storage revolution begun network world fusion focus amy larsen decarlo storage enterprise today focus storage revolution begun 03 07 00 dear wincenty kaminski today focus storage revolution begun amy larsen decarlo believe hype middle storage revolution virtually overnight businesses gone storing gigabytes terabytes data number users accessing information skyrocketing subsequent requirements forcing companies rethink storage strategies recognize importance storage management equation efficient information delivery volume data higher scalability demands changing businesses handle storage premium companies place much enterprise information profound effect storage requirements businesses demand fault tolerant storage systems deliver swift reliable data access employees suppliers customers given fact hard disk capacity requirements average double every 12 months processor speeds double every 18 months companies left quandary manage proliferation stored information efficiently enough compensate differential capacity requirements processor speeds simple answer question institute well executed storage management plan anticipates capacity requirements advance leverages best technologies techniques support needs bear mind majority storage costs come equipment implementation support systems several ways efficiently manage storage one best routes consolidation pooling resources managing storage system opposed decentralized collection file servers may sound like throwback earlier era enterprise storage resided mainframes actually progressive step consolidation centralizing planning management ongoing support storage systems physical location files next important recognize information equally important organization consequently storage requirements vary business application areas important make storage implementation decisions based business needs businesses trying efficiently manage storage looking alternatives distributed file server storage model want speed access stored files remove bandwidth intensive backup recovery operations lan network attached storage nas supplies professionals one answer giving workstations servers way gain direct access stored data nas devices widely available years optimized process transactions though promise better performance remove backups transport network instead supply relatively easy deploy solution cross platform storage problems heterogeneous environments many consider storage area networks san best long term answer current future storage challenges sans designed topology separate corporate data network alleviate many availability performance issues associated traditional storage models yet given early deployment stage companies still many capabilities still largely untested production environment newsletter examine effective storage management professionals reduce support costs improve service delivery customers newsletter focus items like least expensive tape drive fast tape library instead look businesses reduce inefficiencies leverage emerging technologies resolve particular storage application issues ultimately goal identify storage technology options practices work real world environments contact amy larsen decarlo amy larsen decarlo analyst enterprise management associates boulder colo http www com leading analyst market research firm focusing exclusively aspects enterprise management focuses storage management application management security position oversees market research contributes custom project work focal coverage areas prior joining ema amy spent five years covering enterprise management industry trade magazines including informationweek data communications reached mailto decarlo com related links click network world home page http www nwfusion com national storage industry consortium nsic http www nsic org distributed management task force dmtf http www dmtf org storage systems standards working group ieee http www ssswg org ietf http www ietf org subscription services subscribe unsubscribe network world e mail newsletters go change email address go subscription questions contact customer service replying message questions comments editorial comments write jeff caruso newsletter editor mailto jcaruso nww com advertising information write jamie kalbach account executive mailto jkalbach nww com network world fusion part idg net idg online network starts http www idg com copyright network world inc 2000