IBM Storage System: integrated solutions for business
Modern organisations are facing huge amounts of information that need to be stored, processed, and protected. In this context, data storage systems play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and security of information management in any organisation. One of the leaders in data storage and management is IBM, which offers integrated solutions for enterprise storage: IBM Storage, a line-up of storage hardware, software-defined storage, and storage management software. These solutions are designed to meet the needs of both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Overview of IBM storage systems
IBM has a long history of developing innovative storage technologies, making it one of the key players in the IT infrastructure market. The company offers comprehensive IBM data solutions that cover a wide range of enterprise storage units from traditional hard disk-based systems to advanced flash systems and hybrid cloud platforms. The main product lines are:
- Hardware products. These are cutting-edge storage hardware innovations, industry-leading storage systems for scalable, deployable, flash, and hybrid storage, ideal for critical, operational, and archive workloads in on-premises and remote environments: IBM Storage FlashSystem, IBM Storage Fusion HCI, IBM Storage Scale System 6000, IBM Storage DS8000, IBM tape drives, IBM SAN48C-7 network attached storage systems.
- Software products. There are solutions for processing information and providing services on the edge, in the core, and in the cloud. IBM Storage software enables you to manage information regardless of its location, automate IT processes, and protect applications and data from threats: IBM Storage Defender, IBM Fusion, IBM Storage Protect, IBM Storage Scale, IBM Storage Ceph®, IBM Storage Ceph®, IBM Storage Insights, and IBM Storage Analytics.
Each of these systems is designed to meet different business needs, allowing companies to choose the best solution for their tasks and scale of operations.
Let's have a look at tape storage, as it is one of the most effective technologies for reliable long-term storage of large amounts of information. Tape storage is used to back up information in case of system failure and to archive data for long-term storage, including data archiving, regulatory and legal compliance, which is critical for business. In addition, tape drives help to reduce carbon emissions, total cost of ownership, and energy consumption for long-term storage.
For these needs, IBM offers mainframe tapes, IBM Storage Deep Archive, and open systems tapes, which include tape libraries.
An IBM tape library provides automated management and access to data stored directly on tape cartridges. Such libraries can combine a large number of cartridges, allowing you to significantly increase the amount of information stored without the need for constant expansion of physical space.
The IBM TS 3100 tape library cartridge provides reliable storage with high recording and playback speeds, which is especially important for companies working with large amounts of information.
The IBM Tape Storage Server is a powerful data management solution that allows you to optimise archiving and backup processes. This is especially suitable for companies that store large amounts of information, such as financial institutions or healthcare organisations.
With solutions like the IBM Tape Library, Tape Cartridge, and Tape Storage Server, IBM provides its customers with reliable and efficient products to manage information and keep it safe and secure for a long time.
Features and capabilities
IBM storage systems offer many features that make their use attractive to businesses.
- Firstly, it is high performance and speed of data access. For example, IBM flash systems provide extremely low latency, which is especially useful when processing large amounts of information in real-time.
- Secondly, it is scalability. IBM systems make it easy to expand storage capacity as business needs grow, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This is especially useful for fast-growing companies that need to increase their data storage capacity constantly.
- Another important characteristic is reliability and resilience. IBM storage systems have automatic backup, disaster recovery, and data protection functions that ensure the continuity of business processes even in the event of force majeure.
Benefits for business
Businesses that choose IBM storage systems enjoy many benefits:
- High level of security. IBM systems are equipped with modern security features that minimise the risk of loss or unauthorised access to information.
- Increase business efficiency. The high performance of the storage systems significantly speeds up the data processing workflow, which has a positive impact on the overall efficiency of the business and enables faster and more efficient decision-making.
- Reduced IT infrastructure management costs. Business process automation, ease of management, and scalability help reduce storage maintenance costs and free up valuable staff resources for more important tasks.
Integrating IBM System Storage into business processes
Integrating IBM storage systems into your business processes is an important step in getting the most out of them. This process includes not only the technical installation, but also the customisation of the system to the company's business, its specific needs, and staff training.
Easy integration
One of the key benefits of IBM storage systems is that they can be easily integrated into an organisation's existing infrastructure. With support for multiple protocols and standards, as well as high compatibility with other IT solutions, IBM systems can be easily implemented without requiring fundamental changes to business processes.
In addition, IBM provides comprehensive implementation support, including consulting, technical assistance, and staff training. This proactive approach to client support frees up resources to focus on more important business tasks, ensures that new solutions are quickly and easily integrated into business processes, and minimises potential disruption or downtime.
Impact on business operations
Integrating IBM storage has a significant impact on business operations. By improving storage performance, organisations can accelerate data processing and improve the efficiency of their business processes. This is especially important in industries where speed and accuracy are critical to success, such as finance, healthcare, and retail.
The use of advanced information storage systems helps to increase the level of information security, prevent unauthorised access, and improve protection against fraudulent transactions. This significantly increases the overall security of an organisation, which is vital in today's digital world.
