
Featured research

The new storage agenda

01 May 2005

A few years ago there was a lot of hype around a storage service provider (SSP) model. The model was based on the outsourcing of storage requirements, either by providing connections for remote storage services or managing the data at the service provider’s site.

The hype around this model turned out to be just that. The failure to turn hype into reality can be attributed to a number of factors, primarily the unwillingness of organisations to let an external party manage their data, as well as the immaturity of the supporting technologies.

But in 2005, many large and medium sized enterprises are beginning to recognise the benefits of outsourcing their data storage. This trend is being driven by a number of business issues, including:

Massive increases in storage requirements – IDC estimates a 45 percent annual growth in data capacity requirements at most organisations;
Uncertainty around data retention – while Australia’s legislative requirements regarding data retention are nowhere near as complex as America’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act, there is a growing ‘consciousness’ about the need to retain electronic data but also an attendant uncertainty about exactly which data needs to be kept, further exacerbating storage volumes (“let’s keep it all to be on the safe side”);
The increasing attention to business continuity imperatives – off-site storage of data is seen as a key component in a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy;
Positive experiences with ICT outsourcing as a way of controlling and reducing costs, which has led to more openness towards the idea of external parties being involved in managing data.

CITEC’s Senior Solution Specialist, Monique McCarthy said these business drivers were also now supported by more affordable transport and connectivity technologies.

“When this model was first released the technology was expensive and at the early days of its performance,” Monique said.

“Along with attitudes towards outsourcing, the supporting technologies have evolved to a point where the outsourcing model now provides an attractive alternative to making large capital investments in infrastructure, not to mention the significant ongoing HR costs.”

Monique said CITEC had been monitoring the evolution of storage concerns with interest, and had continued to develop its infrastructure so it can support remote storage of data.

“CITEC has the ability to provide the appropriate services to support the connectivity requirements of a client’s remote data storage needs,” she said.

“We believe 2005 will bring a seachange in the way enterprises view their data, and the idea of outsourcing data storage will no longer be equated with ‘losing control’.

“Given our proven track record in data storage, as well as our security credentials and industrial-strength infrastructure, we expect outsourcing of data storage will be a significant growth area for CITEC in the coming years.”

For more information about CITEC’s storage solutions, please contact Monique McCarthy on 07 322 48853.