Quantum Integrates Cloud Into Multi-Tier Hybrid Storage Architectures

Quantum Corp. announced three solutions that integrate the cloud into multi-tier, hybrid storage architectures for demanding data workloads.

Rejecting the generic one-size-fits-all approach common among many other cloud offerings, the Q-Cloud solutions enable customers to leverage intelligent data management software to store data in the cloud when it makes the most sense for a given workflow or application. Q-Cloud Archive and Q-Cloud Vault incorporate public cloud as an off-site tier within a StorNext 5 workflow environment, while Q-Cloud Protect for AWS enables customers using DXi deduplication appliances to replicate data to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. With all three offerings, customers can realize the full benefits of the cloud without having to make changes to existing applications or processes.

Today’s cloud: Compelling advantages but limited adoption in demanding workflows
By providing advantages such as shifting capital expense to operating expense, reducing management time and enabling users to scale up or down as needed, the cloud is transforming traditional IT strategies. However, the cloud has played a limited role for organizations with complex, data-intensive workflows – for example, capturing and evaluating satellite images, producing and distributing high-resolution video, and collecting and analyzing network traffic for cybersecurity defense. These demanding workflows require reliable, secure, performance infrastructure that is integrated with applications – which most cloud offerings don’t provide. In addition, the inherent latency of the cloud and the costs that can arise in accessing large amounts of data in the cloud create challenges for customers in managing what data is stored there.

Power of multi-tier, hybrid approach
Taking into account both the benefits and challenges of the cloud, Quantum’s approach is to enable customers to combine public cloud storage with on-premise storage in a multi-tier, intelligently managed, application-centric architecture. Rather than treat the cloud as a passive repository or the answer to all needs – as is common among many providers – The company integrates the cloud as an active tier in a hybrid storage infrastructure driven by application requirements. This  approach provides customers with an mix of performance, access, scale and  is the basis for not only today’s Q-Cloud announcements but also innovative cloud offerings Quantum is currently developing.

Easy, flexible and reliable
Q-Cloud Archive and Q-Cloud Vault are public cloud storage services delivered with Q-Cloud Archive providing fast, on-demand access to data in the cloud and Q-Cloud Vault offering ‘cold storage’ for long-term data retention and DR. Key features and benefits beyond general cloud advantages include:

• Integration as a tier in StorNext 5-managed workflows, with automated, policy-based data movement

• No additional hardware, separate applications or programming needed

• Agility in addressing changing workload demands

• Reliability of global public cloud infrastructure

• Straight-forward pricing and billing directly from Quantum

• Secure, encrypted data in transit and at rest

• Quantum service and support

StorNext customers can use Q-Cloud Archive and Q-Cloud Vault in conjunction with Lattus extended online storage, including moving data from a Lattus object storage technology-based private cloud on premise to Q-Cloud.

Q-Cloud Protect for AWS: extending DXi data protection to Amazon cloud
Offered as a subscription service through the Amazon Marketplace, Q-Cloud Protect for AWS enables customers to replicate from either a physical or virtual DXi appliance on premise to a virtual DXi instance in the AWS cloud. Key features and benefits include:

• Access to the Amazon public cloud and its benefits, with no changes to applications or processes

• Cost savings enabled by efficient method of data deduplication

• Support for U.S. federal government customers using AWS GovCloud

• Secure, encrypted data in transit and at rest

Q-Cloud Archive is available in the Americas, EMEA and APAC, while Q-Cloud Vault will be available in the second half of this year. Q-Cloud Protect for AWS will be available next quarter.

John Stevens, director engineering, MTI Film, said: “One of the main reasons we chose Quantum’s Lattus extended online storage as the foundation for our private cloud was the intelligent data management provided through its seamless integration with StorNext. By adding a public cloud tier also managed by StorNext, Quantum gives us the ability to drive even greater efficiencies in our content workflows.“

Jason Kranitz, VP sales, Integrated Media Technologies Inc.,said: “With Q-Cloud Archive and Q-Cloud Vault, customers get the benefit of StorNext 5 being both workflow-guided and tier-aware. This is key to leveraging the cloud where it makes sense and in the most effective way possible, particularly in highly demanding data environments.“

Dave Simpson, senior analyst, storage, 451 Research, said: “It’s important to view the cloud as another storage tier option rather than a place where all data should reside. That’s the approach Quantum has taken, building on its expertise in managing and protecting data within and across storage tiers. In addition, the new Q-Cloud offerings enhance the value that both StorNext and DXi provide, not only to existing Quantum customers but also to other users that have been hesitant about incorporating the cloud.“

Geoff Stedman, SVP, StorNext solutions, Quantum, said: “Effective data management is about putting data in the right place at the right time with the right technology, guided by a customer’s workflow or application. That’s why we designed our new Q-Cloud solutions to be deployed in broader, intelligently managed hybrid architectures that enable customers to optimize the use of both on-premise and cloud storage in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.”