Storage Trends in 2016 by HGST

Flash going mainstream: databases, analytics, and PCIe leading the way
As a proven foundation for application acceleration, flash will continue to expand during 2016 in both enterprise and cloud markets. Key application areas for 2016 will be databases (both conventional and no-SQL) and real-time analytics where SSDs’ powerful value proposition of high performance with low access latency is a critical success factor. In terms of SSD technology, broader adoption of the NVMe protocol will establish PCIe as the SSD interface of the future for server-side flash deployments, and a spectrum of PCIe SSDs will emerge that spans from highest performance levels and capacities to entry-level configurations. For system architecture, 2016 will bring the standardization of NVMe-over-Fabrics to allow centralized flash deployments without the access latency penalties of traditional SAN and NAS technologies, creating higher performing and more flexible alternatives to today’s hybrid and all-flash storage systems.
 
Cost of helium intersects with air-filled drives
Spinning disks are evolving to become the de facto storage device of choice for capacity in the datacenter spanning multiple workloads and application types. Helium has allowed HDDs to reach all new capacity levels, delivering TCO benefits such as lower power consumption, lower cooling requirements and higher reliability, all critical for the modern, ambient data center. HGST sees demand for helium capacity outpacing demand for traditional air drives by the second half of 2016 to become the medium of choice for fulfilling growing capacity needs of both traditional and cloud data centers. Helium price per terabyte will also intersect with the stagnant pricing of lower-capacity traditional air-filled HDDs, making helium the logical choice in terms of $/TB, TCO and reliability.
 
China will emerge as new cloud computing powerhouse
Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Xiaomi and 21vianet are leading a pack of cloud service and data center providers that are investing billions of dollars in infrastructure to serve the massive demand for cloud services in China and abroad.  Driven by the exponential growth in data, government initiatives, such as ‘Internet Plus,’ and the country’s rapid accent as an economic and modernization superpower, China is poised for rapid investment into next generation technologies and data center architectures. 2016 promises to be a breakout year for the world’s most populace country as it continues its transformation.
 
Tug-o-war rhetoric between flash and HDD is over
The market is finally stabilizing and the rhetoric of ‘All-flash or nothing’ will finally die. As the market bifurcates into fast-data and big-data solutions to contend with the volume, velocity, variety and longevity of data, the industry and users will acknowledge that both solid-state and spinning disks are essential to the future of a data-centric world.
 
Use of disk will surpass tape for modern archive solutions
Reliance on tape has snapped. Today, we live in a world of data abundance versus data scarcity. To capture its value, we can no longer have our data sit and be idle to capture its value. The need for rapid access to data across locations and platforms are exacerbating inaccessibility problems. Organizations will require persistent and easy access to data archives. Archives will become accessible in near real-time, ending the reliance on tape and ushering in a place for active archives on disks that are always accessible.
 
Federated data will drive your competitive edge
While we’ve spent the better portion of 2015 talking about the obscene growth of data, many of these datasets continue to grow in isolation. The ability to aggregate, share and blend data sets will enable smarter algorithms for more powerful insights and real-time response. Those companies that can set a direction toward a collective knowledge base with a federated data infrastructure will truly extend their competitive edge.
 
The value you harness from your data will be judged by the Street
Similar to how investment analysts assess competitiveness and performance potential through insights on asset utilization, we will begin to see a new focus on how organizations leverage their data to drive growth, profitability and shareholder value. Think of it as the new Data Leverage Index or Return on Data. 2016 will see a shift as wise investors demand that companies become increasingly data driven.