In a recent webinar hosted by PhoenixNAP in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the focus was on hybrid cloud and hybrid cloud-aware storage environments. The event aimed to explore how PhoenixNAP and HPE are addressing the complex challenges associated with hybrid cloud storage. Matt McDougall, a specialist in HPE’s business-critical block storage segment, joined the session to provide insights and share solutions.

The webinar began with a poll to gauge the audience’s current involvement with hybrid cloud solutions and their specific concerns. This interactive approach ensured that the presentation was tailored to address the participants’ most pressing issues.

One of the key topics discussed was the evolving landscape of hybrid cloud storage. The term “hybrid cloud” encompasses various storage solutions, from object storage in hyperscale environments to services using HPE Electra. McDougall emphasized that the era of relying on a single cloud provider is diminishing. Instead, enterprises are adopting multi-cloud strategies to optimize performance, cost, and data accessibility.

The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding the market perspective on hybrid cloud storage. Data protection, disaster recovery, and offsite backups are critical components that many organizations prioritize. Additionally, complex data processing and analytics in public cloud infrastructures are becoming increasingly prevalent.

McDougall pointed out that while the concept of hybrid cloud has been around for over a decade, consistent hybrid data management remains a challenge. Factors such as data growth, network capacity, and cost have scaled together, making it difficult to achieve the envisioned seamless data mobility. Instead, data tends to stay put once it is placed in a particular environment, be it a private cloud, data center, or public cloud.

To overcome these challenges, McDougall stressed the need for a robust data management practice. This includes ensuring data is placed on the appropriate storage tier to meet performance and cost requirements. Effective management also involves optimizing data access, lifecycle management, security compliance, and performance.

A significant portion of the webinar was dedicated to discussing HPE’s solutions for modernizing storage infrastructure. McDougall introduced HPE GreenLake for Block Storage, built on the Electra Storage MP platform. This platform is designed to address the complexities of traditional storage systems by offering a unified cloud management experience.

The Electra Storage MP platform represents a modular, disaggregated, multi-protocol storage architecture that supports various workloads and use cases. Its all-active architecture ensures that all components are fully utilized, providing unlimited parallelization and optimizing the system for NVMe, which delivers consistently fast performance and ultra-low latency.

HPE GreenLake for Block Storage is geared towards simplifying operations and enhancing agility. It enables enterprises to deploy applications quickly and manage multiple workloads on a single storage infrastructure. The platform also supports non-disruptive upgrades, allowing businesses to scale capacity and performance as needed without repurchasing existing storage.

McDougall highlighted the platform’s ability to collapse storage silos and maximize efficiency, making it suitable for modern and traditional applications. The scalability and cost-effectiveness of the Electra Storage MP platform make it an ideal choice for enterprises looking to support their digital transformation efforts.

The webinar concluded with a discussion on how PhoenixNAP and HPE are working together to integrate these advanced storage solutions into PhoenixNAP’s offerings. By leveraging HPE’s innovative storage technologies, PhoenixNAP aims to provide its customers with scalable, high-performance, and cost-effective storage solutions.

For enterprises considering hybrid cloud storage, the key takeaway is the importance of a comprehensive data management strategy. This includes careful consideration of where data is stored, how it is accessed, and ensuring it is secure and compliant with regulations. By adopting solutions like HPE GreenLake for Block Storage, businesses can achieve greater agility, efficiency, and performance in their hybrid cloud environments.