Data is at the core of modern business. Whether it be client information for cross- and up-sells, or analytics aimed at providing better business insight, numbers have come to drive decision-making across the board.
At the heart of all of this data is a storage solution - and the one your organization chooses speaks volumes about how it values its information.
Software-defined storage on top
Data generation is growing beyond the control of conventional storage options. According to Northeastern University,2.5 exabytes of information is created each day - or the equivalent storage capacity of 5 million laptops. Furthermore, the university expects the amount of data in the world to rise from 4.4 zettabytes in 2013 to 44 zettabytes in 2020.
Because of this massive growth set to take place over the next few years, enterprises need to have a storage solution able to scale infinitely and quickly without compromising on performance or capacity. This is why physical storage is getting left in the dust. With no alternatives for expanding size, and the constant threat of physical malfunction, organizations can no longer rely on what was initially the stalwart of storage.
This is where software-defined storage solutions like IBM Spectrum Storage step in. By moving data operations to a cloud-array, businesses are better able to handle any changes in routine operations that may be thrown their way. Whether this be a need for faster data transfer speeds or simply more space, software-defined storage is able to provide that.
IBM Spectrum Protect invaluable module
What good is software-defined storage without a flexible and powerful protection module behind it? IBM felt the same way, which is why IBM Spectrum Protect was recently revamped for cloud-ready capabilities among other improvements, according to TechTarget. This comes as part of the company's initiative to invest $1 billion into the state-of-the-art solution.
Spectrum Protect offers enterprises the ability to pick a cybersecurity and data recovery system that matches their needs. It removes the complexity of backup recovery and administration while, in the same turn, automating the recovery process, according to the IBM official website.
Through this, organizations are able to attain a 53 percent reduction in backup infrastructure costs on average, according to research by Gartner. This type of flexibility as it pertains to data security and recovery is the future of data security. The report indicated the number of companies using self-protecting software-defined storage with automated back-up software installed will rise from less than 2 percent in 2016 to 10 percent in 2020.
With cyberattacks becoming more prevalent, and costing organizations on average $4 million per data breach based on research from IBM and the Ponemon Institute, enterprises simply can't leave data security to chance anymore. While losing valuable client and confidential information is expensive in itself, it shouldn't spell the end for a company. Take control of the situation by investing a self-protecting software-defined storage solution like IBM Spectrum, which utilizes the Protect module to do just that.