The fifth annual survey conducted by networked storage solution provider Brocade asked IT managers to identify their top needs for the coming year. Overwhelmingly the results showed that reducing costs and the complexity of storage and file management are at the top of the list for the fourth consecutive year. Brocade conducts its annual end-user survey to track the key priorities and concerns of its enterprise customers, and uses the results to improve the company’s product and services offerings.
Of the 660 enterprise customers who responded to this year’s survey:
59% noted that reducing cost and complexity remains their top priority;
43% said the need to reduce server provisioning times, and provide server virtualisation are top priorities;
42% rated business continuity and disaster recovery as top priorities;
37% indicated plans to re-architect existing SANs for growth or next-generation data center needs; and
34% identified file data management as a top priority (the largest increase in a category from last year’s results).
“The fact that solving issues around cost and complexity surfaced again as key priorities underscores the profound impact that data growth continues to have on the data center,” said Tom Buiocchi, Brocade Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Support.
Brocade sells many of its solutions through partners of the Brocade Alliance Partner Network and provides sales and marketing tools, training, service, and support to partners in selling Brocade SAN and IT infrastructure solutions. The Alliance Partner Network is designed to meet the needs of a broad range of channel partners, including those that purchase Brocade products directly through Brocade Distributors as well as Brocade OEM Partners and their distribution channels. The results of the annual end-user survey are helpful to Brocade reseller partners in determining market needs and trends.
