As the wave of artificial intelligence technology opens possibilities and constrains budgets, IBM Corp. is offering an IBM Storage Assurance Perpetual model, a price-protected subscription for businesses wanting modern storage without breaking the bank.

“What’s really unique and awesome about this Perpetual model is that it’s on client-owned infrastructure … that’s what’s really exciting for clients here, is it’s assets that they own but still get that price protection flexibility on,” said Audrey O’Donnell (pictured), product manager of IBM FlashSystem at IBM Corp.

IBM’s Audrey O’Donnell talks to theCUBE about new storage options and AI’s impact on company storage methods.

O’Donnell spoke with theCUBE Research’s John Furrier and Dave Vellante at IBM’s “Future-Ready Storage Redefining Data Center Boundaries” event, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the new storage options IBM is offering its customers and the ways in which AI is impacting how companies do storage. (* Disclosure below.)

Perpetual helps orgs balance budget with innovation

IBM Storage Assurance Perpetual offers an advanced maintenance agreement for IBM FlashSystem technology, incorporating guaranteed hardware updates and other assurances to minimize lifecycle risks for clients. This contract addresses common storage lifecycle challenges, such as disruptive data migrations, end-of-support issues, terminal code problems, limitations on capacity upgrades and increases in maintenance costs over time.

“Ultimately, clients need to stay modern,” O’Donnell said. “They need the latest infrastructure to keep up with their business needs and regulations, and yet they can’t afford to refresh their equipment every couple of years.”

IBM offers price protection for all subscription options. They focus on a differentiated approach that gives customers the whole package on modernizing storage over time.

“At the core, our approach to the flash storage market is differentiated. We don’t just innovate in the software layer on top of industry standard components,” O’Donnell said. “We also innovate in our FlashCore Module drives. You can non-disruptively get hardware and software innovations over time in a full system sense instead of just ripping one part out and replacing it at a time.”

Having flexible storage maintenance with a low total cost of ownership is particularly important in the age of AI, because companies are now spending a large portion of their budget on machine learning.

“From day one, you don’t have over-purchase,” O’Donnell said. “You can slowly add capacity as your capacity grows, which really is largely the key to optimizing your storage TCO.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of IBM’s “Future-Ready Storage Redefining Data Center Boundaries” event: 

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for IBM’s “Future-Ready Storage Redefining Data Center Boundaries” event. Neither IBM Corp., the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE