target audience: TECH BUYER Publication date: Nov 2020 - Document type: IDC Perspective - Doc Document number: # US46981720
The Rise of Secondary Storage AFAs: It's Déjà Vu All Over Again
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Abstract
This IDC Perspective discusses what factors should go into the total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis of secondary storage all-flash arrays (AFAs) based on quad-level cell (QLC) media. Secondary storage all-flash arrays based on quad-level cell media are just starting to become available. These systems lower the dollar-per-gigabyte cost of flash-based systems, getting them that much closer to the cost of HDD-based arrays that use nearline SAS HDDs. Prospective buyers comparing these new arrays with older HDD-based systems should focus on the total cost of ownership they deliver rather than just the dollar-per-gigabyte cost of the storage devices.
"Based on performance as well as a number of other advantages, it took all-flash arrays just seven short years to completely dominate enterprise storage array revenue for primary storage workloads," said Eric Burgener, research vice president, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms, and Technologies Group, IDC. "With the introduction of all-flash arrays based around cost-effective quad-level cell flash media, we see storage vendors targeting secondary storage workloads that have been a stronghold for hard disk drive–based arrays over the past two decades. IDC expects over the next several years that TCO arguments for these 'secondary storage AFAs' will drive the rise of a new multibillion-dollar market as they are selected more often to replace hybrid flash and HDD-based arrays."