http://www.informationweek.comInformationWeeken-usCopyright 2012, UBM LLC.2010-06-30T17:09:27ZThe more powerful your smartphone gets, the more likely you are to use it to store important business data. And that means paying closer attention to a couple of important storage security concerns.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202371?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbThe more powerful your smartphone gets, the more likely you are to use it to store important business data. And that means paying closer attention to a couple of important storage security concerns.First, no matter which smartphone you use, it's essential to know what your options are if the device gets lost or stolen. For enterprise users, there are a number of ways to remote-wipe a managed device; this is a key feature, for example, of RIM's Blackberry Enterprise Server. <a href="http://www.computerworlduk.com/technology/mobile-wireless/devices/news/index.cfm?newsid=20903" target="_blank">Some of these applications</a>, including ones for the iPhone and Android, are also suitable for SMBs looking for a safe, reliable remote-wiping solution. <P> No matter which option you select, a functional remote-wipe solution doesn't have to be fancy. It just needs to so exactly what the name implies: Let you delete data from a company-owned or managed smartphone if you decide that's necessary. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> And then there's the matter of ensuring that no matter what happens to your smartphone, your data is safely backed up. The iPhone makes this so easy that it's hard to justify not backing up your data; all you need is a Mac or a PC and a copy of iTunes. (Of course, you might also want to store those backups in a safe location -- perhaps a perfect use for one of the better cloud-storage services.) <P> It's easy to get caught up in the "fun factor" when you're putting a new smartphone through its paces. Just remember that when a device has this much power -- and this much storage capacity -- it becomes a lot more important to worry about data security. If your smartphone goes missing, make sure that your business data doesn't go missing along with it.2010-06-29T17:10:23ZThe biggest hard disk on the market just got a lot bigger.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202313?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbThe biggest hard disk on the market just got a lot bigger.Today, Seagate did exactly what everyone thought the company would do: It <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/storage/portable/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225701845&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News" target="_blank">announced the world's first 3TB hard disk</a>. And at just $250 -- or about 8 cents per GB -- it's actually quite competitive with even 1TB drives. <P> Here's the catch: As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, the BIOS on almost any PC in use today can't use a disk this big as a startup device. We're finally bumping up against a level of storage capacity that the original BIOS architects <a href="http://smb.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/06/supersized_stor.html" target="_blank">simply couldn't imagine</a> 30 years ago. <P> That's why the FreeAgent GoFlexDesk (I hope Seagate didn't actually pay someone to think up that name) is available only as an external drive. There's simply no point in making it available as an internal drive at this point, because too many people will try to use it as a startup disk -- a tech-support nightmare that the company is understandably eager to avoid. <P> So for now, you'll have to access your mega-sized storage via a goofy little USB 2.0 interface (or, for an extra $40-$50, a faster USB 3.0 or FireWire connection). <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> I suppose a Mac user could crack open the enclosure and try to use the drive as a startup disk -- your system's EFI-based firmware can handle bigger disk sizes just fine. In fact, I'd love to see somebody try, assuming they're ready to void their warranty. <P> In any case, if you're been hoping to run a few of these monsters in RAID mode, you'll have to wait a little longer. With any luck, but early next year we'll see lots of PCs with updated BIOS architectures hitting the market, and Seagate will be able to start selling internal 3TB drives to the SMB masses.2010-06-24T13:42:00ZMobile storage is a double-edged sword. Most small businesses can't work without the ability to take sensitive customer data outside the office from time to time.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202358?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbMobile storage is a double-edged sword. Most small businesses can't work without the ability to take sensitive customer data outside the office from time to time.If you lose that data, however, you've got trouble. Big trouble. You'll have to answer to your customers, and you might also have to answer to the government. <P> Encryption is always your first, and usually best, line of defense against this kind of problem. A lot of companies can settle for "good enough" encryption, using free tools like TrueCrypt. But if you absolutely, positively have to protect business data against any conceivable attack, a company named Rocstor is worth a closer look. <P> Rocstor sells a number of encrypted drive enclosures. But its <a href="http://www.rocstor.com/products/rocsafe-mx.html" target="_blank">Rocsafe MX Mobile enclosure</a> just might be the best of its type at any price. <P> The Rocsafe uses a hardware-based encryption device that is actually a part of the drive enclosure. That gives you two big advantages: The encryption travels with the drive, and it doesn't require you to install anything on a connected laptop or desktop PC. <P> Better yet, the Rocsafe protects data using two-factor authentication. Simply put, this requires users to access the data using "something they know" (a PIN code) as well as "something they have" (a smartcard that inserts into the enclosure). <P> <img src="http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3279/mx01.jpg" border="0"> <P> It's an elegant solution that provides a lot of security. An attacker would need both the PIN and the smartcard to access the device, and it also protects against password-sniffing malware that might find its way onto a PC. Combine this with strong, military-grade encryption, and you have the closest thing to perfect security that you're likely to find on a drive enclosure. <P> (This isn't the same thing as perfect security, of course. There's no such thing, and realizing that is vital to protecting any sensitive data.) <P> If your SMB works in a regulated industry like health care or financial services, a device like the Rocsafe will go a long way towards ensuring that your data-security practices are compliant. But given the growing number of state and federal regulations that dictate how companies must protect customer data -- and what they have to do if unprotected data is leaked -- it's a tool any small business might want to consider using. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> This level of security won't come cheap; the 320GB version of the Rocsafe MX retails at over $550 (including the drive), and the 640GB will cost over $650. But if your employees routinely travel with data you simply can't afford to lose, it might be a bargain even at these prices.2010-06-23T10:55:18ZLooking for a cheap, easy to use Web-based storage provider? If the number of companies now offering such services is any indication, you're not alone.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202500?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbLooking for a cheap, easy to use Web-based storage provider? If the number of companies now offering such services is any indication, you're not alone.Enterprises may look askance at services like Mozy and Dropbox, especially when it comes to maintaining control over their data. But for most SMBs, these companies offer an embarrassment of riches: online backup, cross-device file synch, collaboration, and all kinds of other benefits. <P> And did I mention the "free" part? Actually, they aren't always free -- most of these companies make their money selling additional storage to those who need it. But in most cases, the free service tier is enough to satisfy a typical small business. <P> The biggest problem with these services isn't security; no matter what you read, you're more likely to get hit by a space rock than to have your data stolen. And it isn't reliability, which is generally quite good, although occasional hiccups can happen. <P> No, the biggest problem is picking one with just the right mix of features. And over at InformationWeek, my colleague Ivan Schneider just did one of the better roundups of Web-based storage providers I've seen in quite a while. <P> Start with his <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/storage/reviews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225600381" target="_blank">Online Storage Buyer's Guide</a>. This will give you a quick introduction to the most popular options, including Jungle Disk, CrashPlan, SpiderOak, Dropbox, Backblaze, Carbonite, SugarSync, and Mozy. Pay close attention to features like real-time upload, file versioning, custom backup sets, and others that differentiate these services. They're all good, but that doesn't mean they're all the same -- quite the opposite. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> For a second look at some of these products, also check out the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/storage/reviews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225700407" target="_blank">Image Gallery</a> showing screen shots from all eight of these products in action. <P> Which one is my favorite? Actually, I use two regularly. Dropbox, with its wonderfully simple interface, is the perfect tool for sharing files with co-workers or collaborators. And I also use Mozy to back up some key folders on my work PC -- although I also perform regular full backups to disks that I store right here at home in a fireproof safe. (When it comes to backups, you may be paranoid -- but are you paranoid enough?) <P> Like I said, these services aren't one-size-fits all. But with so many choices available, your small business is sure to find at least one -- and maybe more -- that are a perfect fit.2010-06-17T15:42:15ZStorage resource management (SRM) sounds like one of those things that only an enterprise should worry about. But today, nothing could be further from the truth.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202340?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbStorage resource management (SRM) sounds like one of those things that only an enterprise should worry about. But today, nothing could be further from the truth.First, growing data storage requirements demand more sophisticated data storage systems. A few years ago, for example, SANs and storage virtualization were targeted almost exclusively at enterprises. Now, they're mainstream technologies for midsized firms, and even some smaller companies find them cost-effective. <P> But adding flexible storage systems also means adding flexible storage management systems. And that's where <a href="http://smb.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=SRM&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">SRM</a> proves its value. <P> Here's how <a href="http://searchstorage.techtarget.com.au/articles/41531-How-to-choose-a-storage-resource-management-tool" target="_blank">one recent summary of the topic</a> described the value of SRM: <P> "...For data storage managers, SRM tools offer the important ability to have detailed capacity reporting. That includes change management and chargeback. This focus is crucial today, said Enterprise Strategy Group senior analyst Bob Laliberte, as data storage environments become increasingly more dynamic and "cloud-like." <P> The key word here is "dynamic." If your company uses a storage solution with thin provisioning, for example, knowing when to assign more storage isn't just important -- it's the difference between smooth sailing and stormy seas. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Also keep in mind that the best SRM works, as the article puts it, like a "manager of managers." That's because a multi-vendor solution can get hung up on management tools that see a part of the big picture -- namely, that part involving a particular vendor's products -- without seeing all of it. <P> That doesn't make SRM a good fit for every SMB. If your storage infrastructure is small, or even if it's large but deals with highly predictable demand, then it may not be a good investment. And while SRM, like so many storage technologies, is getting cheaper, it can still be one of the more expensive pieces of a storage networking solution. <P> But if you're managing a growing, multi-vendor storage infrastructure, you can't afford to ignore storage resource management. It's not a well-known technology, but that doesn't make it any less important for SMBs.2010-06-16T15:50:51ZTwo startups are both looking to make a big splash in the storage market. And if they succeed, the ripples are bound to reach into the SMB space before very long.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202391?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbTwo startups are both looking to make a big splash in the storage market. And if they succeed, the ripples are bound to reach into the SMB space before very long.If your company runs high-performance applications, then you already know that fast storage is almost never fast enough. That's the key problem driving the adoption of solid-state storage -- and driving companies to pay the price tag for these solutions. <P> <a href="http://smb.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=solid+state+disk&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Solid-state disk</a> (SSD) technology is one way to tackle the problem. SSDs are expensive, and enterprise-grade SSDs are outrageously expensive. Is there a better way to do this? <P> One company, an <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9178025/Israeli_start_up_claims_huge_boost_to_SSD_reliability_?taxonomyName=Storage&taxonomyId=19" target="_blank">Israeli startup called Anobit Technologies</a>, wants to solve the problem by making cheaper forms of flash memory perform just as well as today's more expensive forms. The former use multi-level cell (MLC) flash technology that is less expensive but also less reliable. The latter use single-level cell (SLC) technology that offers better long-term reliability but also costs a lot more. <P> In simple terms, Anobit's technology uses software to make MLC technology as reliable as SLC. That, in turn, could allow companies using SSDs to turn to cheaper products without trading off performance or reliability. <P> Another startup, Kaminario, has a different approach. It's developing a <a href="http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid5_gci1514755,00.html" target="_blank">DRAM-based solid-state storage appliance</a> that stores application data in what are essentially big memory arrays, while using traditional hard drives for backup. It, too, claims that its technology can deliver a cost advantage over enterprise SSD technology. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Which approach will win? I think that Anobit's technology is probably more important right now, in terms of driving down the cost of business-ready SSD technology. The company claims that a number of SSD manufacturers are jumping on board, and the results could show in the high-end SSD market during the next year or so. <P> But for companies with really demanding applications, like those working in financial services, Kaminario's approach is also very promising. <P> Right now, all of these developments are most relevant for midsized firms that require advanced storage infrastructures -- and that are willing to pay the premium those solutions demand. But as with all of these technologies, the long-term benefits will trickle down, allowing smaller firms to work with technologies that are limited to enterprises today.2010-06-15T15:55:46ZGuess who's coming to the cloud storage party? Nah, that's too easy. These days, it's harder to guess who <i>isn't</i> coming to the cloud storage party.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202383?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbGuess who's coming to the cloud storage party? Nah, that's too easy. These days, it's harder to guess who <i>isn't</i> coming to the cloud storage party.This week, Verizon was the latest big name to <a href="http://www.crn.com/storage/225700080" target="_blank">offer up a cloud based storage service</a>. It's a perfectly logical step for the company, which is already offering other cloud-based IT products. Just as important, Verizon has the data-center muscle to provide the kind of security and reliability businesses should demand from any cloud-based offering. <P> It helps that Verizon Cloud Storage is actually based on its partnership with Nirvanix. That's not a household name, but they're a major player in the cloud storage market. <P> For now, it looks like Verizon is aiming at the enterprise market with this service. That's especially true given that it's also offering storage consulting services that are more likely to appeal to larger firms than to SMBs. <P> But let's step back and look at the big picture for a moment, because what's going on here is definitely of interest to the SMB market. <P> First, while Verizon may be marketing mostly to enterprises, its service and pricing structure will also appeal to smaller companies. Its prices are competitive with services like Amazon S3, and the service is designed to store unstructured data, rather than transactional data. And the feature set, including browser-based management tools and compatibility with third-party backup agents, are relevant to companies of all sizes. <P> But is there anything really unique about Verizon Cloud Storage? Not really. And that may be the most significant point here. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Verizon is entering a market that is crowded with capable, well-funded competitors. And given the fact that there's really nothing new going on here, it will have to compete in the long run on one major factor: price. <P> Cloud storage costs are already running a race to the bottom, and Verizon's presence will simply make everyone else pick up the pace. That makes the technology an even better option for SMBs, especially those with distributed work forces and rapidly rising storage requirements. <P> In other words, almost everyone. <P> This contest, however, will also put additional pressure on the smaller players. They're the ones who will be least able to compete in a market where price, and not unique functionality, is the defining characteristic. As a result, you can bet that the cloud storage market is even more likely to see a round of shakeouts and acquisitions during the coming months. <P> So while you have more choices than ever before for cloud storage, you also have more reasons to pick your partners carefully. They won't all be around for the long haul -- and as prices keep dropping, the shakeout is likely to happen sooner rather than later.2010-06-10T19:13:27ZThe idea of a "SAN in a box" might sound crazy. But a lot of vendors are making it a very practical approach for budget-minded SMBs.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202441?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbThe idea of a "SAN in a box" might sound crazy. But a lot of vendors are making it a very practical approach for budget-minded SMBs.Now, this is all a matter of perspective. It's not like you're going to walk into Best Buy and come out with a fully-functional SAN tucked under your arm. But given realistic expectations and a modest IT budget, you might be surprised at what you'll get. <P> First, you're wondering, "<i>how</i> modest a budget?" Right now, the answer is usually between $15,000 and $25,000 -- quite reasonable for a storage-area network solution. <P> The next question is what you'll get for the money. A typical SAN-in-a-box includes a SAN switch, host bust adapters, cables, and setup software. The higher-end offerings will also include an array and drives. And while companies offer both Fibre Channel and iSCSI solutions, the latter tend to be less expensive and more flexible -- and thus a better choice for SMBs. <P> According to <a href="http://searchstorage.techtarget.com.au/articles/41380-How-to-buy-an-entry-level-storage-area-network" target="_blank">this SAN-in-a-box guide</a>, the wizard-based software setup process is designed to be simple -- to a point. If you or a staff member is comfortable working with other types of server hardware, you can probably handle this job, even without special storage networking experience. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> A few caveats come to mind, though. First, understand that plugging an iSCSI SAN into an existing business network is a bad idea. You'll get lousy SAN performance, annoy your employees, and slow your file servers to a crawl. Be prepared to reconfigure your network accordingly -- a process that isn't necessarily expensive but could require additional time and effort to do right. <P> Second, lots of vendors now offer SAN-in-a-box solutions. Some of them are relatively open in terms of supporting other vendors' servers or storage arrays; some are not. Know what you're buying and what your options are for future expansion. <P> Finally, if you need a SAN but lack the in-house expertise to install one (or even think you lack it), why not pay a little more for a reseller to do it for you? For a minimal additional investment, you'll be sure the job is getting done right.2010-06-08T16:19:39ZBigger desktop hard drives are on their way. But if you want to buy one, you'll need a lot more than just an empty slot in your PC.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202425?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbBigger desktop hard drives are on their way. But if you want to buy one, you'll need a lot more than just an empty slot in your PC.It seems like 2TB hard drives have been on the top of the storage heap for a while now. But a couple of weeks ago, a Seagate spokesperson confirmed that the company will finally <a href="http://www.thinq.co.uk/2010/5/17/exclusive-seagate-confirms-3tb-drive/" target="_blank">announce new 3TB models</a> later this year. <P> I could ask what use anyone could possibly have for a 3TB drive, but I won't. If history teaches us anything, it's that users will find a way to fill up storage space -- no matter <i>how</i> much they get. <P> Instead, I'll focus on a couple of big gotchas lurking in the Seagate announcement. First, you'll need an OS that is capable of seeing that much capacity in a single disk. And if you run Windows, that means upgrading your desktop system to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. <P> But that's not the only change you'll have to make. Today's <a href="http://smb.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=BIOS&x=10&y=7" target="_blank">BIOS</a> software -- that 25-year-old dinosaur lurking deep inside almost every desktop PC -- just isn't capable of handling hard drives bigger than 2.1TB. <P> Now you know why Seagate and other drive vendors have been slow about introducing 3TB drives. They were waiting for a successor to BIOS to appear on the market, and that is finally happening. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> The successor, called the Extensible Firmware Interface (<a href="http://smb.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=UEFI&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">EFI</a>) can handle drives bigger than 2.1TB just fine. But implementing it will require hardware vendors to rewrite the low-level drivers that make their products work. PC Motherboards that use EFI, for example, are just appearing on the market, and it will take quite a while for those changes to trickle down into the PC mass market. <P> How long? Well, if you build your own PCs, you can get started right away. If, like most businesses, you buy your systems from a big OEM, I wouldn't be surprised to see the process take a year or more to get underway. And it could take years for the stragglers to get with the program. <P> (Mac users, you can quit worrying about all of this. Apple moved its desktop hardware to EFI years ago.) <P> So if the prospect of a 3TB hard drive tickles your fancy, be prepared to have a little patience. And when the big day does arrive, be sure that any new PCs you buy include EFI support. <P> Otherwise, that new 3TB hard drive might make a good doorstop, but it won't do much else.2010-06-03T16:20:41ZFaster, smaller, and cheaper is the PC industry's favorite mantra. And when you're talking about laptops, the ability to pack more stuff into less space is an especially big deal.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202376?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbFaster, smaller, and cheaper is the PC industry's favorite mantra. And when you're talking about laptops, the ability to pack more stuff into less space is an especially big deal.But everything has its limits. <P> This week, <a href="http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=27703" target="_blank">Hitachi-LG Data Storage Inc. unviled the HyDrive</a> -- an optical drive combined with up to 64GB of solid-state disk (SSD) storage. Optical drives already include a certain amount of memory, which is necessary to cache data for disk-burning operations or to ensure smooth DVD playback. But this is a completely different creature. <P> The idea here is to combine an optical drive with a primary desktop storage device, all in one ultra-compact form factor. It eliminates the need for a separate SSD device in a laptop computer, netbook, or all-in-one PC, allowing manufacturers to produce smaller and lighter machines. The HyDrive could also have uses in devices like tablet PCs, where space is really at a premium. <P> Sounds like a nifty idea, right? I'm not convinced. <P> While pricing for the HyDrive hasn't been announced, it's no secret that SSD storage isn't cheap. So the HyDrive will definitely carry a significant price premium over a traditional optical drive. <P> So what? You're getting more for you money, right? For laptop users and power users, the benefits of SSD -- portability, reliability, and performance -- are obvious. And the HyDrive will also allow makers of ultra-light laptops and netbooks to add optical storage back into models where it had been removed to save space. That's a hassle when it comes to installing software or an OS from CD or DVD. <P> Here's the thing: A device like the HyDrive marries two completely different pieces of hardware, each with its own reliability issues and average lifespan. Drop your laptop, and the SSD storage won't feel a thing -- but the optical drive definitely might. When that happens, you'll end up paying for both components again, even if only one is broken. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> And then there are upgrade concerns. If you want to expand your SSD storage, you can add a separate SSD drive if there's room, or you can replace the whole HyDrive. Either way, I don't see how the benefits outweigh the costs. <P> Like I said, there are plenty of times when this approach makes sense. Today's PC motherboards are marvels of innovation, integrating all sorts of hardware components into a seamless whole. Whether you're talking about integrated sound, video, or expansion slots, squeezing more features into less space is a great idea. <P> But at this point, SSD is just too expensive, and its relationship with an optical storage device is too awkward, for this approach to make sense. The manufacturers who build a device like the HyDrive into their products will tell you it's the best thing since sliced bread. <P> To me, though, it looks more like a pink elephant.2010-06-01T17:58:18ZWhat do you get when you cross traditional hard disk and solid-state disk technology? One of the most interesting desktop storage innovations in a long time.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202341?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbWhat do you get when you cross traditional hard disk and solid-state disk technology? One of the most interesting desktop storage innovations in a long time.When this hybrid approach first appeared a few years ago, it was basically a Frankendisk -- a slapped-together invention that was a lot less than the sum of its parts. These early models had serious performance issues, and many users struggled to make the device drivers work on their systems. <P> But Seagate kept working on the concept, and it has finally paid off. The company's new Momentus XT is a 7,200 RPM SATA drive that incorporates 4GB of SSD storage, as well as a sizable memory cache. The drivers are stable, and the performance for the price is truly impressive. <P> How impressive? For starters, the 500GB model costs around $150. That's about three times as much per GB than a standard SATA drive, but it's much less per GB than pure SSD. <P> What makes that amazing is the fact that <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/196998/seagate_momentus_xt_pairs_ssd_and_hdd_with_impressive_results.html" target="_blank">independent speed tests </a>show the Momentus holding its own against pure SSD drives. And it blew past the Western Digital Velociraptor hard disk, which thanks to its 15,000RPM speeds (and hefty price premium) is the fastest traditional SATA drive on the market. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> All of this is likely to put a fascinating twist on the evolving competition between traditional spinning disks and SSD storage. The latter is clearly far superior in terms of performance, but over the past year it really hasn't gotten any cheaper. Even if SSD prices start to drop again later this year, nobody expects it to be a viable short-term alternative for most storage applications. <P> But thanks to the growth of viable hybrid disk technology, all bets are off. While Seagate has some proprietary technology powering the Momentus, you can be sure that other vendors will be quick to follow with hybrids of their own. And if hybrid drives continue to show the kind of cost-versus-performance gains that the Momentus is demonstrating, pure SSD technology just might find itself stuck in a permanent niche-market rut.2010-05-28T15:45:23ZOne of the most persistent myths surrounding solid state disk (SSD) is that it just isn't reliable. Like most myths, this one started with a grain of truth -- but didn't end that way.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202712?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbOne of the most persistent myths surrounding solid state disk (SSD) is that it just isn't reliable. Like most myths, this one started with a grain of truth -- but didn't end that way.As most of you know, SSD is a relatively new technology. A decade ago, it was still considered an exotic -- and outrageously expensive -- data storage option. A 64MB flash storage card for a digital camera was a big deal, never mind a multi-GB business-class mass storage device. <P> But price wasn't the only issue. SSD controllers -- the hardware that manages the process of reading and writing data -- varied wildly in their quality and reliability. Just a few years ago, buying a "budget" SSD drive meant buying a cheap controller that would fail at the drop of a hat. <P> And then there were the problems with "write fatigue." Simply put, you can only write data to a flash storage address block so many times before it goes kaput. This was a major headache in the past, when an SSD might deliver a few hundred thousand write cycles. That sounds like a lot, but it isn't. <P> What about today? For starters, manufacturers have steadily pushed the write endurance envelope. A good SSD may promise five million write cycles or more, and that number is climbing almost by the month. <P> Controllers have also gotten much better. While I might still stick with SSDs that use a top-class Intel controller for important business apps, less expensive SSDs with less expensive controllers are now fine for use in things like laptops. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> But if you want to skip the technical details and get a good overview of SSD reliability these days, just look at the mean time before failure (MTBF) rating. A budget 128GB SSD drive, for example, can offer a MTBF of 1.5 million hours or more. And more expensive drives now offer MTBFs on a par with traditional SATA disk drives. <P> It is still true that with SSDs, you get what you pay for. But as SSD reliability continues to improve, it's also true that you're getting a lot more at any price point.2010-05-26T16:53:38ZIf you're a midsized firm looking for low-cost cloud storage, this has been an interesting couple of weeks.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202565?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbIf you're a midsized firm looking for low-cost cloud storage, this has been an interesting couple of weeks.First, Google announced its <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/20/google_apps_marketplace_announcement/" target="_blank">new online storage service</a>. Google Storage for Developers is just that -- a means of renting access to a massive, distributed storage infrastructure. It's open right now on a trial basis to a limited number of developers, but I think Google will open things up considerably within the next few months. <P> Keep in mind -- we're not talking about Mozy on steroids here. This is a very different market than the user-friendly, ready-to-eat online storage services that consumers and very small companies are more familiar with. Google Storage for Developers will compete directly against Amazon's <a href="http://aws.amazon.com/s3/" target="_blank">S3 service</a>, which also offers industrial-strength, cloud-based storage for developers, including those deploying virtual servers and apps using Amazon's own <a href="http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/" target="_blank">EC2 service</a>. <P> Speaking of Amazon, it conveniently picked the day before Google's announcement to <a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Amazon-S3-Launches-New-Cheaper-Level-of-Online-Backup-597934/" target="_blank">unveil a new pricing scheme</a> for its own S3 service. Users who can live with a lower level of reliability (in this case 99.9 percent) will pay 10 cents per GB, compared to 15 cents for the usual service level. In practice, any non mission-critical application that uses S3 could probably work just fine at the lower service level, so it's a big deal for a lot of customers. <P> Google, by the way, has set pricing for its own service at 17 cents per GB stored, with no discounts for customers who can live with a less stringent SLA. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> So, put all of this together, and what do you get? It looks to me like the beginnings of a price war. <P> Don't expect hostilities to erupt just yet. For starters, Google still has a ways to go before its service is ready for production use. Still, it's encouraging to see that S3 will get a serious run for its money. For SMBs that work with this type of cloud-based storage, especially in conjunction with fast-growing, fully virtualized server infrastructures, this can only be good news. <P> Is there a downside? Perhaps in a way. As the big get bigger in this market, the less-big companies will find it increasingly difficult to compete on cost. Inevitably, that will lead to a shakeout -- and that means paying close attention to the financial health and stability of your cloud storage provider. <P> Or it just means sticking with Amazon or (eventually) Google. It's up to you.2010-05-20T17:56:38ZWhen should your SMB use cloud storage? When there's a compelling business reason to make use of the technology.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202598?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbWhen should your SMB use cloud storage? When there's a compelling business reason to make use of the technology.That sounds painfully obvious. But given the vendor dogpile that's happening in this space, and the resulting crush of marketing messages SMBs hear, I think it's a point that needs to be repeated. <P> InformationWeek blogger George Crump makes <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/05/when_to_use_clo.html;jsessionid=G51RLVTI33IHVQE1GHRSKHWATMY32JVN" target="_blank">precisely this point in his most recent post</a>. And as he puts it, the most successful cloud use cases are those where the technology "became a natural extension to either an existing process or it came as a component of a solution to another problem they were trying to solve." <P> The first part of that example, Crump states, usually involves ISVs who offer cloud storage as an integrated part of their own solutions. Those are pretty clear-cut usage scenarios -- provided, of course, you have a good working relationship and trust the ISV to look out for your best interests. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> But the second part is more interesting to me, and probably to many of you. Here, Crump says, it's a matter of situations where "a storage manager has a specific problem to solve and the solution happens to leverage cloud storage as a component of solving that problem." <P> Those cases often involve the need for a fast, flexible, cost-effective backup and archiving solution. But don't overlook the possibility of using cloud-based storage to augment a primary storage solution, as well. Here, as Crump notes, a good example would be a NAS or SAN solution that extends into the cloud as an archival "medium" for older or less frequently accessed data. <P> When those integrated solutions work, they often work <i>very</i> well. A case in point: Solutions that are smart enough to work effectively even if the connection to the cloud provider is interrupted, for example through the use of intelligent data-caching technology. <P> Here's the bottom line: When a vendor comes to you with a cloud-based storage solution, take a very hard look if the cloud component solves a real business technology problem or simply pads the vendor's marketing pitch. If it's the former, don't hesitate to embrace it. <P> If it's the latter, don't hesitate to walk away.2010-05-18T17:17:10ZIf your small business runs Microsoft Exchange, you know that it can serve up its fair share of data storage headaches. I can't offer a cure, but maybe I can hand you a couple of virtual aspirin.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202720?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbIf your small business runs Microsoft Exchange, you know that it can serve up its fair share of data storage headaches. I can't offer a cure, but maybe I can hand you a couple of virtual aspirin.Late last year, Microsoft released Exchange Server 2010. Now it's <a href="http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2010/04/07/454533.aspx" target="_blank">ready to deliver the first service pack</a>, which should appear within the next few months. Focusing on data storage here, that's good news for several reasons: <P> <strong>Better archiving.</strong> Exchange Server 2010 beefed up its archiving capabilities, but it didn't deliver a lot of storage flexibility. Now SP1 will allow admins to provision a user's Personal Archive to a different mailbox database than their primary mailbox. And that gives SMBs the opportunity to store archives on a different, and less expensive, storage tier than the one used for standard mailbox storage. <P> <strong>Improved data-retention management.</strong> SP1 will add new features that allow admins to create retention policy tags for email. That gives your SMB a single point of control for setting and applying data retention policies. And THAT means less risk that a badly-managed retention policy will cause your company serious legal troubles down the road. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> <strong>Improved multi-mailbox search.</strong> Here, too, Microsoft is making changes with data retention and e-discovery scenarios in mind. If your company gets an e-discovery request, a search preview feature will give you a quick idea of just how many messages will be involved in complying with the request. And with a search de-duplication feature, Exchange will move just one instance of a message to the discovery mailbox, rather than forcing you to wade through dozens of duplicated. <P> Think you won't need those new retention policy and e-discovery features? Consider yourself lucky: In 2006, <a href="http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2006/01/70111" target="_blank">90 percent of all U.S. corporations</a> were engaged in some type of litigation. But if that number tells you anything, it's that your luck probably won't hold. Prepare for e-discovery now, and it will cost you a lot less later.2010-05-13T14:55:11ZSharePoint 2010 is here, and that's a good thing. Unless, that is, you're hoping to slim down your company's data storage requirements.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202581?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbSharePoint 2010 is here, and that's a good thing. Unless, that is, you're hoping to slim down your company's data storage requirements.Over the past decade, SharePoint has gone through a remakable evolution from the "poor man's portal" to social networking on steroids. That's right, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/desktop/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224701690" target="_blank">SharePoint 2010</a> is <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/reviews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224701321" target="_blank">absolutely packed with features</a> you'd expect from Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Delicious, or Amazon.com. <P> That's wonderful news in a number of ways. First, it gives SMBs a handle on the social networking tools that employees now expect -- and demand -- to use in the workplace, too. You get the same functionality, plus all of the control, privacy, and security you won't get from the usual suspects. <P> Second, you can be sure this will drive an explosion in new uses for SharePoint sites, content repositories, wikis and blogs -- you name it. If you're already using SharePoint to encourage collaboration and to capture knowledge, get ready to see a lot more of the same. <P> Now the bad news. Many companies are already wrestling with SharePoint's habit of consuming as much storage as you they can throw at it. SharePoint 2010 will almost certainly make the problem even worse. <P> A few weeks ago, I was speaking with a CIO at a midsized company about how his IT organization's storage needs have changed. He replied that data growth wasn't really a big issue, with one massive exception: SharePoint. <P> All of those user-generated sites, and all of the related content, was eating up storage faster than his IT department could provision it. It's a trend that took them by surprise, and now they're scrambling to get on top of it. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Maybe you're already using SharePoint and having a similar problem. Or maybe you're just getting ready to start using SharePoint, and the problem hasn't even occurred to you. <P> Either way, consider this a fair warning: SharePoint 2010 is good for a lot of things. But helping your company cut its data-storage requirements is not one of them. If you want to make the most out of what SharePoint has to offer, be sure to take a realistic position towards how it will affect your storage planning and purchasing decisions.2010-05-11T14:48:05ZExternal threats to your company's data get a lot of attention these days. But the internal threats can be just as dangerous.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202528?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbExternal threats to your company's data get a lot of attention these days. But the internal threats can be just as dangerous.Big companies routinely deal with "insider" data-loss risks. But SMBs may not pay the same attention to this issue -- after all, you know your employees and you trust them, right? <P> Yet the fact is, people sometimes do stuff they shouldn't. And they may not even know they're doing anything wrong. <P> That's especially true when it comes to using portable storage devices like USB dongles or recordable DVDs. Maybe an employee wants to make an extra copy of some data just in case. Maybe they want to work on something at home or on their laptop. <P> And maybe they don't realize that if that data gets lost, misplaced, or stolen, it could cost your business a ton of money. <P> That's why securing portable storage should be a high priority for your SMB. Larger companies invest in software solutions that can disable USB ports and CD burners remotely, ensuring that employees can't transfer data without permission. They can also make use of tools like the Windows Group Policy Editor to disable remote storage device support. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> For many SMBs, these solutions are too expensive, too hard to manage, or sometimes both. But there's another way that is far more practical: Using the Windows Registry Editor. <P> Over the SmallBusinessComputing.com, contributor Ronald V. Pacchiano has a great guide to <a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/testdrive/article.php/3881126" target="_blank">using the Registry Editor for just this purpose</a>. Even if you don't have an IT staff to handle the job for you, his instructions are simple enough that most users can follow them. <P> Is this a foolproof method? Not really -- if an employee really wants to work around your restrictions, they can undo the process, especially if they have administrator access to a PC. But it's certainly better than doing nothing, and it sends a clear message to employees about what activities are -- and are not -- OK with you. <P> Of course, there's another way to get the job done. Some companies have been known to super-glue the USB ports on their systems to make them inaccessible. It's effective, but it's also permanent. (And you shouldn't plan on using a USB mouse or keyboard on these systems, either!) <P> But good security is always a bit of a trade-off, isn't it?2010-05-06T15:04:19ZSMBs today still have a serious problem with cloud-based storage. It's not the cost, and it's not the security.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202646?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbSMBs today still have a serious problem with cloud-based storage. It's not the cost, and it's not the security.It's the storage management tools -- or rather, the lack of them. <P> Here is how Computer Technology Review contributor Andres Rodriguez laid out the problem in a recent article -- "<a href="http://www.wwpi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8621:building-a-gateway-to-cloud-storage-for-the-smb&catid=99:cover-story&Itemid=2701018" target="_blank">Building a Gateway to Cloud Storage for the SMB</a>": <P> <i>The need has been to make the cloud more useful for these businesses, and more appropriate for the working lives of mainstream customers, by solving issues with the network that connects users to the cloud. What this required was an architecture pairing local caching so files are accessible at local speeds, with unlimited capacity, where files are kept in the cloud, fully protected. It also required the familiar look and feel of a Windows file server environment, simplified installation, management, billing and service monitoring. <P> These requirements inspired a cloud storage vision in which files stay present in the cached set most of the time, guaranteeing local speeds for all but the least frequently accessed data. The performance difference between pulling a file out of the cached set and doing so from a local disk is imperceptible to most users. Changes to these files are deduped, compressed, chunked, and sent to the cloud periodically, keeping the customer&#239;&#191;&#188;s file set in the cloud updated. A relatively small cache can support a potentially infinite cloud.</i> <P> The problem, as Rodriguez sees it, is that consumers don't need or care about these middle-layer management tools. And enterprises have the development talent, resources, and storage-tiering solutions to cut the problem down to size. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> That leaves SMBs searching for a solution. The stakes are high, because cloud-based storage offers so many benefits in terms of cost, reliability, and (yes) security. But in order to achieve what Rodriguez is talking about -- basically a cloud solution that works and performs pretty much like a local NAS device does today -- there is still a lot of work to be done. <P> I have no doubt this will happen before long. There is simply too much money to be made here. And if the traditional storage management vendors can't meet this need, the cloud services themselves probably will. While it might seem odd for them to promote APIs and other components that make it easy to work with multiple providers -- or to move between providers at will -- there's enough opportunity here for everyone. <P> It's fertile ground for what the marketing gurus call "coopetition." And I expect it to bear fruit in the very near future.2010-05-04T15:00:15ZOnce upon a time, Iomega was not the first name that came to mind when I thought about SMB data storage. My, how the times have changed.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202560?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbOnce upon a time, Iomega was not the first name that came to mind when I thought about SMB data storage. My, how the times have changed.A couple of years ago, storage giant EMC bought Iomega, which until then had been known mostly for its once-ubiquitous Zip drives. Most of us don't think too much about Zip disks any more. (I have a couple of 100 MB Zip disks sitting in my desk, and that's where they'll stay -- unless I need a coaster.) <P> Make no mistake: Iomega still plays in the consumer market. But under EMC, the company has also blossomed into a provider of high-quality, reasonably priced SMB storage hardware. <P> Exhibit A is Iomega's new StorCenter ix12-300 <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iomega-delivers-emc-enterprise-storage-solutions-to-smbs-and-distributed-offices-with-new-highly-affordable-12-drive-rackmount-network-storage-array-92736634.html" target="_blank">network storage array</a>. It'll hold up to a dozen 2TB drives, supports iSCSI, and works in either a NAS or SAN environment. And it'll do this for around $5,000. <P> <img src="http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5562/iomega.jpg"> <P> Even down at the consumer end of the market, Iomega is doing some interesting things. Witness the <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2010/050410-iomega.html" target="_blank">glowing reviews</a> of the iConnect, which is "basically a NAS box without the drive bays" and costs around $100. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> All in all, this is one of the more interesting corporate makeovers I've seen in quite a while. And it's certainly one of the most beneficial for small companies looking for storage on a budget.2010-04-29T15:17:51ZData deduplication and cloud-based storage are a match made in heaven, especially for smaller businesses. Here's why.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202827?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbData deduplication and cloud-based storage are a match made in heaven, especially for smaller businesses. Here's why.What is data deduplication? Here's how I defined the concept in a <a href="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/11/youre_already_f.html" target="_blank">previous blog post on the topic</a>: <P> "The basic idea behind deduplication is simple. Think of it as a backup solution that is intelligent enough to know when it encounters the same data twice. An obvious example would be an email archive backup that includes lots of attachments. If a backup system recognizes that a number of messages contain the same attachment, it can keep a single copy and replace the others with a virtual pointer." <P> So, why is dedupe such a powerful technology for SMBs? <P> <b>1. It's everywhere nowadays.</b> Over the past few years, dedupe has moved quickly from the enterprise storage market into the SMB mainstream. Both cloud vendors and those with on-premise offerings now routinely include dedupe as a standard feature. <P> <b>2. It's better in many cases than file compression.</b> When you're dealing with primary storage where there is often just one copy of a particular file, compression is a good option. But with backups, businesses often deal with the same data appearing over and over in multiple backup sets. And the ability to replace all of that redundant data with simple pointers to single copy is where dedupe really shines. <P> <b>3. Dedupe makes cloud-based backups practical.</b> The real problem with cloud-based storage isn't security or reliability (assuming you pick your provider carefully). It's the time and bandwidth required to move multi-GB or even multi-TB backup sets effectively across the Internet. Dedupe makes this much easier by cutting your backup windows and slashing the bandwidth required to upload a backup set. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> In other words, dedupe isn't just something that's nice to have these days. It's something you should expect and demand from both on-premise and cloud-based storage services. And it is definitely a feature that you shouldn't have to pay a premium to get.2010-04-27T14:48:55ZIt's time for yet another high-tech funeral. This time, the guest of honor is the good ol' floppy disk.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202839?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbIt's time for yet another high-tech funeral. This time, the guest of honor is the good ol' floppy disk.Actually, for a lot of us the 3.5 inch floppy disk was passe years ago. But this week, Sony officially started hammering the nails in its coffin when the company announced that <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20100426/tc_zd/250362" target="_blank">it will stop producing the disks in 2011</a>. <P> Most PC makers no longer bother installing floppy drives in desktop systems. Dell, for example, dropped the devices back in 2003. And if you go looking for one in a big-box retailer, be prepared to pay a surprising premium -- a sure sign that the supply of the devices is drying up for good. <P> For a while, this was actually a mixed blessing. The floppy was still a mainstay for things like BIOS updates and Windows rescue disks. But now that every new PC allows USB drives to play this role, even these niche uses are going away. <P> But that doesn't mean your small business might not get burned by the floppy's swan song. Lots of us still have boxes of floppies sitting around, full of data that we haven't needed or cared about for years. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Yet we still keep those floppies around, just in case. And Murphy's Law says that you won't think twice about them until you realize that you don't have any way to access that data. <P> So take a moment and consider whether you have any of those little bits of legacy storage sitting around the office. If you want to protect the data on them, plan to dig up (or buy) a drive that can read them and move the data to a more secure medium. <P> And what if you still have a box of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk#5.C2.BC-inch_floppy_disk" target="_blank">old 5.25 inch floppies</a>? Use them as coasters. Because unless you're into hoarding vintage hardware (and writing your own drivers), they aren't good for much else.2010-04-26T15:39:45ZThink storage is cheap today? You ain't seen nothing yet.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202956?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbThink storage is cheap today? You ain't seen nothing yet.In a recent <i>New York Times</i> piece, venture capitalists Mike Kwatinetz and Cameron Lester explained their process for <a href="http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/another-view-peering-clearly-at-the-future/?src=busln" target="_blank">predicting successful products and technologies</a>. One of their key principles is that "lower component costs and improvements in component technology enable new platforms to emerge." <P> Sounds obvious, right? But if that's true, why aren't we all living the wealthy venture capitalist lifestyle? <P> Anyway -- the most interesting thing about the piece is the historical perspective they bring to the topic at hand: storage. Looking at the cost of 3MB of storage (a handy milestone because it's the size of a typical MP3 file), here's what the numbers tell us: <P> The cost of 3MB of storage in: <P> <ul> <li>1960: $150,000</li> <li>1970: $15,000</li> <li>1980: $600</li> <li>1990: $30</li> <li>2000: $.06</li> <li>2010: $.00015</li> </ul> <P> As they point out, numerous companies today offer multiple GBs of online storage at little or no cost. There's no reason why that trend won't continue: before the end of the next decade, they predict that "Web sites will offer a terabyte of more of storage free." <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> While I admire their business acumen, I think that's a conservative estimate. I predict that we'll see free online storage services offering a TB or more of free storage within the next 24 months. <P> And so what if not all of these services stick around for the long haul. Pick two or three -- back up your data to all of them. It's just too cheap, and too easy, for a small business NOT to back up its data online these days.2010-04-19T16:58:30ZIf you're using a cloud-based storage service, uptime is a vital question. But getting a straight answer may be harder than it sounds.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202777?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbIf you're using a cloud-based storage service, uptime is a vital question. But getting a straight answer may be harder than it sounds.Whether your small business uses a consumer-oriented backup service like Mozy or an industrial-strength option like Amazon S3, you still need to deal with this issue. After all, cloud-based storage isn't very useful if you can't get to it. <P> That's especially true if you're using cloud-based storage for something more than routine backups or quick-and-dirty data redundancy. Downtime in a mission-critical application is just as devastating for a small business as it is for a global enterprise. <P> Enter the Service Level Agreement (SLA): Your yardstick for measuring a provider's uptime guarantees. <P> The first question to ask is whether a provider offers any uptime guarantees. If you're using a free online backup service, the answer may be a flat-out "no." (Don't look so shocked -- you're getting what you paid for, right?) <P> Using a provider whose SLA does offer uptime guarantees may sound like good news. That's probably true, but be prepared to spend some time figuring out just how good the news really is. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> Here's the problem: Different providers define terms like "uptime" and "availability" in different ways. <P> Let's take the <a href="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/terms/sla.html" target="_blank">Google Apps SLA</a> as an example. According to Google, "intermittent downtime" that lasts less than 10 minutes doesn't count towards its uptime guarantees. In other words, its service may bounce up and down like a yo-yo -- but as far as Google's SLA is concerned, everything is peachy. <P> And then we have another problem with so many SLAs: their inscrutability. <P> Microsoft, for example, pledges 99.9 percent uptime in its Azure Cloud Storage Services SLA. (That's not exactly an enterprise-class uptime guarantee, but we'll set that fact aside for the moment.) The problem, as another blogger pointed out, is that it's virtually impossible to understand just <a href="http://www.itdependsblog.com/2010/01/21/breaking-news-microsoft-lifts-the-nda-on-azure-cloud-storage-services-sla/" target="_blank">what qualifies as downtime</a> in the company's eyes. <P> It's pointless to hope that cloud storage providers will mend their ways and provide clear, easy to understand SLAs to their customers. After all, nobody else does. Just be aware that when a provider lays out an uptime guarantee, the exceptions are probably a lot more important to your business than the rule itself.2010-04-15T14:08:09Z RAID isn't dead -- not by a long shot. In fact, it is literally everywhere these days. That creates both risks and opportunities for small and midsized businesses.</p>http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202815?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smb <P> RAID isn't dead -- not by a long shot. In fact, it is literally everywhere these days. That creates both risks and opportunities for small and midsized businesses.</p> <P> <a href="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=raid" target="_blank">RAID</a> technology has been around for decades now. During that time, one of the biggest changes was the way RAID has moved from being a high-end enterprise tool to something that even the cheapest consumer <a href="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=nas" target="_blank">NAS</a> device treats as a must-have feature.</p> <P> <P> In other words, RAID has turned into a commodity item. That fact has encouraged vendors to dress up their solutions with fancy new names and a slew of additional features.</p> <P> <P> But when you scratch the surface, you'll find the same old RAID technology.</p> <P> <P> That's a good thing for SMBs. Whether you use RAID for basic disk mirroring, improved performance, or some combination of the two, you'll find a combination of low prices, reliability, and functionality that just wasn't available a decade years ago.</p> <P> <P> So, what's the catch? (There's always a catch!)</p> <P> <P> Like I said, vendors are <a href="http://searchsmbstorage.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid188_gci1366731_mem1,00.html" target="_blank">eager to differentiate themselves</a> in what has become a commodity RAID market. That means marrying standard RAID features with proprietary methods of monitoring, managing, and repairing disks. On one level, that's great -- this is a hotly competitive market, and there is plenty of room for innovative new solutions to these problems.</p> <P> <P> On the other hand, proprietary solutions create a problem with vendor lock-in. And when your business data is the stuff getting locked up, there's the potential for serious trouble.</p> <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> <P> It helps to remember that RAID by itself doesn't eliminate the need for good data security practices and a sound backup policy. I can't count the number of times I've heard about users treating a RAID 1 set as their backup plan -- until something happened that fried the entire array.</p> <P> <P> So much for treating mirroring as a foolproof backup strategy, right?</p> <P> <P> Just be sure to apply the same caution when you're shopping for a RAID solution -- or something like it -- for your small business. Make sure you understand both the costs and benefits of these newer proprietary features, and think carefully about the vendors backing them.</p> <P> <P> That way, you'll make sure that RAID doesn't kill <i>you</i> dead.</p>2010-04-12T15:51:05ZAre solid state disk (SSD) storage prices finally getting reasonable? Absolutely -- as long as your definition of "reasonable" doesn't just depend on what the price tag says.http://www.iweek-interim.com/news/229202925?cid=SBX_iwk_related_mostpopular_Business/E-Business_smbAre solid state disk (SSD) storage prices finally getting reasonable? Absolutely -- as long as your definition of "reasonable" doesn't just depend on what the price tag says.According to <a href="http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/datacenter/?p=2324" target="_blank">TechRepublic contributor Scott Lowe</a>, one of the best ways to gauge the value of an SSD drive is in terms of its cost per Inputs/Outputs per Second (IOPS) rating. Based on his previous tests, SSD already delivers great value in terms of its performance. <P> But in more prosaic terms -- namely, cost per TB of storage capacity -- SSD is still a lot more expensive than conventional disk storage. <P> Still, the trend is clear: SSD storage is getting cheaper by the month. <P> How cheap? Lowe looked at four current SSD models -- one rated for enterprise use, the others aimed at consumers. Don't get too hung up on that "consumer" moniker; it refers mainly to a drive's average lifespan, and most SMBs will find that any of these drives deliver more than enough reliability for most uses. <P> What Lowe found was that Intel's enterprise-class SSD cost $12,000 per TB, while the three consumer models cost between $2,800 and $3,200 per TB. That's more than 10 times the cost of equivalent conventional disk storage capacity, but it's an order of magnitude lower than the cost per TB just a few years ago. <P> <BIG><FONT COLOR="#ba2124"><STRONG>Don't Miss: <A HREF="http://bmighty.informationweek.com/storage/index.jhtml">NEW! Storage How-To Center</A></STRONG></FONT></BIG> <P> What does that mean to small businesses? Clearly, not many of you will be switching over completely to SSD anytime soon. On the other hand, SSD is now affordable for a growing number of high-end and even mid-range storage applications -- including, in some cases, laptop and desktop startup disks. <P> And if your business requires storage for use with databases or other applications where superior IOPS performance is a big plus, SSD should definitely be on your technology radar. <P> For everyone else, keep paying close attention as new SSD models hit the market. Production costs for SSDs continue to plummet, and competition is heating up. That means SSD could very well turn into a mainstream storage technology within the next few years, if not sooner.