As many enterprises transfer more and more data from their on-premises data centers, they are considering complex questions and entertaining complex solutions to face the challenges this moment in society presents.

As such, enterprise leaders are ready to invest in simple data storage solutions, according to Eric Herzog (pictured), chief marketing officer and vice president of global storage channels at IBM. “They want to support the business as it evolves and transforms, using data as that catalyst for better customer experience, improved operations and more profitable options,” he said.

What will not help these leaders is more complex applications that ultimately amount to underlying technology unfit to scale. It’s the right time for CIOs to push their suppliers to make things simpler. 

Herzog spoke with Stu Miniman, host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio, during VMworld. They discussed IBM’s FlashSystem updates, including what makes it a simple yets powerful and cost-effective solution. (* Disclosure below.)

A simple solution with multiple entry points

IBM Storage’s new FlashSystem Family is designed to appeal to business leaders that traverse entry and mid-range enterprises. The product can also be deployed automatically to a hybrid multicloud environment. This is important to note as it can do this from one “common platform, common API, common software, our award-winning Spectrum Virtualize, and innovative technologies around,” according to Herzog. 

The FlashSystem product integrates with anything that uses IBM FlashCore Modules. This makes this product convenient for organizations that already use FlashSystems semi 200, 9200 or 9200R, Herzog pointed out. 

The new FlashSystem Family can be described as a “one-stop shop,” as it can support both IBM and competitor solutions. IBM’s Spectrum Virtualize, a product in its FlashSystem portfolio, can virtualize non-IBM arrays, giving them the same enterprise functionality. When necessary, it can also do this for hybrid cloud technology — for both IBM and competitor products. 

How simplicity enhances the bottom line

“We can do 70 mites of latency, so almost twice as fast, without using storage class memory,” said Herzog.

Users can create hybrid configurations, with storage class and flash. Leveraging the AI based technology, users can have IBM Flash Core Modules and introduce standard SSDs if desired.

In fact, AI is a key factor in the system’s quick processing. AI is based in IBM’s Storage Insights, predictive analytics, management and support infrastructure.

“You need to imbue your storage [with AI], which we’ve done across FlashSystems, including what we’ve done with our cloud edition … and an on-prem edition, [with] AI across that entire platform, using Spectrum Virtualize.” 

IBM’s FlashSystem Family is likely to reduce operational expenses and operational manpower because of its “common API, a common software platform, a common foundation for data management and data movement. It’s not going to be as complex for you to pull your storage configurations,” Herzog explained.

Additionally, users will not have to make as many choices between high-end workloads, mid-range workloads and entry workloads. 

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of VMworld. (* Disclosure: VMware Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither VMware nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE