The primary storage platform (PSP) market addresses the need of I&O leaders to operate and support standardized enterprise storage products, along with platform-native service capabilities to support structured data applications. PSP products like primary enterprise storage arrays provide mandatory and common enterprise-class primary storage features and capabilities needed to support the platform. Platform-native services like storage as a service (STaaS) and ransomware protection, with PSP product capabilities, are required to support platform-native services. The PSP market has emerged at the convergence of two major enterprise storage market developments: the evolution of the PSP product market in conjunction with the demand for hybrid, multidomain platform-native storage services, extending on-premises services to public cloud, edge and colocation environments.
FlashArray is a storage software designed to deliver data storage solutions with features such as consistent performance, data reduction, and high availability. The software supports block storage, offers inline deduplication, and provides snapshot and replication functionalities. It is built to address challenges related to storage management, data protection, and application uptime for businesses requiring reliable and efficient data access. FlashArray integrates with various cloud and on-premises environments and allows users to manage storage through automation and monitoring capabilities. The software aims to simplify storage administration and support scalability for organizations handling large volumes of data.
InfiniBox is a software designed for enterprise data storage that delivers high-capacity and high-performance solutions for organizations. The software employs a hybrid storage architecture combining standard disk drives with flash storage to optimize reliability, speed, and efficiency. It provides features such as multi-petabyte scalability, advanced data management, and automated operations, supporting block and file storage protocols. InfiniBox enables seamless integration with virtualization platforms and backup applications, and incorporates data protection capabilities such as snapshots and replication to address business continuity and disaster recovery requirements. The software helps businesses manage large-scale data storage needs by offering rapid access, simplified administration, and consistent operational performance for critical workloads.
The NetApp AFF family of unified data storage arrays is home to the A-Series and C-Series all-flash storage arrays that deliver high performance, scalability, and simplified data management for a wide range of workloads. They are designed for organizations that need to improve the performance and agility of their applications, while also reducing costs and complexity.
The A-Series and C-Series feature a scale-out architecture to meet the needs of growing businesses. They also support a wide range of built-in data protection and security features, including snapshots, replication, disaster recovery, and autonomous ransomware protection.
AFF A-Series all-flash systems deliver very low latency for an enterprise all-flash array capable of handling file, block, and object workloads.
AFF C-Series are capacity-optimized, all-flash systems that provide an affordable way to modernize the data center, simplify the hybrid cloud experience, and achieve company sustainability goals.
OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage is a software that provides high-speed data storage capabilities for enterprise IT environments. It utilizes all-flash architecture to support rapid data read and write operations, which helps optimize performance for demanding applications such as databases, virtualization, and analytics. The software features advanced data protection, efficient resource management, and inline deduplication and compression to reduce space requirements. OceanStor Dorado All-Flash Storage addresses business needs for reliable data availability, secure storage, and simplified management while supporting scalability to accommodate growing data volumes.
NetApp FAS is a storage software designed to deliver unified storage solutions for file, block, and object data management. The software supports data protection, disaster recovery, and scalability across on-premise and cloud environments. It enables organizations to consolidate workloads, streamline storage management, and enhance access control while optimizing storage efficiency with built-in deduplication and compression. NetApp FAS provides integration features for various enterprise applications and supports protocols such as NFS, SMB, and iSCSI. The software addresses challenges related to data management, high availability, and business continuity by enabling secure storage and simplified operations.
Synology NAS are data storage devices which connect to the network to centralize a wide variety of storage and file sharing tasks. These devices come with a full suite of built-in free software solutions, including apps for file server management, off-site replication, server syncing, VM storage, and surveillance storage. Synology NAS units are available in a range of sizes and form factors, from the desktop DS units to the all-flash rackmount FS units.
TrueNAS is the Open Enterprise Storage platform that provides file, block, and object storage atop the ZFS (OpenZFS) file system, across an array of all-flash and hybrid (disk+flash) appliances. TrueNAS is deployed in mission critical use cases across every market vertical, with over 300K active installations globally. TrueNAS is tuned for performance at scale, enabling multi-petabyte installations and integration into existing production workflows with ease. Additionally, the storage and data protection capabilities of TrueNAS can be extended with native support for VMs and containers.
