HubStor Expanding Hybrid Cloud Storage With Microsoft Azure

HubStor Inc. introduced the availability of cloud stubbing for invisible storage reduction and tiering of data to Microsoft Azure without impacting users or applications.

IT leaders can connect their current storage infrastructure to the cloud to reduce backup and storage costs by as much as 87% while providing better protection from threats like ransomware.

With this announcement, the company’s solution offers two stubbing methods: the universal shortcut which it has offered since launching the service earlier in 2016 and its stubbing agent for Windows Server.

“Unlike cloud gateway appliances that present a new storage mount point in the client’s environment, our approach enables customers to painlessly cloud-enable their existing storage investments,” said Elizabeth Lam, VP, marketing, HubStor. “IT professionals want to use the cloud to store data that is no longer active, and they need to do this without changing workflows or adding new intricacy that they have to manage. Our new seamless stubbing method is the stress-free way to make it happen.“

Storage tiering to cloud
Transparent stubbing in file systems transforms original data into ghosted files within on-premises primary storage so that the content still appears to users and applications just the same, but the size on disk for the ghosted files is almost zero. When a user or application opens a file that is a ghost, the stubbing agent fetches the original data from the cloud without the user or application knowing.

The company recommends using the policy controls in its virtual cloud gateway to stub targeted subsets of data. To mitigate retrieval requests to the cloud, the firm provides a configurable caching feature so that any retrieved items remain local for a set period. That way, if inactive data converts back to active again, subsequent retrievals will fetch it from the local cache, minimizing downloads from the cloud. As well, the company provides the ability to opt-out certain applications and process IDs from triggering shortcut retrieval requests.

Optimized backup and DR
By reducing the storage footprint on-premises with stubbing, IT leaders can defer spending on new storage while minimizing the amount of data being backed up and replicated offsite. With most of the inactive data ghosted, RTOs are improved. In the secondary site, firm’s stubbing agent needs to be installed to ensure the cloud-integrated shortcuts retrieve as expected.

Recovery from cloud storage
The solution includes an ‘Export App’ which handles bulk recovery scenarios, including the ability to replace ghosted items and recover data from the cloud on demand.

“The zero lock-in approach that we provide to the cloud is critical to our clients,” said Stephen Tuckwell, director, operations, HubStor. “It amazes people when they see how without difficulty we reduce their on-premises storage footprint, and then how quickly we can recover it too.“

This feature suite is available and can be used by any company’s subscriber.