Software-defined Storage: Reality or Hype?

Software-defined storage (SDS), specifically flash, continues to gain traction as IT organizations look for more cost-effective solutions to manage their storage environments. The debate surrounding the adoption rate for commodity storage versus traditional storage solutions continues. Although commodity storage will experience strongest growth most likely from cloud and managed service providers, larger enterprise companies might make a slower migration toward commodity storage.

On Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, TBR Senior Analyst Stanley Stevens hosted a webinar during which he discussed software-defined storage markets, components and management. The webinar reviewed the various layers of SDS and provide attendees a greater understanding of SDS and its short- and long-term value and benefits to IT organizations. He then answered questions from the audience.

Questions for discussion included:

• What is SDS? Is it really a product or solution, or more of a “marketecture”?
• What standards are driving SDS, and what features and capabilities must SDS support?
• What types of storage can SDS platforms manage? Should they ideally be able to manage all types?
• Can SDS manage a heterogeneous storage environment?