EMC Syncplicity Adds Policy-Driven Hybrid Cloud, ViPR and VNX Support

At EMC World 2013, EMC Corp. announced increased storage flexibility and control for its Syncplicity enterprise file sync and sharing solution.

Available in 2H2013, Syncplicity policy-driven hybrid cloud will allow customers to utilize both private and public clouds simultaneously, automatically optimize storage utilization and performance, and adhere to security and regulatory compliance requirements based on user and content types.

In addition, it will expand its supported storage options by providing native support for VNX storage in 2H2013 and utilize ViPR software-defined storage to give users even greater flexibility in their choice of storage solutions.

File sync and sharing gives end users an easy way to access their files across all their devices and share with colleagues inside and outside the firewall. However, not all content is created equal, and enterprises require different cloud deployment models to optimize costs and performance while still adhering to strict security and compliance requirements.

Syncplicity offers storage deployment options by allowing organizations to choose a private cloud deployment through Isilon Scale-out NAS or Atmos object-based storage, or a public cloud option to store user files and version history and sync them across all their devices.

Policy-Driven Hybrid cloud Highlights:
Syncplicity’s strategy is to provide a policy-driven hybrid cloud, which gives IT the ability to set rules which automate how different content within the enterprise should be handled. As part of the file sync and sharing process:

• Non-sensitive documents might be stored in a public cloud to optimize costs
• Regulated content that is distributed from systems like Documentum, or files with data residency requirements, might go to on premise storage solutions in specific data centers
• Other files like large videos that are part of a global marketing launch or CAD diagrams from engineering might need to be geographically distributed on premise to optimize performance.

The policy-driven hybrid cloud approach is critical because enterprises need a way to utilize different cloud deployment models to optimize storage utilization based on the file security and user requirements. At the same time, users should be able to work with their files as easily as they use consumer applications, without being exposed to the underlying storage approach deployed by IT.

VNX Highlights:
VNX will be added as a Syncplicity on-premise storage option in 2H2013. Its support gives customers a simple, efficient, and powerful storage platform for on-premise, private cloud deployments and can be configured to utilize existing storage capacity.

Support for EMC VNX complements Syncplicity’s existing support for Isilon, the scale-out NAS solution, and Atmos’ object storage solution and supports Syncplicity’s strategy of providing choice and flexibility for users on both their approach to cloud deployment, and use of differing storage solutions based on overall storage solution requirements.

ViPR Highlights:
Syncplicity is a file sync and sharing solution utilizing software-defined storage through ViPR platform. Support for ViPR will allow Syncplicity to:

• Support hybrid cloud deployments while decoupling the development effort of the policy engine from the access methods and features of each individual storage solution
• Eliminate the need to certify with new storage layers
• Provide a consistent set of features (e.g., geo-replication) across multiple storage solutions, even if the native storage solution does not support that feature.

A demonstration of Syncplicity support for ViPR was seen in the EMC Advanced Software Division at EMC World 2013 and in several joint product sessions.

Jeetu Patel, EMC VP and GM of Syncplicity business unit, said on Syncplicity policy-driven hybrid cloud: "We believe 100% of our enterprise customers will want to deploy file sync and sharing in a hybrid cloud, combining both public and private cloud deployment options. Syncplicity’s policy-driven approach will support this ‘mixed mode’ approach and allow IT to set policies for how these deployments are utilized based on user and content types. Our vision is that users should be able to work with files securely, and in a ‘frictionless’ way that is as easy as popular consumer apps, unencumbered by where IT decides those files should be controlled and managed."

He said on EMC Syncplicity support for VNX: "We’ve seen an amazing customer reception to our launch of on premise storage options using EMC Isilon Scale-out NAS and EMC Atmos Object Storage. Adding support for EMC VNX continues our commitment to provide customers across multiple market segments the choice and flexibility they need for deployment of enterprise file sync and sharing."

He said on Syncplicity support for ViPR: "Software-defined storage through EMC ViPR is a critical part of our strategy because it allows us to focus on what we do best: providing innovative user experiences and ways for IT to secure and control file sharing, while supporting any cloud deployment model and storage infrastructure our customers choose."

To view the Syncplicity policy-driven hybrid cloud video