Data Management Glossary
Storage as a Service (STaaS)
Storage as a Service (STaaS) is a model where data storage resources are provided and managed by a service provider or where IT resources are set up as a service provider delivering data services to departments, divisions and data consumers. With the STaaS model, instead of organizations managing their own physical storage infrastructure, they can outsource their storage infrastructure needs to a third-party provider, who offers storage resources on-demand, typically over the internet. In addition to the public cloud vendors who deliver data storage as a service (AWS, Azure, Google), in recent years traditionally on-premises data storage vendors like HPE (GreenLake), NetApp (Keystone), Pure Storage (Evergreen/One), Dell (APEX) and others have introduced services-based options to customers.
Why Storage as a Service (STaaS)?
The STaaS model offers flexibility, scalability, and data storage cost efficiency to organizations, allowing them to focus on their core business while outsourcing storage infrastructure management. In addition to OPex vs. CAPex data storage benefits, here are some of the key value proposition of storage as a service:
- Scalable Storage: STaaS allows organizations to scale their storage resources up or down based on their changing needs. The service provider typically offers flexible storage capacity options, allowing customers to adjust their storage allocations as required.
- Pay-as-You-Go Model: With STaaS, organizations pay for the storage resources they consume on a usage-based model. This can be advantageous as it eliminates the need for large upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure. Customers only pay for the storage they actually use, which can help optimize costs.
- Maintenance and Management: The service provider is responsible for the maintenance and management of the storage infrastructure. This includes tasks such as data backups, data replication for redundancy, security measures, software updates, and hardware maintenance. Customers can offload these operational responsibilities to the service provider, freeing up their own IT resources.
- Accessibility and Availability: STaaS typically offers high availability and accessibility of data. The storage resources are accessible over the internet, allowing users to retrieve and store data from anywhere, at any time. Service-level agreements (SLAs) often specify the level of data availability and performance guarantees.
- Data Security and Compliance: Storage service providers implement security measures to protect customer data. This may include encryption, access controls, data integrity checks, and compliance with industry and regulatory standards. Customers should ensure that the service provider meets their security requirements and complies with relevant data protection regulations.
- Data Transfer and Migration: STaaS providers offer mechanisms for transferring data to and from their storage infrastructure. They may provide tools, APIs, or dedicated network connections to facilitate data transfer and migration. Data transfer can be done over the internet or through direct transfer methods, depending on the provider’s offerings.
- Integration and APIs: STaaS solutions often provide APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow integration with other applications and systems. This enables seamless integration of storage services into existing workflows, applications, or cloud environments.
- Data Redundancy and Disaster Recovery: STaaS providers typically offer data redundancy and disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure data durability and protection against data loss. They may replicate data across multiple geographic locations or employ other backup and recovery strategies to safeguard customer data.
Of course it’s important for organizations to carefully evaluate service providers, understand their offerings, security measures, and SLAs to ensure that they meet their specific storage requirements and compliance needs.
Showback: A STaaS Tool for Better Unstructured Data Management
Read the blog post for an example of what’s possible with Komprise Analysis.
Also read the whitepaper: Getting Departments to Care About Storage Savings:
