Should SMEs store the cloud for master data?

Imagine what would happen if the entire storage management process could become as simple as installing a cable modem? By connecting a box to your network and then connecting it to the Internet, you can enjoy unrestricted storage resources that can be automatically managed. This is the combination of cloud storage controller with cloud storage, which is expected to be the main data, the cloud storage controller is a new batch of storage devices designed to make the process of using cloud storage the same as using traditional arrays within the enterprise, but with the advantages of cloud computing.

Can small and medium-sized enterprises actually gain this advantage? Can your enterprise really store the cloud for master data?

Data repository

Cloud storage is often considered a data repository (repository) for storing data that is not currently in use, such as backing up and archiving data. It is not surprising that the initial success of the cloud storage service rests primarily on one of the two functions of backup and archiving. But now, because of the use of local storage as a cache, and because of the addition of some intelligence, cloud storage is considered to be used as the primary storage area.

In fact, one of the advantages of using cloud storage as primary storage is that you no longer need separate backup processes and archiving processes. Nasuni's chief executive, Andres Rodriguez, says the file servers that make the most of the cloud are actually backing themselves up through their replication processes. "Local storage actually becomes a great local performance cache for users," he said. "Rodriguez explained:" When the user stores the data on the cache, the data is actually copied to the cloud. Once into the cloud, the data is snapped, so that if the file is deleted or overwritten, the old version of the file can be recovered. A snapshot of the cloud data can be saved as long as the storage administrator wants to keep it. When the local cache is full, the old data is purged. If the user accesses old data that is not in the cache, the user can automatically recover the old data from the cloud.

As a result, several major factors that interfere with the work of IT administrators are no longer present. First, any data that can take advantage of this cloud architecture can be removed from the backup process. Second, the management of local storage capacity is now automated. You do not have to decide whether to delete old files or to extend the size of your hard disk. Finally, the user recovers the old data and is now transparent. Rodriguez said: "Even the previously deleted files can now be restored by clicking the right mouse button in the window." ”

Not just file services

The use of cloud storage for primary storage is not limited to file services. Ian Howells, chief marketing officer at Storsimple, said: "You can use local storage devices that are large enough to store active data, and then use the cloud to store less-active data." This device can then provide block storage services by allowing some applications, such as SharePoint and Exchange, to use iSCSI from cloud storage. These applications are especially suitable for mixed-type solutions because they have a smaller database pointing to connection files or associated files. Those files quickly become inactive and are ideal for storing in the cloud alone. ”

Twinstrata Nicos Vekiarides, chief executive and co-founder of the company, said there are other advantages to iSCSI gateways. "One of the main advantages of a gateway that provides iSCSI access is that you can use your own file system on that storage environment." For example, some administrators want to use Windows for file services, while others may want to use ZFS. iSCSI storage provides both flexibility for both. ”

Howells says the use of cloud storage for semi-structured data, such as e-mail and collaborative content, frees IT administrators from having to deal with tedious storage management tasks. All of this data, he says, is replicated to the cloud when it changes, and then snaps for later use, while local storage automatically maintains the active dataset.

"There is no need to add additional storage capacity or to purchase and install new storage systems," Howells said. Cloud storage can be configured automatically when the environment requires it. This also means that there is no need for high system upgrade costs and no downtime for upgrades. ”

Using cloud storage Not only helps resolve backup and storage management issues, but is also ideal for disaster recovery. Josh Goldstein, vice president of marketing and product management at Cirtas, points out that many SMEs are unable to build a second datacenter for offsite backup or disaster recovery.

"In this case, cloud based primary storage is ideal," Goldstein said. The data itself is offsite and can be accessed from anywhere. In the event of a disaster, you can access data from the cloud by providing access credentials to the standby cloud storage controller, and all data for the file services and critical applications in the company is immediately available. "In a disaster recovery scenario, the cloud storage controller can recover data while accessing data, making the most effective use of Internet bandwidth."

Another benefit, Goldstein says, is that after a disaster, it's easy to fail over to the primary datacenter. "Just use the cloud storage controller in the primary Data center to ' reinstall ' The cloud environment," he said. There is no need to send storage devices far away, and there is no need to worry about all the data being copied back to the main site from the secondary site. ”

Supplement the original environment

The key to successful use of cloud storage, Howells says, is to use systems that complement the original environment. "Look for cloud storage solutions tailored to specific applications or specific use cases," he said. The solution should know how to integrate into the existing environment. Today, a good use case is this dataset: a lot of storage capacity is idle, but it needs to be handy to prevent it from being needed again. Specific examples include file servers, e-mail, and group collaboration software. ”

The Twinstrata company's Vekiarides says IT administrators need to consider the flexibility of this device to meet application performance requirements. "Different applications have differing requirements and service-level requirements." Some applications may have different size of the active dataset. Some applications may be more sensitive to latency, and others may only be able to use the cloud for background replication with a full local copy. For different applications, caching has to be a different kind of intelligence, because the various applications have a variety of characteristics. At the same time, caching must be dynamic so that it can meet changing application requirements. Simple, monolithic shared caching may not meet this requirement. ”

When it comes to costs, Rodriguez says it is to ensure that the solution provides space-optimized functionality, such as data deduplication and/or encryption. "While you are using the Pay-as-you-go model of cloud storage, you have to find ways to minimize long-term costs," he said. ”

Opposing point of view: When do not use cloud storage?

Cloud storage has many benefits, including low start-up costs, ease of scaling and storage management, but the downside is the need to pay for day-to-day (often monthly) storage costs. But what if local storage can provide those benefits?

Mario Blandini, senior director of product marketing at Data Robotics, believes that local storage can provide those benefits. Blandini said: "Cloud storage has its role, but how much, when to use the main or depending on the user experience." One reason cloud storage is so attractive in the backup and archive world is that those (backup and archive) are ' backstage ' tasks. Today, front-office tasks like production databases, rich media creation, and editing are not as good for that storage model. ”

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also has a cost problem. One of the values of cloud storage is that there is no need to pay upfront costs for the storage resources you need. Because today's 1TB server hard disk costs only about 100 dollars, storage costs have been quite low, so enterprises must be the long-term cost analysis. "If local shared storage systems also have the simplicity of cloud storage and can be used as part of offsite backup solutions, it may be wiser to use an enterprise-internal storage system," he said. In the end, the rational use of these two technologies may be the wisest decision for SMEs. The