How To Find the Right Unified Storage Platform

Data is everywhere in the modern IT world and organizations need the flexibility to store and access it anywhere. Traditional cloud storage can only accomplish so much when IT teams must consider file, block, and object as completely separate storage types with different needs and requirements.

There is a pressing need for unified storage methods that can serve as a comprehensive management solution for all data management needs. However, fully implementing this technology to the fullest means finding the right unified storage platform.

 Key Takeaways:

• There’s a demand for a unified storage platform that leverages software-defined services to accommodate multiple types of data in one place, making it easier to manage and access that data from anywhere.
  
• Adopting unified storage is a major step toward digital transformation, and one that brings inherent security and efficiency to the enterprise as part of its cloud journey.
  
• The data management capabilities of a unified storage console extend to all of an organization’s storage services and across all clouds, making the console a highly scalable and flexible solution with one simple point of control.
  

According to a report from Globe Newswire, the global application management services market reached an estimated size of $28.30 billion in 2022 with a projected growth to $59.68 billion by 2026. The value of application management, particularly in regard to mobile apps in the enterprise, illustrates the importance of understanding how best to implement MAM for business.

What is a unified storage platform?

Unified storage is a consolidated approach that combines traditional block and file storage methods into a single methodology. The result is a storage solution that allows multiple types of data to exist on one device.

A unified storage platform, then, is a set of software-defined data services that underpins the core functionality of unified storage processes and facilitates a framework for integrating the solution across the broader infrastructure.

With this type of platform in place, organizations can reap benefits such as simplicity of storage and storage access, scalability of the entire storage solution, and ease of management for the IT staff maintaining the architecture. Unified storage also supports multiple storage protocols, making it easy for users to access data from any device or application.

The potential challenges of adopting unified storage include bottlenecked performance and the possibility of vendor lock-in. Finding the right unified storage platform means searching for a provider that can help you overcome those challenges while providing stellar service across the board.

Prioritize an efficient and secure digital transformation

It is important to be aware that adopting unified storage is a natural part of digital transformation. Organizations making a migration to a cloud-native operating model, for example, will already be in the process of transitioning to software-defined services.

With that in mind, the right unified storage provider is one that seamlessly accelerates digital transformation and integrates ransomware protection to ensure ironclad security every step of the way. This is an opportunity to harden the IT environment without taking additional steps.

Gartner forecasts that spending on information security and risk management will reach more than $188.3 billion by the end of 2023. This figure not only shows the importance of cloud security on an industry-wide scale, but also presents an opportunity to be more cost-efficient among the competition by securing the environment effectively via a unified storage platform during the digital transformation process.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is an example of a platform that accelerates digital transformation while smoothly integrating state-of-the-art ransomware protection. This security-first design protects an organization’s technology investments and removes many of the worries that might stand in the way of reaping the returns.

Satisfy all data management needs on one platform

Companies are adopting ever more complex IT infrastructure models out of necessity. This leads to many data management challenges that are difficult to overcome. Constant data auditing, the reduction of data fragmentation, and comprehensive monitoring are all requirements for the data-driven enterprise.

The ideal unified storage platform satisfies all those data management needs on a single console. This centralized approach is a core factor in realizing the scalability and simplicity of implementing unified storage in the first place.

The key data management features that are possible through unified storage include:

• The existence of a single platform for file, object, and block storage
• Capacity-based licensing that is flexible across all storage services
• A single point of management
• Easy scalability that conforms to performance requirements

As a simple software-defined storage system, NUS helps companies realize their digital transformation goals without needless complications while retaining the ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing data management needs. This is only possible through the unified storage platform’s ability to bring file, object, and block services together on one management plane.

The unified storage platform for any cloud

Making the decision to switch to unified storage brings a business that much closer to a cloud-native future where data management can be simple and even liberating. Choosing the right platform on which to implement this unified storage methodology, however, means working with a provider that can help you undergo that migration with minimal disruption to operations.

NUS not only facilitates a smooth transition, but also brings simplicity to complex data management processes. With NUS, organizations can leverage file, object, and block services, as well as the data governance capabilities of Nutanix Data Lens, all on one easy-to-use platform.