According to a recent Information Analytics 2010 Survey [1] with over 330 companies participating, storage growth is reported to be about 10-25 % per year. Companies --both small and large – have burgeoning data in the form of databases, files, videos, photos and graphics. All this data has to be stored and optimized which requires a management strategy that accommodates this raging growth.
The state is alarming, to say the least. Almost 50% of the respondent companies stated that they have inadequate resources for storing mission-critical applications and also insufficient budgets to help them acquire such infrastructure. Further, 26% of these companies don’t have a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) and over 32% of these companies aren’t prepared for data-loss.
An increasing number of companies are now looking at Storage Area Network (SAN) to solve the above mentioned problems. A Storage Area Network is a network built specifically to handle storage issues and connects different kinds of storage protocols or devices with data servers. In a nut shell, a set of storage devices are connected to each other and then to a server (or a cluster of servers) using special switches to connect these interlinking devices.
Given a set-up like that, it’s possible for these devices to communicate in tandem with each other giving plenty of advantages for end-users. For instance, you can back up data – even a minor change, addition or deletion to data on your network – without affecting the rest of the normal computing network.
Typically, a traditional small business network has a server with client computers connected to it. This often presents bandwidth problems also called “bandwidth bottlenecks”. Think of SAN as a separate network with storage devices and storage services physically removed from LAN or WAN but still connected to the latter to serve storage functions separately, giving the computing networks a huge boost to bandwidth by complely taking the load off it.
Companies take to SAN now because of the apparent benefits such as the ability to perform server-less back-ups (also called as 3rd party copying), reducing bandwidth demands on parent computing servers, de-polluting networks from redundant data, and helps companies to streamline or centralize your data storage.
Should you go for SAN then? Is it the best bet for your business? If you have a large business with a continuous need for centralized data storage but at the same need a solution that prevents you to sabotage your own network – thanks to storing and processing an unending stream of data – you should consider SAN for your needs.
Needless to say, we have been consulting on network set-up and management with companies for years and we would be glad to help you figure out whether you really need such network storage solutions. If you do, we can help set it all up for you.
With plummeting prices for SAN infrastructure equipment, it could make its way into your company. Question is, are you ready for it?
References
[1] Breaking Point: 2010 State of Storage Report
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