OREANDA-NEWS. December 13, 2016. IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has been recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Object-Based Storage 2016 Vendor Assessment1 for the third consecutive year.

The study assesses the capabilities and business strategies of leading suppliers in the (scale-out) Object-based Storage (OBS) market, which the IDC MarketScape notes is part of the overall file and OBS market segment. According to the IDC MarketScape, this evaluation is based on a comprehensive framework and a set of parameters that gauge the success of a supplier in delivering an OBS solution in the market. This study includes analysis of 12 key vendors of commercial OBS solutions with broad portfolios and global scale, per the IDC MarketScape.

The IDC MarketScape found that the strength of IBM Cloud Object Storage comes from its experience in the object storage space.  The referencing of marquee, petabyte scale + +) deployments, proved the scalability, reliability, robustness, and affordability of IBM Cloud Object Storage.

The IDC MarketScape further notes an added advantage of IBM Cloud Object Storage as being the combination of an on-premises delivery offering and the cloud. The IDC MarketScape explains that the client benefits of an integrated solution which includes for example, IBM Bluemix, IBM Cloud Video Services and IBM Watson was an important aspect to its leadership position in the report.

“Media-rich environments that rely on the flexibility of object based storage continue to diversify as applications emerge about how users can benefit from the scale and analytical performance provided in our solutions. Other enterprises are seeing a critical need for object storage as they undertake digital transformation initiatives that are creating an ever-growing set of content,” said John Morris, IBM general manager for Cloud Object Storage. “Achieving this leadership position demonstrates the wide-reaching solutions our clients can expect from our expansive reach and expertise.”

IBM Unveils Free-Tier Option for Object Storage Standard Cross Region via Bluemix

IBM Cloud Object Storage recently announced a scalable object storage on-premises offering with hybrid cloud options across the global network of IBM Cloud data centers. The Object Storage Standard Cross Region is now available through Bluemix as a free-tiering 12-month promotion, allowing clients a trial of IBM Cloud Object Storage technology at no charge for one year and includes features like built-in geographic resiliency and data-at-rest encryption.

The IBM Cloud Object Storage service includes the following features:

  • Cross-region U.S. resiliency – for storing unstructured data across three geo dispersed end-points;
  • S3 API support;
  • Built-in security with encryption for data-at-rest and IBM’s SecureSlice technology, which combines encryption and erasure coding for greater security and information dispersal which enhances data availability.  

For more details on the Object Storage Standard Cross Region service free-tier option, please visit: https://www.ibm.com/cloud-computing/bluemix/cloud-object-storage.

1 IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Object-Based Storage 2016 Vendor Assessment, by Amita Pontis, December, 2016, IDC #US41918416

About IDC MarketScape:  IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market.  IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared.  The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360 degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.