NetGear, which makes desktop
video storage devices and rack-mounted storage and networking equipment but
now aims to be a player in the cloud sector, on Oct. 14 came out with three
hybrid cloud storage service options for its business customers.
The company is now including up to 100GB of online archive capacity to go with
the purchase of one of its rack-mount ReadyNAS storage servers.
In addition, its newest business-class ReadyNAS storage platforms now support a
cloud file server option that enables a user to share files between local and
offsite users. Thirdly, the company is now offering customizable portals
designed to simplify service billing and management for channel partners.
Egnyte's Office Local Cloud
service is the provider for the hybrid file sharing on all business-class
ReadyNAS systems. Egnyte runs directly on the ReadyNAS; service plans start at
$70 per month.
Most cloud storage services do not enable file sharing with onsite and/or
outsourced locations. NetGear's new hybrid models offer pay-on-demand and
sharable cloud storage services while preserving the original data on site.
"These new cloud services get businesses of all sizes into hosted
architectures," said Mark Song, product line manager for storage at
NetGear. "The hybrid model enables IT departments to smooth budget cycles
and improve service levels with minimal risk. Our channel partners can now
deliver these managed services without needing their own investment in storage
capacity or cloud infrastructure."
Many companies are interested in the cost savings associated with cloud
computing but are still reluctant to commit their data to an online provider
model, said Benjamin Woo, program vice president of worldwide storage systems
research at IDC.
"Hybrid cloud service models are a novel approach to mixing the trust
level of local storage with the benefits of cloud services, thus helping
businesses take a low-risk, simple and cost-effective approach to IT," Woo
said.
ReadyNAS business-class systems offer up to 100GB of storage for 12 months, and
the ReadyNAS Ultra family includes up to 2GB for 24 months. Pricing currently
starts at $.40/GB.
The new portals for both ReadyNAS Vault
and the Egnyte Office Local Cloud give partners a single Web-based interface
where they can maintain locations and monitor accounts. These new hybrid cloud
services enable NetGear partners as managed service providers without private
cloud investment.
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