Why NetApp?

When I join NetApp from VMware after spending a good 13 years, I was amazed and taken aback how much NetApp got to offer to customers. It not just a Data fabric company but lots more in the space of how data are managed, stored, secured, and much more surrounding data.

The first thing I learnt about is ONTAP, the powerful software operating system that powers all NetApp hard and soft boxes at the very beginning. It also not just a storage but it is the King of Files for a reason. The unique of NetApp is in its way of storing data, Write Anyway File Layout (WAFL). Its ability to handle large amount of small files makes it elite on its own.

NetApp also have acquired a few solutions over the years specific to how data are created, managed, used and secured. Let's leave that to another post for now.

Let me drill into 3 key takeaways on why NetApp how it differentiate itself as the only one.

1. Most Secure Storage on the Planet

A very bold statement is true in every aspect. The ONLY storage validated by CSfC program and together certified with security certifications such as FIPS140-3, Common Criteria among many others. It is also aligned with the full NIST cybersecurity framework.

NetApp is the ONLY vendor with Autonomous Ransomware Protection built in, no third party solution or complex setup with external components and tested by SE Labs with 100% legitimate detection and 99% accuracy in True Value (99% Recall 100% Precision) with a AAA rating. Not any marketing or confidence value that has no backing to the number. With such confident, NetApp also include Ransomware Protection Guarantee.

NetApp is the ONLY storage that include multi-admin verification to ensure every secure task cannot be completed by just one single individual. Imagine just like in a movie launching a missile, you need multiple general approval to activate the system.

NetApp also provide Cyber Vault which provide Immutable (cannot be changed) and indelible (cannot be erased) volume for protection and safe keeping from Cyber attack which can extend from your primary storage to secondary storage. This is a one way "pull" Snapshot. Very suitable for logical air gap.

End to end encryption with data taken from in any form ensuring data at rest and in transit.

Watch how you can leverage on all the functions on NetApp storage and offerings to help you fully protect your data.

2. Data Protection Every Where, All Ways

NetApp storage are bundled with ONTAP One. The software that provide all the feature functions as part of the core operating system for FREE.

NetApp SnapCenter software is a data protection management software that protect enterprise applications, databases, virtual machines and file systems. It is not just a backup for supported critical applications and database providing Application-Consistent Data Protection. Creating multiple copies via FlexClone which does not consume additional capacity. SnapLock allows tamper-proof snapshot against cyber threats or compliance reason which requires a holding period. Also to use NetApp native Snapshot for use for backup, SnapDiff allows to take snapshot from a difference between snapshots instead of going across the file system to check for different.

One way of replicating for backup copy purpose via SnapVault. Volume is replicated one way to a destination volume. This is very efficient due to the snapshot technology from NetApp ONTAP with only changed blocks are replicated after the first snapshot. This is to backup to a secondary location providing long-term data retention and recovery options use case. You can check out the best practice guide using SnapVault.

SnapMirror replicate across two volumes and having both consistent and able to fall back to each other for a data restoration. It is useful for disaster recovery and data migration from on premise to the cloud or between ONTAP systems. And move back when there is a need for migration or data restoration. It leverage SnapDiff to identify the snapshot changes.

Attending protection, NetApp works with backup vendors such as Cohesity, CommVault, Veeam, Rubrik, etc. leveraging on NetApp SnapDiff on NetApp storage using NetApp Backup Framework to perform backup real fast than any solutions.

On top of usual applications, containers protection are included via NetApp Trident which is included as part of NetApp system. CSI driver are provide to allow developer to leverage NetApp systems to orchestrate and protect their container pod and namespace by provision and manage storage without the need of storage administrator.

For a metrocluster solution to keep two active sites managed as one, NetApp MetroCluster provide continuous availability. 

What is a very extensive data protection offered by NetApp. 

3. Any Consumption Model Managed as One

Single Management Pane with NetApp BlueXP. NetApp BlueXP is more than a management pane. We will leave that on another day. With its capability as a single management pane, you will be able to manage your NetApp systems, virtual machine, cloud storage, all in one place to configure, manage and run. This come as part of any NetApp storage solutions.

Hub and Spoke through FlexCache. Ever have edge or remote office that requires data from Headquarter and requiring to copy all the data and constantly keep up to date will be a challenge. NetApp has the solution for you, NetApp FlexCache. Even if a file is required, only those blocks that are needed are fetch from Hub and not the whole file. This helps customers optimize bandwidth utilization and also optimize egress traffic if you are using any of the NetApp File Services from the CSP as a remote or edge location.

Running any remote or edge location with a KVM or VMware virtual environment with a Enterprise Storage function requirement? NetApp ONTAP Select is a software offering for deploying in a virtual platform as a Storage VM or into vSAN to further extend its capabilities.

Usage in the Cloud:

AWS FSx for NetApp, Azure NetApp Files, and Google NetApp Volumes is the only first party storage running in Cloud Service Providers (CSP). It is managed and purchase directly from CSPs. The same concept and experience in terms replication, data lifecycle, etc. are all the same.

If you prefer to manage your own Storage Service, you can use Cloud Volumes ONTAP. This will provide you NAS and SAN for your applications using NFS, SMB or iSCSI.

In summary, application data matters! It doesn't' matter where it sit whether in your data centers or in public cloud, applications data are protected and secured. That is how NetApp provides an Intelligent Data Infrastructure for your data, Here, There, Everywhere!

For any of NetApp features and functions, you can try out lab on demand https://labondemand.netapp.com/.