New Research From TheInfoPro Shows Niche Storage Technology Vendors Are Causing A Shift In Provider Landscape

TheInfoPro (TIP),an independent research network and leading supplier of market intelligence for the Information Technology (IT) industry, recently announced that for the fourth wave in a row, EMC, HDS, NetApp, 3PAR, and Data Domain top TIP's "Most Exciting Storage Vendor" list. This list – which is part of the Wave 10 Storage Study, which details technology adoption trends and timeframes, management techniques, and vendor performance data for the Storage industry – is compiled based on feedback from Storage professionals regarding which of the Storage vendors and products they consider to be the most exciting

To view a rich media presentation of findings, visit: www.brainshark.com/theinfopro/stor_timeseries

From a time-series perspective, HDS, NetApp, 3PAR, and Data Domain have all trended up. EMC, though still receiving the most mentions, has trended downward for the fourth consecutive wave. IBM, though receiving more mentions in Wave 10 vs. Wave 9, dropped from being one of the Top 5 most exciting Storage vendors, to being #6 in Wave 10. IBM reverses positions with Data Domain, which is now in the #5 spot. Brocade, previously cited, did not receive any "exciting vendor" mentions in Wave 10.

"Though the vendors that top the list have remained relatively unchanged over the past four waves of our Storage Study, our Time Series Report indicates that companies with extensive Storage portfolios that fail to integrate newly acquired or newly developed products lost out to those companies that did integrate best-of-breed / novel products," said Robert Stevenson, Managing Director of Storage Research.

In order of ranking, the following vendors were included in the Fortune 1000 (F1000) "Most Exciting Storage Vendor" list for Wave 10: EMC, HDS, NetAPP, 3PAR, Data Domain, IBM, Cisco, Sun, F5 Networks, HP, Symantec, Compellent, XIV Information Systems, Isilon Systems, SEPATON, Riverbed, Quantum, NEC, LSI, FalconStor, Diligent Technologies, and COPAN.

Among the other organizations that were mentioned as being exciting within F1000 organizations are Autonomy, BlueArc, Caringo, DataDirect Networks, EqualLogic, Incipient, Kazeon, LeftHand Networks, Netezza, Nexsan, Nortel, Onaro, ONStor, SANRAD, Solutions Made Simple, Xiotech, and YottaYotta

The above-mentioned dynamic is even more evident within the Midsize Enterprise (MSE) market, where the "Most Exciting Storage Vendor" list was dominated by those companies that introduced novel products into the market. In order of ranking, the MSE list includes EMC, 3PAR, HDS, Compellent, Data Domain, NetApp, Sun, Pillar Data, HP, EqualLogic, BlueArc, ONStor, LSI, LeftHand Networks, IBM, DataCore, and Brocade as most exciting.

"MSE organizations don't have as large a storage capacity to consider, making it easier for them to switch their providers. In addition, the lack of legacy systems within these organizations allows them to get new technologies into production much sooner than would be possible for F1000 organizations," says Stevenson.

Over 250 F1000 and MSE end users were interviewed for the Wave 10 Storage Study, providing commentary and insight on their Storage adoption plans, management strategies, and vendor performance. Storage Technology providers that were mentioned throughout the study include: 3PAR, Adaptec, Anue Systems, Arkivio, Asempra, Attachmate, Autonomy, BakBone, Blue Coat, Broadcom, Brocade, CA, Ciena, Cisco, ClearPoint Metrics, CommVault, COPAN, DataDirect, Networks, Data Domain, Dell, Diligent Technologies, Double-Take, Egenera, EMC, Emulex, EqualLogic, FalconStor, Finisar, Force10 Networks, Fujitsu Siemens, HDS, HP, IBM, IBRIX, Incipient, InMage, Isilon Systems, Juniper, LeftHand Networks, LSI, Microsoft, MSI Computer, NetApp, NEC, Nexsan, Nortel, Onaro, ONStor, Oracle, Packeteer, PlateSpin, QLogic, Quantum, Quest Software, Rackable Systems, Red Hat, Riverbed, Seagate, SEPATON, Signiant, Silver Peak, Spectra Logic, Sun, Symantec, Virtual Iron, Voltaire, Winchester Systems, Yotta Yotta.

About TheInfoPro
TheInfoPro (TIP) is the only independent research network for the Information Technology (IT) industry. Through a peer network of over 1600 of the world's largest buyers and users of IT, including Citigroup, FedEx, McGraw-Hill, MasterCard, Pfizer, Vodafone, PepsiCo, JPMorgan Chase, and Harvard University, TIP delivers detailed budget, vendor performance and technology roadmap data without spin or bias. Known as the "voice of the customer," TIP helps IT professionals, technology providers, and institutional investors make sound decisions on technologies, vendor relationships and investments. Founded in 2002 by alumni of Gartner, Giga, EMC, and Bell Labs, TIP is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. To learn more, visit www.theinfopro.net

SOURCE: TheInfoPro