DataCore launches "elastic storage" cloud programme

Vendor targets hosters and cloud service providers with rental model

Storage vendor DataCore is introducing a pay-as-you-serve cloud partner programme which it says will make resellers' transition to the cloud more affordable.

The Cloud Service Provider Programme, which will typically cost about £300 per month, is set to be launched in Q3 and uses the vendor's storage hypervisor software.

The "elastic storage" model is scalable and targets VARs that are reluctant to spend a lot on cloud storage initially, according to DataCore's chief executive George Teixeira.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, he said: "The trick with storage is knowing that it is a conservative market.

"This programme targets hosters and cloud service providers with a rental programme so they do not have to spend a lot of money on building clouds.

"If you do not have DataCore, your only alternative is to buy storage hardware or to lease it, and those are still pretty expensive. With pay-as-you-serve, resellers do not have the capital costs upfront first of all."

The model, which coincides with the launch of DataCore's SANsymphony 9.0 storage virtualisation software, is operable with resellers' existing storage products.

Teixeira added: "We cater for cost saving. Whatever storage VARs currently have, we can pool it – they do not have to buy additional storage so they save money by using what they have already.

"Then if they decide to add to the pool, because they have DataCore, they can add whatever is the best price for them. That is the fundamental cost saving."

Keith Joseph, DataCore's manager of EMEA north, said: "What is really in it for resellers is the capex model.

"For example, team managers do not want to have to say to their bosses that they want to spend £150,000 on a new box just to be told they only had a new one 18 months ago.

"They would then have to explain that the new discs are too expensive and it is more cost effective to buy a new box than add new discs. That is the real issue that we get around with a capex model."