Sphere 3D Announces SnapCloud Availability on Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Virtualization and data management provider Sphere 3D has announced the availability of its SnapCloud cloud storage system on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

"We utilized an enterprise hardened storage OS to power the next generation of storage from the cloud," said Peter Tassiopoulos, president of Sphere 3D, "With the ability to centrally manage globally distributed deployments, a secure file sync and share capability across any device, and a seamless hybrid capability, we are set to deliver a value proposition to our customers that is unmatched in the industry."

Sphere 3D is targeting SnapCloud as a hybrid cloud storage solution for its existing customer base of SnapServer customers. They can add extra capacity in the cloud to deal with unexpected demand or outages.

In addition to hybrid combinations of on-premises and cloud-based deployments, customers can opt for a completely cloud-based storage solution.

One of the reasons that enterprise companies are attracted to cloud solutions is that they can only pay for the capacity they actually use. Servers costs money, both in terms of time to set them up and the costs of the actual hardware. Cloud services like SnapCloud let businesses have the storage they need instantly and eliminating unused capacity.

Offering SnapCloud on Microsoft Azure will net the company even more name recognition. While there are already a number of cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft is a “safe” IT choice in many organizations, similar to how earlier generations never got fired for buying IBM.

The announcement will make Azure a valid choice for more people, and with an existing installed base of 300,000 for SnapServer, Microsoft is optimistic about the deal.

"As the world becomes more mobile and generates significantly more data, enterprises are seeking a mix of cloud and on-premises services that can help them quickly deploy applications and effectively manage all of this data," Nicole Herskowitz, senior director of product marketing for Microsoft Azure, said. "Sphere 3D's solutions extend the capabilities of Azure enabling customers to seamlessly manage apps and data in a hybrid cloud environment."

Edited by Dominick Sorrentino