Storage Area Network and the Could: A Perfect Match
Did you know storage area network and cloud both go hand in hand? In recent years, SAN and cloud computing have emerged as the most important technologies to enter the mainstream of the IT business. Many industry professionals think storage area networks and the cloud are a perfect fit. In this article, we’ll look at the reasons for it.
First, let’s understand, what is a storage area network? And clouds too.
What is a storage area network?
Block-level data storage is accessible at high speed via a specialized network called a Storage Area Network (SAN). SANs are frequently used in data centers and other large-scale computing settings to supply storage to servers and applications.
What is a cloud?
The term “cloud” describes computing resources that can be accessed online as opposed to being kept on-site. Servers, storage, databases, apps, and other items may be included. Because of its adaptability, scalability, and affordability, cloud computing is well-liked.
Therefore, how can storage area networks fit into this scenario? So, SANs can assist companies in maximizing the use of their cloud-based storage. Here are a few reasons:
1: Management
Every employee, from entry-level staff to executives on the board, may now obtain comprehensive insight to improve their understanding of the company and its client’s thanks to the arrival of the cloud. It can be difficult to manage cloud storage, especially if you use several different providers or services.
A SAN can make managing all of your storage resources, whether they are on-premises or in the cloud, simpler by offering a single interface. This might lessen the possibility of mistakes or incorrect configurations and make it simpler to maintain and improve your storage environment.
2: Performance
Although cloud storage has advanced greatly in recent years, it is still occasionally slower than local storage. A SAN can aid in this situation. A SAN can ensure that cloud-based applications and databases are as responsive as they would be if they were using local storage by offering a high-speed network for storage traffic.
Careful planning, monitoring, and optimization are frequently necessary for achieving optimal SAN performance, as well as continuing maintenance and updates as necessary to keep up with shifting business requirements.
3: Availability
For companies seeking flexibility and scalability, cloud storage is a terrific option, but it can be susceptible to network failures and other disturbances. Businesses can reduce these risks by using a SAN, which offers redundant pathways for storage traffic and built-in failover capabilities. This implies that crucial data will still be accessible from another place even if a portion of the network goes down.
4: Cost
Although cloud storage is frequently seen as more affordable than on-premises storage, it can still be a major investment for companies with a lot of data. Businesses can cut the amount of storage they use and hence lower the cost of their cloud storage by employing a SAN to enhance storage performance and availability. Businesses will be able to accomplish more with less because of SANs’ ability to reduce storage bottlenecks and speed up data access.
Point of Difficulty
Of course, employing storage area networks in the cloud comes with some difficulties. One of the most important is the requirement to guarantee interoperability between various systems and protocols.
When connecting to cloud storage that uses a different protocol, such as iSCSI or NFS, you might need to use a gateway or other tool if your storage area network (SAN) is built for Fibre Channel. You should also make sure that your SAN can accommodate the higher latency that comes with using the internet to access storage.
Despite these difficulties, a lot of companies are discovering that storage area networks and the cloud are a marriage made in heaven. Businesses can build a storage environment that meets their demands today and can expand with them into the future by fusing the flexibility and scalability of the cloud with the performance and availability of a SAN.
What does this mean for companies who are thinking about moving to the cloud, then?
- First, it’s critical to comprehend your storage objectives and wants. A SAN might be a smart choice if key applications or databases require high performance or availability. You may be able to get away with just cloud-based storage if cost or scalability are your main concerns.
- Second, It’s crucial to engage with a provider who is knowledgeable about both SAN and the cloud and can assist you in integrating them in a way that benefits your business.
Finally, it can be said that for many enterprises, storage area networks, and the cloud are the perfect match for the business. Businesses can build a storage environment that meets their needs today and can expand with them into the future by combining the flexibility and scalability of the cloud with the performance and availability of a SAN.
