RESEARCH REPORT. Abstract. Storage Resource Management Market on the Launch Pad. By Mary Turner and Bob Laliberte With John McKnight and Jennifer Gahm

Transcription

1 RESEARCH REPORT Abstract Storage Resource Management Market on the Launch Pad By Mary Turner and Bob Laliberte With John McKnight and Jennifer Gahm October 2007

2 Introduction Research Objectives The term Storage Resource Management (SRM) covers a broad spectrum of reporting, analysis and troubleshooting tools used to optimize the utilization and performance of storage resources. SRM tools are distinct from native device-specific element managers in that they are designed to support heterogeneous platforms and/or span across multiple operational domains. As the scale and complexity of enterprise and midmarket storage requirements escalate, more and more organizations are implementing and evaluating SRM tools to help improve storage utilization, reduce capital expenses for storage, hold the line on staffing costs and reduce power and cooling expenditures. The survey data discussed in this report is designed to provide a snapshot of current and planned SRM use with an emphasis on understanding decision drivers and top priority functional requirements. This data is based on information collected from 220 North American IT decision makers representing a cross-section of enterprise (1,000 or more employees) and midmarket organizations ( employees) in a variety of industries. This is the first time ESG has conducted a quantitative assessment of customer opinions on this topic. It is designed to provide baseline information that can anchor ESG s ongoing analysis of the evolving SRM market. For the purposes of this survey, ESG provided respondents with the following definition of SRM: SRM software is defined as any software other than device-specific element managers that you have implemented to collect information on your storage environment in order to more effectively manage that environment. Typical functions of SRM software include provisioning, capacity utilization monitoring and trending, and reporting (among others). SRM tools increasingly encompass other infrastructure elements such as servers, SAN switches and applications in addition to storage. Key areas analyzed by the research include: The extent of current and planned use of SRM tools Key operational challenges causing customers to purchase SRM tools Major benefits realized from these investments Deployment challenges Timelines and drivers for new customer purchases Top priority SRM features and functions Vendors most frequently considered Objections raised by non-adopters For more details on research methodology and profiles of the survey participants, please see the Research Methodology and Respondent Demographics sections.

3 Research Methodology To gather data for this report, ESG conducted a comprehensive on-line survey of IT and business professionals from North American (U.S. and Canadian) public- and private-sector organizations between August 6, 2007 and August 13, To qualify for this survey, respondents were required to manage the IT group responsible for data storage or have day-to-day responsibility for their organization s data storage technologies and processes. Survey respondents also had to be utilizing some sort of external storage system (i.e., direct attached external storage system and/or storage area network/network attached storage). Respondents received a cash incentive to complete the survey. We received a total of 276 responses to the survey. Respondents were disqualified from the survey if they did not have management or direct operational responsibility for their organization s data storage technologies and processes or if they were using internal server storage only. After removing duplicate responses and screening the remaining completed responses (on a number of criteria) for data integrity, we were left with a final total sample of 220 IT and business professionals who utilized external storage and were responsible for managing their organization s data storage technologies and processes. Please see the Respondent Demographics section of this report for more information on these respondents. Note: Totals in figures and tables throughout this report may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

4 Respondent Demographics The quantitative information presented in this report is based on 220 qualified respondents to ESG s survey on storage resource management software. The figures below detail the demographics of our respondent base including the respondents current role in their organization, number of employees, primary industry, annual revenue, number of servers in production and current storage capacity. Respondents by Role An important qualifying criterion for this survey was that each respondent had to either manage the IT group responsible for data storage or have day-to-day operational responsibility for their organization s storage system. All survey respondents who did not manage or have direct operational responsibility for data storage technologies and processes were disqualified from the survey (see Figure 1). FIGURE 1. RESPONDENTS BY ROLE Which of the following best describes your current responsibilities with respect to your organization's data storage technologies and processes? (Percent of respondents, N = 220) Have day-to-day operational responsibility for storage system, 49% Manage IT group responsible for storage, 51% Respondents by Number of Employees ESG classifies organizations into the following five market segments: Small (less than 100 employees), Midmarket ( employees), Small Enterprise (1,000 to 4,999 employees), Enterprise (5,000 to 19,999 employees) and Large Enterprise (20,000 or more employees). This was a survey of midmarket and enterpriseclass organizations only, and a breakdown of respondents by these segments is shown in Figure 2.