HPE Alletra dHCI is a software designed to deliver intelligent infrastructure management by integrating disaggregated hyperconverged infrastructure with automated operations for virtualized environments. The software enables provisioning, scaling, and managing compute and storage resources independently while maintaining VM-centric management and automation. It addresses business challenges related to flexibility and complexity in enterprise IT by offering consistent performance, data availability, and workload mobility without requiring specialized storage expertise. HPE Alletra dHCI supports a range of applications and facilitates simplified scaling and non-disruptive upgrades for evolving business needs.
Nimble Storage All-Flash Arrays is a software designed for data storage infrastructure that delivers high-performance storage solutions for business applications. The software provides features such as fast data access, integrated data protection, and integrated analytics to monitor and optimize workloads. It supports scalability to accommodate growing data volumes and enables efficient management of storage resources through automation. The software addresses the business problem of ensuring reliable data access and operational efficiency, particularly in environments that require low latency and high availability for mission-critical workloads. It is often implemented in scenarios where organizations need to enhance application speed, reduce downtime, and simplify storage management.
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) G series are hybrid-flash data storage solutions supporting block application workloads. Hitachi Ops Center management software centralizes system administration, analytics, automation, data protection and cyber-resiliency capabilities. Hitachi Clear Sight provides AI analytics SaaS observability to proactively monitor VSP systems accessed via a cloud-based portal. All VSP storage platforms run the Hitachi Storage Virtualization Operating System (SVOS) including secure multi-tenancy, quality of service (QoS) for mission-critical applications, and data mobility for data resiliency that span the complete VSP storage portfolio with a true symmetric active-active controller design. VSP G series can deliver up to 2.4 million IOPS and supports up to 34.6PB of internal storage capacity. Hitachi Vantara ensures continuous access to data with our 100% Data Availability Guarantee that spans the entire VSP portfolio.
Dell Unity XT is a software designed for data storage management and optimization within enterprise environments. It provides unified storage solutions, supporting block and file storage, and is engineered to handle various workloads efficiently. The software offers features such as simplified management, advanced data protection, automated tiering, and integration with cloud resources. Dell Unity XT software aims to streamline data handling processes by providing scalable storage capacities, non-disruptive upgrades, and support for virtualization platforms. It addresses business needs related to data availability, recovery, and operational efficiency by offering reliable storage options and ensuring seamless access to information while optimizing resource utilization for organizations.
IBM FlashSystem brings together intelligent cyber-resilience, adaptive operations, and sustained performance in a cohesive all flash array storage solution designed for modern enterprise demands. It uses drive-level telemetry to identify anomalous, ransomware-like behavior in under 60 seconds, helping organizations reduce the likelihood of widespread corruption and the rising costs associated withprolonged breach detection. IBM FlashSystem redefines enterprise storage by embedding AI-driven intelligence at its core, transforming storage from a passive repository into an autonomous, intent-aware data services layer.
OceanStor 5000 V5 Series is a data storage software designed to support enterprise workloads with features such as unified storage architecture, high scalability, and data protection capabilities. The software delivers block, file, and object storage to meet diverse data requirements, supporting applications including databases, virtualization, and big data analytics. OceanStor 5000 V5 Series provides automated management functions to facilitate data operations, and incorporates redundancy and disaster recovery mechanisms to address business continuity needs. The software supports integration with cloud environments and enables efficient resource allocation to address data growth and help optimize storage infrastructure usage.
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) 5000 series is a high-end, enterprise data storage solution supporting open systems and mainframe workloads. Hitachi Ops Center management software suite delivers centralized administration, analytics, automation, data protection and cyber-resiliency capabilities. Hitachi Clear Sight provides AI analytics SaaS observability to monitor VSP systems via a cloud-based portal. All VSP storage platforms run the Hitachi Storage Virtualization Operating System (SVOS) including secure multi-tenancy, quality of service (QoS) for mission-critical applications and data mobility for data resiliency with a true symmetric active-active controller design. Hitachi Accelerated Fabric can scale from dual controllers with quad CPUs to 12 controllers with 24 CPUs supporting up to 33 million IOPS and 69PB of data. Scaling out the system delivers a more resilient data infrastructure solution due to the controller architecture that delivers 100% of data availability.
Dell EMC XtremIO X2 is a storage software designed for enterprise environments that delivers flash-based data storage and management capabilities. The software provides block-level data deduplication, compression, thin provisioning, and scalable performance for applications requiring high input and output operations per second. XtremIO X2 integrates snapshot technology to support efficient backup and recovery, continuous data protection, and agile test and development cycles. It addresses business problems related to data growth, application performance bottlenecks, and complex data management by delivering consistent low latency and simplified administration through a central management interface.
OceanStor 18000 Series is a storage software designed to provide large-scale data storage and management for enterprise environments. The software supports various types of workloads and applications, including databases, virtualization, and cloud computing. It offers features such as high availability, data reliability, disaster recovery, and flexible scalability. OceanStor 18000 Series enables automated data management and supports multiple storage protocols to facilitate integration with diverse IT infrastructures. The software addresses business challenges related to data growth, performance optimization, and continuity by delivering centralized storage resources, streamlined operations, and robust security measures.
Tintri VMstore T7000 is a software solution designed to simplify and optimize storage management for virtualized environments. It enables organizations to automate storage provisioning, performance monitoring, and data protection for virtual machines. The software offers features such as real-time analytics, predictive resource allocation, and support for multiple virtualization platforms. Tintri VMstore T7000 addresses business challenges related to managing storage for large-scale virtual deployments by providing granular control over VM level operations and reducing operational complexity. The software is engineered to help IT teams improve efficiency, mitigate storage bottlenecks, and scale virtual infrastructures as requirements evolve.
NetApp E-Series is a storage software designed for environments requiring high performance and reliability in data-intensive applications. The software provides block storage solutions and is suitable for workloads such as big data analytics, video surveillance, backup, and databases. It offers features including flexible configuration options, streamlined management, and advanced data protection capabilities. The software focuses on delivering consistent throughput and low latency to support demanding business processes. It addresses the business problem of managing and storing large amounts of data efficiently while ensuring data integrity and availability for critical applications.
Dell EMC SC Series is a storage software designed to manage and optimize data storage for enterprise environments. The software supports automated tiering, thin provisioning and replication to streamline data management and improve storage utilization. It enables organizations to centralize their storage resources and automate routine tasks, reducing manual intervention while addressing the need for data protection and business continuity. Dell EMC SC Series supports block-level storage through scalable architectures and integrates with various operating systems and virtualization platforms, helping businesses address storage efficiency, scalability and management complexity across diverse workloads.
Dell PowerMax is an enterprise data storage software designed to deliver high levels of performance and scalability for mission-critical workloads. The software features end-to-end NVMe support, integrated artificial intelligence-driven automation, and robust data protection capabilities. It provides multi-cloud connectivity, allowing organizations to efficiently manage data in on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Dell PowerMax offers advanced storage efficiency technologies such as deduplication and compression, secure data encryption, and support for disaster recovery scenarios. Its architecture addresses business requirements for fast data access, reliability, and simplified data management in complex IT infrastructures. The software is intended to solve challenges associated with data growth, operational complexity, and secure storage for modern applications.
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Features of Primary Storage Platforms
Updated October 2024
Mandatory Features:
AIOps for threshold-based operational monitoring and observability to support proactive actions and infrastructure health. AIOps functionality is integrated with the vendor’s customer support capabilities, including digital analytics tools and problem resolution, capacity management, nondisruptive workload simulation, placement and migration, asset utilization costs optimization, performance optimization, and both full and cross-stack observability and reporting
Block-based STaaS offering available as a managed service or in conjunction with the end-user client as IT self-managed offering
Cyberstorage data resilience and protection capabilities that follows the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) for ransomware Identify, protect, detect, respond and recover capabilities. NIST CSF 2.0 includes additional changes and functions, including a sixth pillar: govern
SDS architecture that separates the vendor’s storage hardware from the storage operating software that manages the storage system and adjoining infrastructure. The SDS product supports on-premises storage and is integrated to a minimum of one hyperscale cloud platform server, storage or networking hardware to like or similar functionality and capabilities, as found in its on-premises appliance solution and integrated with vendor AIOps functionality. This allows customers to keep their data in the same vendor operating environment while providing portability between on-premises and adjacent multidomain infrastructure
Peer Lessons Learned for Primary Storage Platforms
Published May 2025
These lessons focuses on the responses to the questions: “If you could start over, what would your organization do differently?” and “What one piece of advice would you give other prospective customers?”