Nirvanix, Intel Partner on SMB Cloud Storage

Intel will offer Nirvanix's cloud-based storage services on its AppUp SMB Service, a subscription-based service built on the Intel Hybrid Cloud Platform and aimed at MSPs.

Cloud storage services specialist Nirvanix announced that its cloud-based storage offering will be available in the Intel AppUp SMB Service, a subscription-based service built on the Intel Hybrid Cloud Platform.

It allows managed service providers (MSPs) to offer their small business clients services for on-demand, secure storage, specifically designed for backup, archiving and recovery of business data at any time and any location from a variety of devices.

The AppUp SMB Service runs on the company’s Hybrid Cloud Platform, which features a scalable, preconfigured server with remote management capabilities. The service is designed to enable MSPs to deliver cloud benefits via an on-premises server, with the aim of providing a more flexible, user-friendly experience for small-business customers with limited IT resources.

"SMB customers are looking for cost-effective ways to manage exploding data growth. With the Intel AppUp SMB Service, we are providing MSPs with industry-proven solutions they can offer their customers," Intel general manager Bridget Karlin said in a statement. "Adding solutions like the Nirvanix service allows us to enable MSPs to offer leading enterprise-class cloud storage as part of their SMB customers’ Intel AppUp SMB Service subscription. This gives customers on-demand, secure, usage-based storage capacity for backup and archiving applications."

Intel offers a test drive of the AppUp service, which simulates a small-business environment in which MSPs are remotely managing an Intel Hybrid Cloud server for the customer. Two different test drives are available, including a Basic Intel Hybrid Cloud server, which features a scalable, preconfigured server configured with a Windows Server virtual machine and a firewall virtual machine, and a Backup & Disaster Recovery Appliance (BDR), where the software and hardware are preconfigured for BDR, powered by StorageCraft ShadowProtect Server 4 and Intel’s Quick Access Technology.

"The integration of Nirvanix CloudNAS gateway software with the Intel Hybrid Cloud Platform enables customers to quickly and easily access our cloud storage services and to gain the enterprise-grade benefits of data protection with global replication, data consistency, multi-level security and infinite elasticity," Nirvanix CEO Dru Borden said in a statement. "Nirvanix’s cloud storage services enable Intel MSPs to address the exploding market for backup and archiving unstructured files and infrequently accessed content with a highly differentiated solution and a significant time-to-market advantage."

In December, IT research firm Gartner rated Nirvanix among 10 vendors for public cloud storage resiliency, value-added services, data backup, archive, content distribution and primary storage in their "Critical Capabilities for Public Cloud Storage Services" report, citing the company’s “excellent” product viability.