Different Types of Enterprise Data Storage Systems

The ever-growing data and the need of secure databases are top concerns of business enterprises now. Choosing the right data storage system for the enterprises can also be difficult, especially when the business is unsure about the future requirements. Business data storage architecture usually consist more than one device and the storage architecture can be classified in to 3 categories as follows.

1. Direct Attached Storage or DAS: As name implies, DAS is a storage infrastructure consisting of secondary storage systems attached to the computer or server. The storage is block level. DAS can be fast because the data is stored and retrieved from directly attached devices and do not involve any networks.
2. Network Attached Storage or NAS: As sounds, NAS is a storage infrastructure in which the storage devices like computers, servers and RAIDs are connected to a network and have specific IP addresses. There is also a supporting operating system or software program is utilized to monitor and manage the storage architecture.
3. Storage Area Network or SAN: This is highly dedicated and scalable data storage architecture in which different storage devices and architectures are interconnected. SAN architecture supports monitoring, data sharing, backup and archiving.

This blog is written for SWAN Solutions, an Indian data storage system dealer offering top quality IBM data storage systems for businesses.