BRINEL has the expertise to plan, implement and support the integration of storage solutions based on modern technologies from world leaders in information technology including HPE, Dell, IBM, Lenovo. Data storage strategy in an enterprise may involve the use of specific technologies such as network attached storage (SAN) and network attached storage (NAS), as well as structured and unstructured data management. It's important to keep your storage strategy up-to-date with changes in technology.
1. CUSTOMER NEEDS ASSESSMENT - Evaluate the specific needs of the company regarding data volume, type, and growth rate. This helps determine storage requirements, such as required capacity and desired performance levels.
2. SELECTION OF STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE - There are various storage options available, such as disk storage (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD, NVMe, All-Flash), cloud storage, or network-attached storage (NAS). Choose the option that best fits the company's needs, considering aspects such as cost, performance, scalability and data redundancy/availability.
3. DATA AVAILABILITY - Establish a solid data protection and recovery strategy. Backup copies of data can be stored in a secure environment, both on-premises and off-premises (cloud). Replication and mirroring techniques can be used to ensure data redundancy and minimize the risk of data loss due to hardware failures or other unforeseen incidents (disaster recovery planning).
4. DATA MANAGEMENT - A comprehensive data management solution is necessary to facilitate organization, search, and retrieval of information. Use tools and storage technologies for data management, both on-premises and off-premises, to make the administration process easier, more secure and faster.
5. DATA SECURITY - Implement appropriate measures for data security to protect against unauthorized access and accidental data loss.
6. SCALABILITY - The data volume in a company can grow significantly. Implement policies and processes to manage data growth, including removing old or unnecessary data and archiving relevant information that is not regularly needed (tape or cloud). Based on data flow monitoring, plan for future data growth and scale the storage infrastructure accordingly. (Scale-up, Scale-out).
1. DIRECT-ATTACHED STORAGE (DAS) - Suitable for small and medium-sized environments where performance, simplicity, and cost are prioritized over scalability and data sharing between multiple systems. However, as scalability and data sharing requirements increase, technologies like SAN or NAS can provide more flexible and suitable solutions.
2. STORAGE AREA NETWORK (SAN) - Block Storage: SAN is a dedicated storage network that utilizes technologies like Fibre Channel or iSCSI to connect servers to storage devices. SAN offers high storage capacity, high performance, and advanced data management options. It is suitable for applications requiring low latency, such as databases and critical applications. Using SAN allows efficient consolidation of storage resources and provides flexible capacity expansion options.
3. NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS) - NAS is a storage technology that enables efficient data sharing and management within a local network. NAS devices are specialized data storage equipment connected to the network and accessed by various systems (servers, workstations, mobile devices, etc.) using file protocols such as NFS, SMB, or FTP.
4. STRUCTURED DATA - Structured data refers to information that is organized in a clear and predefined format, such as data stored in relational databases or defined column tables. It is easy to manage and interpret, and the storage strategy may involve using database management systems (DBMS) and relational storage solutions to ensure performance and data integrity.
5. UNSTRUCTURED DATA (OBJECT STORE)- Unstructured data does not fit into a predefined or structured format, such as media files (video, audio), documents, emails, plain text files, etc. Storing and managing unstructured data involves using Object Store storage solutions, which offer increased scalability and easy expansion capacity. Typically, the data is stored on multiple nodes or storage devices, forming a distributed system. This allows the addition of new storage devices and increased storage capacity without interrupting services or involving complex data migrations. In object storage, each object is identified by a unique ID and contains the data itself, as well as associated metadata, providing search, indexing, and organization capabilities for unstructured data, enabling access and sharing within the organization.
6. SOFTWARE-DEFINED STORAGE (SDS) - SDS is an approach where storage management functionalities are separated from physical hardware and implemented through software. This means that storage administration, control, and services are abstracted from the hardware level and achieved through a software solution. SDS enables aggregation and centralized management of storage resources in an IT environment. Multiple storage devices and systems can be used to create a unified storage pool. SDS brings several advantages, including flexibility, scalability, simplified administration, and improved storage resource utilization. By abstracting storage from the hardware level through software, SDS offers a more agile and adaptable approach to data management in an IT environment.