IDC: Cloud computing ‘key driver’ of storage growth

Cloud computing will ensure growth in the storage sector for the next five years, according to new research released today.

Analyst firm IDC claimed increased investment in private cloud infrastructure and the growing volumes needed by public cloud providers would lead to combined storage spending of $22.6 billion by 2015.

"Despite current economic uncertainties, IDC expects cloud service providers – both public and private – to be among the most expansive spenders on IT products and services as they continue to build out their facilities worldwide and expand their service options," said Richard Villars, vice president of storage systems at IDC.

Breaking it down, IDC claimed public cloud providers would increase their storage spend at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6 per cent between 2010 and 2015. Private cloud investments, however, were set to be even higher, with a CAGR of 28.9 per cent.

Software as a Service is the biggest storage culprit though, with online applications storing large volumes of content, such as videos, pictures or music files.

Although revenues from simple, large-scale storage will please storage companies, Villars warned it might detract those vendors from providing the more complex storage solutions required by enterprise.

"The challenge facing the storage industry will be to balance public cloud service providers' demand for low-cost hardware while boosting demand for advanced software solutions in areas such as object-based storage, automated data tiering, big data processing and advanced archiving services," he said.

Villars said the area of big data was “perhaps the most critical marketplace” for storage vendors for the next ten years, so they must put these technologies as a “high priority.”