, software, personnel and overhead. In many cases, a hybrid cloud appliance can literally replace most or all of these components with a single on-site system that interfaces with a cloud provider.

The impact of this consolidation is a dramatic reduction in infrastructure bought, installed and maintained - less hardware, software, people and overhead. And, more than just combining these functions into a single ‘box’, StorSimple’s solution can actually eliminate one or more of them altogether. For example, backup is achieved by keeping a copy of the data set in the cloud. And recovery is supported with intelligent caching and tiering between the SSD and SAS disk in the appliance and the cloud on the back end.

A hybrid cloud appliance can consolidate the entire data infrastructure stack and reduce cost and complexity. Howells said StorSimple’s customers are using this technology to roll out storage infrastructure in a simple, standard configuration for remote offices or as a way to provision new facility locations. Setting up infrastructure as a result of mergers and acquisitions is also simplified, reducing administration and training requirements in the process. We’ll detail these use cases in an upcoming article at Storage Switzerland.

Eric Slack, Senior Analyst