5 FIGURE 2. RESPONDENTS BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES How many employees does your organization have worldwide? (Percent of respondents, N = 220) 20,000 or more (Large Enterprise), 17% 5,000 to 19,999 (Enterprise), 15% 100 to 999 (Mid- Market), 42% 1,000 to 4,999 (Small Enterprise), 26% Respondents by Industry Survey respondents were asked to identify their organization s primary industry. In total, ESG received completed, qualified responses from individuals in 14 distinct vertical industries, plus an Other category (see Table 1). TABLE 1. RESPONDENTS BY INDUSTRY What is your organization s primary industry? (Percent of respondents) Business Services (accounting, consulting, legal, IT, etc.) 5% Education 11% Financial Services (banking, brokerage, insurance) 12% Government 13% Health Care 15% Information Technology 8% Life Sciences (biotech, pharmaceuticals, etc.) 1% Manufacturing 13% Media / Entertainment / Publishing 3% Non-profit 1% Retail / Wholesale 5% Telecommunications 4% Transportation & Logistics 1% Utilities 2% Other 6% Total: 100%

6 Respondents by Annual Revenue The annual revenue of survey respondents organizations is shown in Figure 3. FIGURE 3. RESPONDENTS BY ANNUAL REVENUE What is your organization's annual revenue ($US)? (Percent of respondents, N = 220) Greater than $5 billion, 13% $1 billion to $5 billion, 17% Less than $500 million, 53% $500 million to $999 million, 18% Respondents by Number of Production Servers The number of production servers in respondents immediate organization is shown in Figure 4. FIGURE 4. RESPONDENTS BY TOTAL NUMBER OF PRODUCTION SERVERS How many total production servers are there at your present location? (Percent of respondents, N = 220) 25% 23% 20% 18% 17% 15% 10% 5% 0% 3% 6% 10% 11% 10% 1 to 5 6 to to to to to to 500 More than 500 1% Don t know

7 Respondents by Storage Capacity The total volume of storage capacity under management at respondents organizations is shown in Figure 5. FIGURE 5. RESPONDENTS BY STORAGE CAPACITY What is the approximate total volume of storage capacity under management at your present location? (Percent of respondents, N = 217) 40% 35% 30% 36% 34% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Less than 10 TB TB More than 50 TB

8 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 1 List of Figures... 2 List of Tables... 2 Executive Summary... 3 Report Conclusions... 3 Introduction... 5 Research Objectives... 5 Research Conclusions... 6 Increasing Data Center Scale and Complexity Fuel SRM Demand... 6 Reporting Requirements Drive Evaluations; Utilization Improvements Validate the Investment... 9 Current Users Sound Off on SRM Challenges Reporting and Planning Requirements Shape New SRM Product Evaluations Feature/Function and Vendor Preferences Customer Education Is Required to Accelerate SRM Demand...17 Research Methodology Respondent Demographics Respondents by Role Respondents by Number of Employees Respondents by Industry Respondents by Annual Revenue Respondents by Number of Production Servers Respondents by Storage Capacity... 23

9 List of Figures Figure 1. Current and Planned Production Use of SRM Software... 7 Figure 2. Duration of SRM Software Production Use... 7 Figure 3. Current and Planned Production Use of SRM Software, Enterprise vs. Midmarket... 8 Figure 4. Current and Planned Production Use of SRM Software, by Storage Capacity... 8 Figure 5. Geographic Scope of Current SRM Implementations... 9 Figure 6. SRM Adoption Drivers Current Users Figure 7. SRM Benefits Realized Current Users Figure 8. SRM Features Offered vs. Regularly Used Current Users Figure 9. SRM Challenges Current Users Figure 10. Timing of Future SRM Purchases Planned Adopters Figure 11. SRM Purchase Drivers Planned Adopters Figure 12. Top Priority SRM Features Current Users and Planned Adopters Figure 13. Top SRM Vendors Being Considered Planned Adopters Figure 14. SRM Purchase Objections Non-Adopters Figure 15. Respondents by Role Figure 16. Respondents by Number of Employees Figure 17. Respondents by Annual Revenue Figure 18. Respondents by Total Number of Production Servers Figure 19. Respondents by Storage Capacity List of Tables Table 1. Respondents by Industry All trademark names are property of their respective companies. Information contained in this publication has been obtained by sources The Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) considers to be reliable but is not warranted by ESG. This publication may contain opinions of ESG, which are subject to change from time to time. This publication is copyrighted by The Enterprise Strategy Group, Inc. Any reproduction or redistribution of this publication, in whole or in part, whether in hard-copy format, electronically, or otherwise to persons not authorized to receive it, without the express consent of the Enterprise Strategy Group, Inc., is in violation of U.S. copyright law and will be subject to an action for civil damages and, if applicable, criminal prosecution. Should you have any questions, please contact ESG Client Relations at (508)

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