Gartner believes that the top trends in enterprise storage for 2023 include cloud operating models, new SSD technologies, cybersecurity against ransomware, and better use of unstructured data for analytical insights.
We can see his document thanks to cyber storage and protection provider RackTop Systems, who made it available.
Gartner analysts start with a set of strategic planning assumptions, then break down the top nine trends into three categories:
None of these topics will be current for B&F readers. Each trend is anchored by a strategic planning assumption (SPA), such as “By 2028, consumption-based STaaS will replace more than 35% of enterprise storage investments, up from less than 10% in 2023.” »
Gartner then renames the three headlines from left to right as Common, Unstructured Data Storage, and Block Storage, and asks an analyst to discuss each of the nine trending topics.
Storage as a Service – Managed STaaS relies on the storage provider’s software and/or appliances, which provide the full functionality, availability and performance of the enterprise, while offering a cloud-like consumption model.
Cyberstorage – By 2028, 100% of storage products will include cyber storage capabilities focused on active defense beyond recovery from cyber events, up from 10% at the start of 2023. Most major storage vendors are actively working on cyber storage capabilities, which could be included in storage systems. or activated as a separate product. Innovative startups are launching products supporting heterogeneous features to protect enterprise data for block, file, and object storage.
Flash QLC – By 2027, businesses will use QLC in 25% of their SSD flash media, up from 5% at the end of 2022. The cost advantages of QLC over tri-level cells (CCM), coupled with improved durability and performance, provide businesses with sufficient long-term benefits (e.g., rapid restoration of backup data in case of recovery from a ransomware event).
Single file and object storage platform – By 2028, 70% of file and object data will be deployed on a consolidated unstructured data storage platform, up from 35% at the start of 2023. A single platform for file and object data objects helps consolidate all unstructured data workloads, simplifying not only storage operations but also storage sourcing activities.
Data Storage Management Services – By 2027, at least 40% of organizations will deploy data storage management solutions for classification, insights and optimization, up from 15% at the start of 2023.
Hybrid Cloud File Data Services – By 2027, 60% of infrastructure and operations leaders will implement hybrid cloud file deployments, up from 20% at the start of 2023. This will consolidate unstructured data into a single copy, enabling centralized management around the protection and security of the underlying data. simplify operations while consolidating use cases. Typical outcomes include cost optimization to align the cost of storage with the value of the data; data governance to ensure that sensitive data benefits from appropriate protection and retention policies; data security to enable the right level of authorization and access level control; and enhanced analytics workflows that leverage data classification and optionally tag data with custom metadata.
NVMe on fabric – By 2027, 25% of companies will deploy NVMe-oF as a storage network protocol, up from less than 10% in mid-2023. Among the NVMe-oF options, NVMe-TCP has the most to gain on-premises, where the costs and simplicity of Ethernet can compete with low-end Fiber Channel iSCSI and SAN bandwidth requirements at or below 16 Gbps. Additionally, NVMe-oF can scale to high capacity levels with high availability features and be managed from a central location, serving dozens of compute clients.
Native Container Storage – By 2027, 80% of Kubernetes deployments will require advanced features for persistent container storage, up from 30% in early 2023. While containers are designed to be stateless, the volume of deployments requiring persistent data for applications with state increases. Traditional storage approaches, in which Container Storage Interface (CSI) abstracts from the underlying storage platform, are a good starting point for an initial Kubernetes deployment.
Captive NVMe SSD – “Captive” is how Gartner describes computer storage SSDs performing onboard compression, etc. By 2026, captive NVMe SSDs will replace more than 30% of on-premises deployed capacity, up from less than five% in mid-2023. Using captive NVMe SSDs provides a multitude of benefits ranging from improved storage operations and cost reductions to a more resilient and intelligent data storage services environment.
Gartner states: “Challenges come from managing the explosive growth of enterprise data, the business need for a cloud-like on-premises consumption model to mitigate cyberattack risks, or leveraging the latest data protection technologies. storage like QLC or NVMe on Fabric for better cost and/or performance.
IT leaders can, he says, proactively respond to business demands by using these technology trends to create flexible and agile storage platforms.
B&F think fast-tech enthusiasts will already do this. Gartner’s paper reassures the slowest and least secure that they should do it too.
