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Why “it depends” with storage

Mike Janson is the Principal Architect of the CTO Strategy Group at OnX Enterprise Solutions.

In today’s tech-savvy society, many storage start-up companies are offering new and improved methods for preserving data. Flash arrays, object-based storage, cloud storage, and open stack storage are just a few of the storage options currently available to consumers.

Amidst all the hype generated by these solutions, many of my clients are wondering if a certain storage type or capability will help them resolve their storage management issues. In each instance, my response is usually the same: “It depends.”

Helping clients succeed

So, why does it seem that I’m not committed to educating my customers about these new technologies? Don’t I care about my clients’ issues the way that vendors do? After all, vendors aren’t shy about expressing passion and enthusiasm for their products by emphasizing all the features and benefits.

Actually, I care a lot! That’s why I’m slow to endorse these storage solutions. I’m not saying that I don’t believe in the product and its capabilities. In fact, my job isn’t to sell any of these services. I’m here to help my clients implement the appropriate storage methods in order to accomplish their overall mission.

Applying proper technology

As mentioned earlier, there are several effective storage solutions on the market today that enable us to solve issues in the data center. At OnX, we start by determining the needs of the business at hand. We work with each client to help them grow and succeed in their industry. Next, we translate that information into requirements, from a data center technology perspective. This enables us to apply the right storage technologies to provide that capability.

Understanding a client’s environment

While vendors can provide clients with effective, high-quality products, they aren’t always the best at understanding their clients’ work environments. That’s why we’re dedicated to devoting our time and energy to our clients. We work diligently with each client in order to better understand their specific technology needs.

If you would like to weigh in on this subject, please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’m always interested in hearing your thoughts, experiences, and opinions about data management and storage solutions.