Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2016
New figures published by storage market analyst Wikibon suggest that revenue from software defined storage (SDS) rose by 99 percent between 2014 and 2015. These astonishing figures, $1.25 billion growing to $2.5 billion, are further proof of something we already suspected – businesses across the world are seeking to commoditize their storage.
SDS, referred to as “Server SAN” by Wikibon, is expected to continue to grow. Estimates published in the report ‘Server SAN Readies for Enterprise and Cloud Domination‘ suggest a compound annual growth rate of 22 percent. By 2026 the market is projected to be worth $22 billion.
The future features two storage technologies
Obviously continued demand for space means that storage markets will continue to grow. Cloud storage will play an important part in helping to support growth plans, but the industry preference for hybrid deployments means that on-site systems still have a role.
The explosive growth of the SDS sector seems to have surprised Wikibon researchers. The 2014 and 2015 versions of the report both expected significant growth, but it is only this year that researchers realised how popular the technology was becoming. The latest predictions suggest that SDS will reach parity with cloud storage by 2026.
Bad news for traditional storage
The adoption of software defined storage will come at a cost to traditional technologies like NAS, DAS and even traditional SANs. By 2026, these devices will be reserved for niche applications, or for interfacing legacy technologies.
The beauty of SDS however is that the underlying hardware is virtually irrelevant. A server SAN can be built from commodity hardware – including existing EoSL and legacy units. Redeploying unused assets in this way allows organizations to take advantage of SDS now without having to invest in all new hardware.
Taking this approach further reduces the cost of deploying, managing and maintaining storage – particularly when used in combination with a third party maintenance agreement from CDS. Our highly skilled engineers can provide 7x24x365 proactive maintenance and support for equipment in any configuration – so you can focus on building the storage platform your business needs to achieve its strategic goals.
To learn more about how CDS can help your organization join the SDS revolution, please get in touch. And don’t forget to ask about our upcoming SDS webinar too.
– See more at: http://www.cds.net/blog/2016/09/wikibon-confirms-sds-is-the-future/#sthash.cXVpAnsC.dpuf