In addition, IBM storage systems allow you to optimise data management by providing convenient access to information. These features make it easier to make decisions based on up-to-date data. This in turn helps to improve the quality of customer service, reduce risk, and increase business competitiveness.
In this way, the integration of modern data storage systems improves the performance of companies at all stages of their operations and contributes to the overall efficiency of doing business.
IBM Storage System use cases
Real-world examples of using IBM storage systems in practice demonstrate their effectiveness and ability to solve specific business problems.
Customer success stories
One of Brazil's largest financial services companies needed to meet its customers' demand for sophisticated banking and insurance solutions, while also delivering the consistent, mobile services that customers demanded.
With the help of IBM Storage, the company created a reliable, secure, and innovative online banking experience to deliver flexible services to customers across Brazil.
As a result:
- The company conducts 1.5 billion business transactions every month;
- 36 million customers use the banking platform every month;
- 78 million transactions are made daily using the mobile app.
Solving specific business problems
IBM storage systems are also proving effective in solving specific business problems. For example, an Asian company that provides IT consulting and technical support to its customers needed to significantly reduce its costs to generate more revenue. The company was convinced that effective IT solutions were primarily based on choosing the right infrastructure and, in particular, the right storage architecture. As part of its business objectives, the company wanted to improve storage performance and scalability.
By switching to IBM FlashSystem, the company reduced its rack space from several rows to just one 8U rack. Overall, the savings in power, cooling, and maintenance resulted in an 80% reduction in storage costs, which in turn significantly increased the company's revenue.
Technological innovation and data security
IBM is constantly introducing the latest technologies into its storage systems, which allows businesses to keep up with the times in the field of data management. One of the key issues that IBM cares about is information security.
Protecting corporate data
Data protection is critical for any business, especially in the age of digital transformation when cyber threats and fraudulent activities are becoming more complex and sophisticated. IBM storage systems are built with multiple layers of security, including data encryption, access control mechanisms, and built-in tools to detect and respond to threats.
In addition, IBM offers a range of solutions to meet regulatory requirements. This can help organisations avoid fines and maintain their reputation as a trusted partner in the marketplace.
IBM innovations in security
IBM continues to enhance its software solutions with innovative technologies. In security, this means using artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate business processes and detect and respond to information threats promptly. This can significantly reduce incident response time and minimise potential negative business impact.
IBM is also actively developing quantum cryptography technologies that provide the highest levels of data protection and can withstand the most advanced hacking methods.
Many companies and government agencies are working with IBM to plan and implement the transition to post-quantum cryptography. For example, Vodafone has partnered with IBM to protect its telecommunications data in the age of quantum threats.
The future of enterprise data storage
IBM is playing a critical role in enterprise storage and shaping its future.
Trends and prospects
One of the key trends in data storage is the move to hybrid cloud solutions that combine the benefits of on-premises and cloud storage. IBM is actively developing its solutions in this area to give clients the flexibility to choose the best architecture for their needs.
For example, IBM® Storage for Hybrid Clouds enables clients to deploy cloud architectures on-premises and seamlessly move to public cloud environments. This makes their IT infrastructure more flexible and scalable, as well as more secure, efficient and cost-effective.
Another important trend is the growing role of artificial intelligence in data management. IBM already offers solutions that use AI to optimise data storage and analysis, and this trend is only set to grow.
IBM's AI solutions help businesses grow. These include IBM® watsonx™, an artificial intelligence and data platform, and a portfolio of AI-powered assistants; IBM® Granite™, a family of high-performance, cost-effective, open source models trained on proven enterprise data; IBM Consulting, AI services to transform workflows; and hybrid cloud offerings that leverage AI infrastructure for greater scalability.
Developing IBM products to meet future challenges
IBM continues to evolve its products to meet the new storage challenges that organisations face. This includes both improving existing solutions and developing new technologies that enable organisations to effectively manage their information as it grows in complexity and volume.
In particular, IBM is actively developing edge computing solutions that can dramatically increase the speed and efficiency of working with information in remote locations. They bring computing and data storage closer to where it is created, enabling better control of data, reduced costs, faster information and action, and continuous operation.
IBM offers autonomous management solutions that address the scale, variability and speed of change in edge environments. They also help communications companies modernise their networks and deliver new services at the edge.
Conclusion
In a world where information has become one of the most important business assets, enterprise storage is critical to ensuring the efficiency and security of an organisation's operations. IBM storage systems offer powerful capabilities, high reliability, and advanced security features, making them the ideal choice for organisations of all sizes - from small start-ups to multinational corporations.
Integrating these solutions into business processes improves operational efficiency, reduces costs, increases competitiveness, and improves overall business performance. By continually innovating and developing new technologies, IBM remains the leader in enterprise storage, ready to meet the challenges of the future.
To learn more about IBM Storage Systems and how they can protect your business, contact our experts:
