Slideshow: Top 15 Cloud Collaboration Apps

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The Cloud SAN concept is based on the idea of reusing existing storage in private or public clouds and combining it with TwinStrata's iSCSI-based CloudArray gateway to create a global SAN that can be accessed anytime from anywhere.

To create the Cloud SAN, TwinStrata had to enhance its CloudArray storage gateway. CloudArray 3.0 now includes support for NetApp filers and other network file system-based file servers, and any file-based direct-attached or SAN-attached storage. It also includes support for Amazon S3, Gov Cloud, and Nirvanix's Cloud Storage Network. CloudArray adds these capabilities to its support for snapshots, replication, data reduction, bandwidth control, and at-rest and inflight encryption.

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CloudArray provides optimized and secure local access to remote storage, which may consist of existing storage or one or many storage clouds. CloudArray gateways can be deployed on industry-standard x86 servers or operate as virtual appliances. IT managers can deploy physical appliances at central locations while remote or branch locations can be served by a virtual appliance. The CloudArray virtual appliance enables administrators to spin-up local gateways in minutes at any geographic location.

Each gateway functions like a iSCSI storage array with local-speed performance. This flexibility provides high performance, high availability, continuous data protection, and instant recovery from virtually anywhere.

CloudArray 3.0 also includes a simplified three-step configuration process and adaptable cache sizing, which lets an IT administrator adjust the size of the cache to hold more or less data. All this is can be done without downtime or migration of data. The newly enhanced gateway also includes new management, monitoring, and analysis tools.

TwinStrata was founded in 2007 by CEO Nicos Vekiarides and CTO John Bates, both formerly of Incipient and HP. Vekiarides was a founder of StorageApps, acquired by HP in 2001. During the dot-com boom, StorageApps was one of the first storage service providers. TwinStrata is funded by Avalon Ventures for $14.5 million.

CloudArray 3.0 is now available starting at $4,995 for the CloudArray virtual appliance and $8,995 for the entry level physical appliance.

Deni Connor is founding analyst for Storage Strategies NOW, an industry analyst firm that focuses on storage, virtualization, and servers.

The Enterprise Connect conference program covers the full range of platforms, services, and applications that comprise modern communications and collaboration systems. It happens March 25-29 in Orlando, Fla. Find out more.