Enterprises are increasingly adopting software-defined storage (SDS) and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCIS) to minimize their storage needs as IT costs increase. Since SDS is used as a way to pool various storage resources, including storage virtualization, it is a critical tool for IT managers to manage data storage.
Users of data storage are storing more data than they have in the past and storage capacity is also growing, according to a study published on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. As enterprises have higher data storage requirements, more companies are turning to SDS instead of traditional storage.
This rise in IT storage costs is prompting businesses to consider using SDS or HCIS to stay within their allotted budget even as IT budgets shrink. A January 2016 study conducted by ActualTech Media and Atlantis Computing showed that 71% of data center leaders are either utilizing or are looking into HCIS or SDS adoption. Why the change from traditional storage options?
Here are four key advantages of SDS over traditional storage:
1. SDS Is Less Costly Than Traditional Storage
SDS is thought to cost up to 40% to 50% less than traditional storage, according to a post by Ruben Spruijt, Atlantis Computing field chief technology officer. This is most likely because less money is spent on SDS hardware while still increasing performance. The bottom line is that SDS can do more with less, and still do it as efficiently as traditional storage.
2. Storage Capacity Is Greater
One of the reasons why SDS is more effective than traditional storage is that companies can get more storage via SDS infrastructure. SDS has a storage capacity up to 80% higher than traditional storage infrastructure, Spruijt noted. With more storage capacity, IT managers can support more users in their networks, leading to greater potential productivity and revenue.
3. Virtualization Is Better Handled with SDS
As SDS already encompasses virtualization, this storage choice can utilize virtual storage devices in addition to other storage resources. SDS also makes it easier to handle virtual desktop infrastructure compared to traditional storage. Through SDS, IT managers can then oversee data usage and access drives throughout their storage pools. In conjunction with the use of virtual desktop infrastructure, SDS can speed up desktop login times so users are spending more time being productive and less time waiting for work to start.
4. SDS Has Better Scalability
A growing business needs to focus on the scalability of its technology, and SDS is often the solution for scaling in relation to data storage needs. Traditional storage is harder to scale and meet data storage requirements within the constraints of an IT department’s budget. SDS offers easier scalability because of its ability to handle virtual workspaces and other similar environments, which have become a staple in companies around the world.
With the benefits of SDS compared to traditional storage, IT managers can turn to this cost-saving solution to prevent going over budget while still growing their organizations.