Block Data Storage Buyer’s Guide: A Pragmatic Process to Selecting Primary Shared Block Data Storage
Topics: Software-defined storage, Block data storage, Storage Buyer’s Guide, TCO calculation, Scale-out storage
Pages: 36
Company: StorPool
This document outlines a pragmatic, step-by-step process for evaluating, comparing, and selecting primary shared block data storage. The guide is specifically created for CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, IT professionals, storage architects, and DevOps leaders who are looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of modern block storage, control operational costs, and position their infrastructure for massive data growth.
Key insights and tools provided in this guide include:
- Understanding Storage Types: Explains the distinct differences and use cases between block, file, object, and unified data storage, highlighting why block storage is the premier choice for low-latency, high-performance applications.
- Debunking Storage Myths: Clarifies common misconceptions regarding data storage media (such as SSDs vs. HDDs) and emphasizes how sub-second application response times drastically improve user productivity and time-to-market.
- Solving Storage Shortcomings: Addresses frequent block storage problems, including performance restrictions at high capacity, non-scalable controller bottlenecks, and compromised data protection architectures.
- Modern Data Protection: Highlights the need for robust ransomware mitigation, immutable snapshots, two-factor authentication (2FA), and efficient erasure coding that doesn’t decimate performance during drive rebuilds.
- Calculating Real TCO: Details a holistic process for calculating the true Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) that goes beyond simple price-per-terabyte to include hard costs, soft costs (like admin productivity and turnover), and opportunity costs.
- Evaluation Framework: Provides a practical technical requirements worksheet and methodology for evaluating block data storage features against actual business needs, ensuring the chosen solution scales efficiently without disrupting operations.
