While IBM partners might be first in line to take advantage of the expanded Spectrum Storage portfolio, any partner looking to get into the SDS game can jump in as well.

Lynn Haber

February 20, 2018

3 Min Read
IBM storage

IBM partners who help customers modernize traditional workloads, expand to new applications and workloads, or enter the era of application refactoring, have new offerings to work with. IBM on Tuesday announced enhancements to Spectrum Storage, a software-defined storage (SDS) line.

Included are new software-defined network attached storage (NAS); new data compression software for faster data transfers; new data-protection standards; simplified management in complex environments; and data protection for VMware virtual machines.

“As data becomes the driving force behind successful companies, clients derive business value using analytics and AI technologies on a multicloud infrastructure that is flexible and agile,” said Ed Walsh, general manager, IBM storage and software-defined infrastructure. “Software-defined storage, modern data protection and all-flash arrays are critical solutions for this journey. With this launch, we are extending their reach to transform on-premises infrastructure to meet these new business imperatives.”

Taking a deeper dive into today’s announcement:

  • Software-defined Network Attached Storage is data-management software that provides businesses a transparent and affordable method to increase the capacity of their data stores, IBM said. The company has added SDS simplicity and cost benefits for common file workloads, including support for Microsoft environments.

  • Reduced capacities lead to faster data transfers — New data-compression software will reduce data capacity requirements by 80 percent, while a two-and-half times increase in data-transfer speeds will make it easier for clients to move data associated with AI and deep-learning applications from where it’s stored to where it needs to be for processing and analysis.

  • New data security capabilities — IBM Spectrum Protect will include new data protection standards to help clients both prepare for the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and to protect themselves from ransomware attacks.

  • Simplified management in complex environments — IBM Spectrum Connect provides a consistent experience when provisioning, monitoring, automating and orchestrating Hi IBM storage in VMware and Microsoft PowerShell environments.

  • Easier data protection for VMware on IBM Cloud — New software within IBM Spectrum Protect Plus allows clients to install data protection for VMware virtual machines in IBM Cloud in minutes as part of the provisioning process.

The enhanced Spectrum Storage line allows partners to take advantage of new business opportunities.

“The new offerings and enhancements offer all partners who sell storage an additional revenue and margin opportunity,” Eric Herzog, chief marketing officer and vice president of worldwide storage channels, IBM Storage Division, told us. “For partners, SDS means they only sell the IBM storage software, then to make it into a fully functioning array, they need to sell them off-the-shelf servers and storage — another revenue and margin opportunity beyond the software-defined storage. Additionally, many of their customers, they will need to install and service, creating another opportunity for revenue and margin.”

While IBM partners might be first in line to take advantage of the expanded Spectrum Storage portfolio, any partner looking to get into the SDS game can jump in as well. Herzog said the company is looking to expand its reach with additional partners who understand storage and are serious about working with IBM.

IBM also is rolling out a full set of training and enablement for the new and updated solutions, he said.

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About the Author(s)

Lynn Haber

Lynn Haber

Content Director Lynn Haber follows channel news from partners, vendors, distributors and industry watchers. If I miss some coverage, don’t hesitate to email me and pass it along. Always up for chatting with partners. Say hi if you see me at a conference!

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