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and Common Internet File System (CIFS). The cloud storage gateways use standard network
protocols to integrate existing applications with cloud storage service offerings.
One other use case of cloud storage gateways is to use the gateway as an intermediary to
multiple cloud storage service providers. For example, TwinStrata's CloudArray software
(
www.twinstrata.com/solutions-overview
) gives enterprises the ability to seamlessly store
data across a choice of cloud storage providers. TwinStrata distributes CloudArray as a vir-
tual appliance, meaning that it can reside alongside the existing storage infrastructure.
StorSimple (
www.storsimple.com/solutions-overview/
) and Panzura (
http://panzura
.com/solutions/
) work toward appliances that implement technologies to balance stor-
age across on-premises and remote locations. Both the companies offer solutions specific to
Microsoft applications, including SharePoint and Exchange. The solution delivers a view of
cloud storage as block volumes.
Cloud storage gateways also offer features such as backup and recovery system, caching,
compression, data deduplication, encryption, and storage provisioning. Nasuni provides the
Nasuni Filter (
www.nasuni.com/how_it_works/storage_controller
), which is a software
virtual appliance that resides on the on-premises server. The software encryption and dedu-
plication techniques (such as chunking, data hashing, and primary/secondary storage segre-
gation) are employed before making use of one or many cloud storage providers.
CTERA cloud storage gateway (
www.ctera.com/products/products/cloud-storage-
gateways
) is another hybrid appliance solution that transparently combines cloud storage
with local storage. The appliance also features NAS capabilities and backup functionality.
CTERA uses the on-premises local storage for maximizing performance and local sharing
while utilizing the cloud storage for universal access, file sharing, and synchronization and
data backup.
Amazon also offers the AWS Storage Gateway solution (
http://aws.amazon.com
/storagegateway/
). It connects on-premise applications with cloud storage in a transpar-
ent and secure manner. Encrypted data can be stored directly onto Amazon S3 or Amazon
Glacier. Moreover, it provides a cost-effective solution that supports standard storage pro-
tocols. The AWS Storage Gateway maintains frequently accessed data in on-premise storage
infrastructures to provide low-latency performance.
The AWS Storage Gateway supports three configurations:
Gateway-Cached Volumes
Frequently accessed data is stored on premise, and primary
data is stored on S3. Advantages include cost savings due to minimization of the need to
expand on-premise resources and low-latency access to frequently accessed data.
Gateway-Stored Volumes
All primary data is stored locally, and asynchronous backups of
data to S3 is provided. Advantages include durable and inexpensive cloud backup.
Gateway-Virtual Tape Library
Data is stored on limitless collection of tapes. Each tape
is backed up by S3 or Glacier. Advantages include inexpensive and virtually unlimited
backup facilities.
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