The News: NetApp announced new updates to its BlueXP multi-cloud data management platform with a focus on data protection and cyber resiliency. Read NetApp’s release blog here.
NetApp BlueXP Boosts Cyber-Resiliency Capabilities
Analyst Take: NetApp announced BlueXP in November of last year, and since then it has developed into a key piece of NetApp’s hybrid-multi-cloud strategy. The latest announcement for the hybrid-multi-cloud management platform is focused around data protection and cyber-resiliency – another key area for NetApp (and for pretty much every technology vendor lately). The announcement included several data resiliency-focused updates, including:
- Streamlined implementation of 3-2-1 backup schemes
- Protection of Oracle database workloads running on Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
- AWS marketplace availability of Cloud Volumes ONTAP as a trusted resource for the US intelligence community
- Cloud Insights availability for U.S. FedRAMP High Impact level protection requirements
- Dark site deployment modes for BlueXP and related services
The announcement demonstrates that NetApp is applying additional focus to data protection and cyber-resiliency, and is doing so across hybrid multi-cloud environments. While it has not traditionally been considered a “backup vendor”, NetApp has developed several cyber-resiliency features in ONTAP and has further strengthened its backup portfolio with BlueXP backup and recovery.
When looking at this announcement, two of the updates stand out to me in particular. The first is the added simplification of 3-2-1 backup strategies. BlueXP allows users to easily implement and automate 3-2-1 backup schemes, as well as variations such as 3-2-2, 3-2-1-1, or others, on a workload-by-workload basis. 3-2-1 backup is a crucial strategy for IT organizations to implement to keep data protected. BlueXP backup and recovery can help organizations simplify and automate their implementations, as well as provide flexibility to assign different protection schemes as needed to various workloads, all through a single interface. For ONTAP based organizations that need a simple way to protect data, this seems to be a compelling offering to quickly achieve 3-2-1 data protection.
The other notable standout to me was additional deployment modes, allowing BlueXP to operate in dark sites with a new BlueXP restricted mode. This announcement caters to those with the strictest of cyber-resiliency requirements and in my opinion it is a smart move by NetApp. The ability to offer dark site deployments opens BlueXP up to use by federal agencies and other organizations that have strict requirements about external connectivity. This update boosts the both the flexibility and security of BlueXP and opens the door for new users that otherwise would not be able to use the SaaS-based platform.
This announcement from NetApp was all about data protection and cyber-resiliency updates, and that certainly is not a bad thing. In today’s cyber-attack-ridden landscape, more protection is always better – especially when attempting to protect across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. NetApp has made some nice steps with this update, simplifying backup processes and opening up availability to high-security environments. It also signaled that data protection and resiliency will be key aspects of BlueXP moving forward, and I would expect to see further cyber-resiliency focused updates in the future.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other insights from The Futurum Group:
Infrastructure Matters, Episode 1: Why Does Infrastructure Matter?
NetApp Analyst Summit: Building a Moat Around Data Services
NetApp Announces Storage Portfolio Updates Focusing on ONTAP
Author Information
Mitch comes to The Futurum Group through the acquisition of the Evaluator Group and is focused on the fast-paced and rapidly evolving areas of cloud computing and data storage. Mitch joined Evaluator Group in 2019 as a Research Associate covering numerous storage technologies and emerging IT trends.
With a passion for all things tech, Mitch brings deep technical knowledge and insight to The Futurum Group’s research by highlighting the latest in data center and information management solutions. Mitch’s coverage has spanned topics including primary and secondary storage, private and public clouds, networking fabrics, and more. With ever changing data technologies and rapidly emerging trends in today’s digital world, Mitch provides valuable insights into the IT landscape for enterprises, IT professionals, and technology enthusiasts alike.
