NetApp: Storage Software Portfolio Review

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Cloud migration is a growing trend as future-thinking companies look for ways to make their storage systems more scalable and flexible. NetApp is a cloud-forward software company that aims to integrate enterprise-level data services with the flexibility of the cloud. Its products aid organizations in running large data workloads seamlessly in public and hybrid cloud environments. 

The company’s net revenues for the fourth quarter 2021 grew 11% year over year to $1.56 billion, with public cloud services revenue increasing 171% and all-flash array revenue increasing 11%.

Read on for a full review of NetApp’s portfolio and standing in the storage software market: 

NetApp Storage Software Portfolio

NetApp FAS Storage Arrays

This system offers the hardware and software necessary for businesses to balance performance and scalable capacity in cloud-optimized storage. On the software-side, this solution:

  • Is powered by NetApp ONTAP data management software 
  • Leverages one unified system for SAN and NAS
  • Allows for setup and configuration within 10 minutes with dedicated business applications

ONTAP Data Management

This software allows users to create secure, powerful storage infrastructure in a hybrid cloud environment. It can be used to easily provision storage for business apps like:

  • Oracle
  • SAP
  • Microsoft SQL
  • VMware

NetApp OnCommand Insight

This monitoring software is built for overseeing multi-vendor on-premises storage systems and cloud resources. It aids in storage management through:

  • Enhanced troubleshooting to find IT failures 
  • Show-back reporting for increased accountability
  • Resource discovery for reclaiming unused resources and reducing costs

NetApp StorageGRID 

This software-defined object storage suite allows businesses to secure unstructured data and automate life cycle management to power cloud-managed storage. It supports:

  • Public
  • Private
  • Hybrid

NetApp SANtricity 

This software allows users to achieve maximum performance and utilization of their E-Series hybrid-flash and EF-Series all-flash arrays for heavy-workload applications with high IOPs, high throughput, and low latency. It’s used for functions such as:

  • Data analytics
  • Video surveillance
  • Backup and recovery

NetApp SnapCenter 

This software makes it easy to back up, restore, and clone data for simpler, more secure data management across different applications and storage infrastructures. It helps protect sensitive data storage against:

  • Hardware or software failure
  • Data corruption
  • Viruses or malware
  • Human error

NetApp Virtual Storage Console

Businesses can manage their virtual machines in VMware environments that use NetApp storage systems with this end-to-end life cycle management software. It provides advanced disaster recovery by integrating VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) with:

  • ONTAP software 
  • Element software

NetApp Element

This software is built to dynamically scale storage resources for flexible business needs by offering fine-grained control without harming application performance. It helps business by:

  • Automating complex storage management tasks
  • Orchestrating workflows
  • Delivering deep management integration

NetApp Active IQ

This software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide guidance and actions in storage and data management to support IT staff in maintaining availability, security, and performance. The AI-powered system:

  • Checks for misconfigurations to improve system health
  • Discovers best practice gaps 
  • Automates firmware upgrades 
  • Differentiates between hot and cold data

NetApp Cloud Backup 

This backup solution makes cloud and on-premises data backup easier and more cost-effective. Some key features include:

  • Secured with AES 256-bit encryption at rest and TLS 1.2 HTTPS connections in flight
  • Separation from primary volumes for data protection compliance
  • Pay-for-what-you-use, low-cost object storage

NetApp Storage Software Partners

NetApp offers a Unified Partner Program that provides resources such as trainings for using NetApp products and courses for administrators, engineers, and operators. It also offers incentives like partner branding and a Partner Academy with networking and community building events. 

NetApp has a network of partners across the globe, including distributors, solution providers, and more. It has over 250 partners specialized in its ONTAP storage software alone.  

NetApp Storage Software Use Case

There is perhaps no industry today that requires secure and scalable storage as much as the health care sector. A recent NetApp use case provided just that to the Tucson Medical Center (TMC). 

TMC relies on completely electronic medical records in order to reduce human error, secure patient data, and save time in searching and analysis. Its previous storage was completely filled by its electronic migration, necessitating a more scalable solution. 

TMC uses NetApp’s ONTAP data management software running on FAS systems. The superior capacity and management of the NetApp system reduces headaches and saves time for employees. 

Previously, two individuals spent a year and a half writing performance software to fix the issues with the previous data management system. Now with NetApp, improved IT support allows issues to be resolved in minutes. TMC was able to virtualize 98% of its apps and achieved faster data access with reduced latency. 

User Reviews of NetApp Storage Software

NetApp’s storage software receives high ratings from users at multiple technology rating sites, including: 

Users praise the scalability of NetApp solutions like StorageGRID, noting that it helped reduce their primary storage costs without losing performance or speed. Reviews also value the security of software like ONTAP, though some issues with backwards compatibility are noted. Customers would also like to see a lower cost or free tier of ONTAP comparable to AWS and similar services. 

Industry Recognition of NetApp Storage Software 

In October 2021, NetApp was recognized by Gartner as a leader in the Magic Quadrant of primary data storage giants. The company was praised for its cloud integration with the ONTAP software platform, held up as a pillar of unified data management across hybrid cloud storage environments.

Also in October, NetApp highlighted its continued push toward full cloud integration by purchasing CloudCheckr, a CMx which addresses everything from cloud visibility to security to billing. This move will help NetApp better serve clients with cloud-based storage software systems by offering deeper visibility into multicloud environments and lower cloud operation costs. 

NetApp in the Storage Software Market

As of 2021, NetApp ranked third in terms of market share in the enterprise data storage software industry. With 3.55% market share, NetApp follows Pure (11.47%) and Amazon S3 (44.66%).

Nahla Davies
Nahla Davies
Nahla Davies is a software developer and writer. Before devoting her work full time to technical writing, she managed—among other intriguing things—to serve as a lead programmer at an Inc. 5,000 experiential branding organization whose clients include Samsung, Time Warner, Netflix, and Sony.

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