Cirtas Is Making the Cloud Accessible

(Editor’s Note: This article refers to a video interview shot at Cloud Expo 2010 in Santa Clara, California. To view the entire library of videos from other industry shows, Road Shows and product demos and interviews in our in-house studio, visit TMCnet Videos home page.)

Have you tried to move your storage focus to the cloud? To get a better idea of what this may look like or the technology available, TMCnet’s Erin Harrison sat down with Josh Goldstein, VP of Marketing for Cirtas Systems, at Cloud Expo.

According to Goldstein, Cirtas has developed a new kind of data storage device: cloud storage controller. This controller is something that looks like a storage device in a traditional setting, but it utilizes cloud-based storage services. It is used as a data repository instead of storage through traditional methods.

The main goal for Cirtas, according to Goldstein, is to “Make the cloud accessible and high performing in areas it wouldn’t be otherwise.”

In essence, the company leveraging expertise so you can use the cloud more easily than traditional methods. Any company can use the cloud for a broader set of applications with the same protection and security. Generally, the users won’t even know cloud is being used other than lower cost.

When asked what is primarily driving adoption, Goldstein noted that clients are typically mid-market enterprise companies. Data is growing at a high rate and companies are generally struggling with storage capacity. Cirtas aims to give them an easy way to store data; fewer moving parts and lower cost.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 and secondary storage are the primary focus for Cirtas customers. They are seeking ways to drive archiving, developing, test environments, anything below mission critical or Tier 1. Secondary storage can include a backup environment so devices can be used to backup in the cloud instead of in the physical environment.

As for Hybrid model benefits, an onsite appliance ties you into a public cloud, but a business can also tie into a private cloud. The device will act as local storage gateway into the cloud and gives the appearance of local storage and private cloud that is easier to manage.

When asked for predictions or trends for 2011, Goldstein noted that is will be a banner year where cloud really starts to take off and make it more accessible. Cirtas plans to lead the way on the storage side as we see it cross over into the mainstream and commercial apps that will be cloud deployed.

“We have seen a huge shift where cloud initiatives are being driven by the CIO.” They are always comparing in-house versus the cloud to go with what is best.

As for Cirtas core message? “You can now have cloud storage that works like your local storage.”