In the IT world, there are not that many certainties. Things are changing and evolving at tremendous speed. What is true today, might be totally different tomorrow. However, there is one fact, one topic, one challenge that is always raised by every single one of our customers: their never stopping data growth.
We literally see an explosion of data. Drivers for this growth are email, log data, sensor data, medical imaging, social media, smart meters, security videos, GPS tracking data, telematics, satellite images, case management etc. This data is the source of the most valuable asset within a company: business information, business intelligence.
The data growth as such is not a bad thing, the important point is that we need to store and manage this data in an intelligent, cost effective way. The efficient storage of data combined with the correct analysis of this data leads to a competitive advantage.
Storage solutions for ‘big data’
Let’s look at some numbers. During this decade, according to IDC, data volumes will grow at a rate of x50, budgets x2 and staff only x1,5. CPU speed, DRAM speed, network speed, disk speed are increasing, but they can’t keep up with the exponential data growth. This results in the need for intelligent, flexible storage solutions.
We decided to visit the Dell Solution Center in Paris, together with Dell and some of our customers. We invited them to see new storage solutions that deliver these enterprise class features, high efficiency and unprecedented value for their business.
State of the art storage virtualization is no longer a luxury, it is a key business requirement.
We discovered how the new Dell SC4000 series gives companies and remote departments the automated flexibility which is necessary to succeed in the big data world.
Dell SC4000 Series
The Dell SC4000 Series redefines the economics of enterprise storage by delivering enterprise performance, best-in-class intelligence and unprecedented value. Some of the characteristics of the technology:
Nutanix Hyperconverged infrastructure
Next to the Dell Compellent solutions, we got a great presentation and update on the Dell-Nutanix solution and partnership. You can read more about the benefits of Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure in a blog I wrote a while ago.
The approach of Nutanix is a bit different compared to “classic” storage solutions and this is exactly where ASP, as a partner with long experience and history, can help and assist customers in the choices they need to make. The aim is the same: reduction in overall capex and opex, limitless scalability, fastest time-to-value, smaller footprint. ASP helps his customers in choosing and implementing the right solution for their needs.
Last, but certainly not least, we discovered Paris using a very nice transportation method: the Segway. This was new to most of the participants and I can only recommend this to anyone thinking about discovering a city using an original means of transport. This was a great moment of relaxation after a first day full of new insights in and knowledge on the Dell storage offering.