I recently had the privilege of interviewing two industry veterans, Emil Velazquez, Vice President of Federal Sales at CTERA and Ed Krejcik, Senior Manager and, Systems Engineering at Dell Technologies. We discussed a pressing issue in the federal IT landscape: How to Fortify Federal IT with Distributed File Services and Object Storage. This subject is more relevant than ever as enterprises, particularly those in the federal sector, are grappling with exponential data growth, especially in unstructured data, and the subsequent challenges in storage and data management.
The digital age has brought about an explosion of data, with unstructured data—such as documents, emails, videos, and social media posts—making up approximately 80% of enterprise data. What’s more, a significant portion of this data is generated at the edge—remote or branch offices, research labs, or even mobile devices spread across vast geographies. Traditional storage solutions, primarily Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems, are struggling to keep up with this surge. These legacy systems were designed for a different era, where data was centrally located and could be managed within a single, confined infrastructure.
However, today’s enterprises, especially within the federal government, are finding these systems increasingly inadequate. Traditional NAS appliances often lead to data silos, making centralized management, cross-department collaboration, and secure access challenging, if not impossible. Moreover, the constant need for hardware upgrades, backups, and maintenance adds significant costs and complexity.
As organizations reconsider their file storage strategies, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a marked shift from traditional NAS systems to cloud-native solutions. These modern solutions offer fast, secure, and flexible data access, allowing employees and applications to access necessary files regardless of location. This shift is not merely a trend but a necessity, driven by the need for improved efficiency, security, and scalability in an increasingly distributed work environment.
To gain a deeper understanding of how federal IT departments can navigate these challenges, I spoke with Emil Velazquez, Vice President of Federal Sales at CTERA and Ed Krejcik, Senior Manager and, Systems Engineering at Dell Technologies who provided invaluable insights into the benefits of transitioning to modern, software-defined storage solutions.
One of the first topics we tackled was the concern many federal agencies have regarding the cost and capacity limitations of their existing NAS infrastructure. These legacy systems, often from manufacturers like NetApp, EMC Isilon, or Windows servers, were once the backbone of enterprise storage. However, they are now showing their age, particularly in environments where data growth is outpacing the ability to scale storage effectively.
Emil pointed out that many organizations are still tethered to these outdated systems, resulting in inefficiencies and increased operational costs. He suggested that modern software-defined storage solutions could be the key to overcoming these challenges. Unlike traditional storage systems, which are often hardware-dependent and inflexible, software-defined solutions offer a high degree of scalability and flexibility. They allow organizations to manage unstructured data more effectively, both in centralized data centers and at the edge, without the constant need for expensive hardware upgrades.
These solutions also enable organizations to break free from the “islands” of storage that legacy systems create. By adopting a software-defined approach, federal agencies can consolidate their data into a more unified, manageable system, reducing the complexity and cost of managing multiple, disparate storage systems.
Another key point in our discussion was the growing role of object storage in modern IT infrastructure. Object storage has been around for some time, but it has gained significant traction with the rise of cloud-native technologies such as AWS and Azure. Emil explained that object storage is designed to handle large amounts of unstructured data, making it an ideal solution for the scalability and cost-efficiency challenges many organizations face today.
Object storage differs from traditional file or block storage in that it stores data as objects, each with its metadata, which makes it highly scalable and flexible. This structure allows for easier data retrieval, better integration with modern applications, and more efficient use of storage resources.
Ed expanded on this by highlighting the specific advantages of using object storage in federal IT environments. He emphasized that object storage is inherently scalable, allowing organizations to expand their storage capacity as needed without significant downtime or disruption. This is particularly important in environments where data growth is unpredictable or where there is a need for rapid scalability, such as in the case of sudden increases in data generated from remote sensors or video surveillance systems.
Moreover, object storage supports the S3 protocol, which has become the standard for cloud storage. This makes it easier to integrate with existing cloud infrastructure, whether public, private, or hybrid. The ability to seamlessly move data between on-premise storage and cloud environments provides federal agencies with the flexibility they need to manage their data more effectively while maintaining control over sensitive information.
As our discussion progressed, the conversation shifted to the benefits of a hybrid cloud model—an approach that combines on-premise and cloud storage solutions. Ed explained that while the public cloud offers many advantages, such as scalability and accessibility, it is not always the most cost-effective or secure option, especially for sensitive or frequently accessed data.
One common misconception, he noted, is that the public cloud is always cheaper. While it can be an inexpensive solution for storing large amounts of data, the costs associated with data retrieval—known as egress charges—can quickly add up, particularly for organizations that need to access their data frequently. This is where a hybrid cloud model can provide the best of both worlds. By keeping frequently accessed or sensitive data on-premise, organizations can avoid high egress costs while still benefiting from the scalability and flexibility of the cloud.
The hybrid model also offers enhanced security and control, which are critical for federal IT departments handling classified or sensitive data. By maintaining an on-premise storage solution like Dell ECS, agencies can ensure that their data remains secure and within their control, while still leveraging cloud services for less sensitive or archival data.
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is a top concern for all organizations, but especially for those in the federal sector. Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting unstructured data that is often less protected than structured data in databases. Emil stressed the importance of a robust security strategy that includes end-to-end encryption, immutable snapshots, and AI-enabled threat detection.
Modern storage solutions, such as those offered by CTERA and Dell Technologies, are built with a zero-trust architecture, meaning that no part of the network is trusted by default. This approach is crucial in preventing unauthorized access and ensuring that data remains secure, whether it is stored on-premise, at the edge, or in the cloud.
Another essential component of modern storage solutions is their ability to enforce data retention policies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. This is particularly important for federal agencies that must adhere to strict data governance standards. Emil noted that with a global file system like CTERA’s, agencies can not only enforce these policies but also enhance them, ensuring that data is protected and recoverable in the event of an attack or disaster.
As we wrapped up our discussion, it became clear that the future of federal IT lies in the adoption of modern, software-defined storage solutions that are flexible, scalable, and secure. The combination of object storage, hybrid cloud models, and advanced security features provides federal agencies with the tools they need to manage the growing challenges of unstructured data.
These solutions not only address the limitations of legacy NAS systems but also enhance the overall efficiency and security of federal IT infrastructure. By embracing these innovations, federal agencies can ensure that they are prepared to meet the demands of the digital age while maintaining the highest standards of data protection and management.
If you’re ready to transform your data storage strategy and overcome the limitations of traditional NAS systems, it’s time to explore the modern, scalable solutions that can empower your organization. Wildflower is here to help you navigate this critical transition with innovative distributed file services and object storage tailored to the unique needs of the federal government.
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