Storage survey reveals market in state of flux

IT managers looking for cheapest way to store data as downturn forces them to find quick-fix solutions

The European storage market is in the middle of rapid change, according to market watcher IDC.

The analyst’s EMEA storage research team’s seventh annual storage survey has revealed that deteriorating economic environments are causing IT managers to opt for quick-fix solutions.

Respondents said they were most likely to deal with the downturn by freezing spend related to new projects, switching to lower-cost technology, or increasing the approvals needed for spending decisions.

Christopher Evans, managing director of VAR Oak Systems, said: “Statutory rights are driving data growth, but businesses are looking for the cheapest way to store it.”

The survey also revealed that storage is far less likely to experience spending cuts than other technologies such as PCs and printers.

Paul Hickingbotham, solutions manager at storage distributor Hammer, added: “We have seen evidence to back up these claims that the storage market is changing, but definitely not slowing.”