NetApp: No one can criticise our flash plans any more
Storage firm's UK boss talks up SolidFire acquisition
NetApp's UK boss has declared that the firm's SolidFire acquisition means its flash strategy is exactly where it should be - and is beyond criticism.
NetApp announced plans to snap up the flash firm before Christmas and the deal closed at the start of this month. Of SolidFire's 25 UK staff, about 13 used to work at NetApp, which its UK managing director Elliot Howard (pictured) said meant the duo is a good fit in terms of company culture.
Speaking to CRN at a NetApp event dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT), Howard said that he is "massively excited" about the future for the combined firm.
"We have our business to close out this year so we need to remain focused on our quarter, but now we're looking at that technology and how we can take that technology to the UK through our partners," he said. "It's a very specific solution set and it [lends itself] to service providers themselves who are looking to monetise IT, and also organisations which are looking to create internal services themselves, such as banks, retailers and telcos.
"That is a massive opportunity for us and our partners. If you look at the one bit [of the storage market] that is growing, that is flash. They are a leading vendor in the flash market and it is a fantastically simple product to use. For those looking to simplify IT... without the headaches which come with legacy processes, this technology very much enables that. It is simple, fast; it scales massively. We're very excited.
"Now actually, no one can criticise our flash strategy."
In the past, NetApp has had to defend its position in the market after rival firms such as EMC and new flash start-ups began making gains in the space.
At today's NetApp event, execs discussed the IoT and its impact on the market. NetApp's technology director Matt Watts declared that his company is an IoT company, and has been for a while, thanks to the number of "things" it has deployed which collect data.
Howard said there is no danger that declaring itself an IoT specialist will dilute NetApp's message.
"The fundamental [message] underlying [IoT] is data," he said. "You've got sensors which are creating data, transport mechanisms moving the data, then resources storing and managing that data. Underlying is data and we're a data-management company.
"IT is an enabler of business outcomes. Nobody buys a drill because they want a drill - they want a hole. In fact, they don't want a hole, they want to hang up a picture of their kids. We need to understand the value we are creating. We accept that flash and data fabric [and IoT] are a component of an outcome, and that outcome is better customer service."