Every decade a new piece of technology arrives that changes the landscape of many professional industries. After just a few years of software-defined storage being on the market, it has already begun to carve out its role in revolutionizing enterprise infrastructure.
Rapid changes
A number of factors were in play as software-defined storage began to carve its role as a go-to solution for databases. Companies' needs were becoming more complex due to the proliferation of big data at an analytical level, budgets had a perpetual need to be trimmed and a growing consensus for a shift from legacy networks was in the air.
Fast forward a few years, and software-defined storage now solves all three issues. By compartmentalizing and shifting arrays through virtualization, IT departments have less difficult of a time managing the tasks they're given, and network security is improved. As the Data Recovery Blog reported, having the ability to seamlessly move information throughout the server, as well as mix and match components to produce the highest levels of efficiency seen so far, is what sets software-defined storage apart from its physical counterpart.
Benefits of software-defined storage
The software-defined storage industry is gaining momentum. Market and Market research pegs it with an estimated34.9 percent compound annual growth rate between 2014 and 2019, and a market worth of roughly $6.2 billion. This is a sure sign that many enterprises, primarily in the financial services, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, are buying in to the benefits that come along with it.
But vendors aren't the only companies reaping the reward from this industry's hyper-growth period. Deloitte University Press reported that data center infrastructure normally comprises one-fifth of the average company's total budget. In removing hardware, businesses also save on energy consumption and maintenance associated with the legacy database network. This, according to the source, can help an enterprise cut up to 20 percent off of spending in this area. This number is expected to rise as costs go down and the technology strengthens over time.
Software-defined storage also removes the possibility of a physical threat bringing down your hard drive. For example, a power surge forcing a restart could wipe data off the server, or a maintenance worker could accidentally damage one of the drives. By using a software-based controller, IT teams will have a simpler time managing risks as they narrow down immensely.
Organizations looking for scalability and agility can't rely on physical databases anymore. Space and functionality is too limited, leaving many businesses to have to spend heavily just to keep up with the speed they're growing, and the resources they're using. Much of the infrastructure organizations already have in place, though, can be used in setting up a software-defined environment. This heavily cuts down the cost associated with making the switch, and allows businesses to go with an established source for this emerging technology.
When it comes down to it, the big draw for many companies is the fact that they can free up physical space and cut down on the amount of spending needed for IT departments. While many enterprises may have fresh memories of major database overhauls, that shouldn't be a reason to dissuade from making the switch. Technologent has experts who know the in's and out's of software-defined storage, and can help IT departments make a seamless transition with minimal downtime, no matter how complex the environment may be.