DCIG TOP 5 Most Downloaded TOP 5 Reports of 2024

Published on January 2, 2025, this retrospective was written by Jerome M. Wendt, CEO and Principal Analyst of DCIG (Data Center Intelligence Group LLC).

2024 marked an historic year for DCIG in terms of the total number of TOP 5 and #1 reports it published.

Having generated 20 TOP 5 and #1 reports in 2024, DCIG plans to build on that number as it enters 2025.

However, before DCIG starts in 2025, it first wants to look back and highlight the most downloaded DCIG TOP 5 reports of 2024.

Here are the TOP 5 reports in order of the number of downloads from #5 to #1.

 #5: The 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 SDS Block Storage Solutions Reports
The interest in these 2 reports published in October 2024 highlights SDS block storage solutions have come of age. Sometimes viewed in the past as too hard, too risky, or unproven, those days are over. Rather, any organizations that still view SDS block storage solutions through this lens do themselves a disservice.

SDS block storage solution providers have made significant strides to mitigate the risk and perceived stigma associated with deploying their solutions into IT environments. Providers now certify their SDS block storage solutions, make them available as preconfigured hardware appliances, and offer multiple validation proof points on their performance capabilities.

These and other factors should give organizations the assurance they need to confidently move forward with deploying SDS block storage solutions. They also help explain why researchers forecast the market for SDS storage solutions will grow significantly. 2 research firms forecast an increase in the SDS market from about $US50+ billion in 2024 to as high as $US260+ billion by 2029.

Here are links to the 2 DCIG TOP 5 reports that DCIG published on this topic:

• The full 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Block Storage Solutions Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Modern SDS Block Storage Solutions Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.

#4: The 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Multi-site File Collaborations Solutions Reports
Coming in at #4, DCIG published 2 TOP 5 reports in Q1 of 2024 focused on multi-site file collaborations solutions. The interest in these 2 reports highlights how organizations continue to rely on effective file-based collaboration for core business processes.

However, the need for local file servers or NAS systems has changed. Today, workforces for many organizations span the globe. As such, these distributed teams struggle to use legacy systems when working collaboratively on files.

Organizations operating globally increasingly need SDS solutions that offer features aligned with their needs. These include automation, file collaboration, increased storage efficiency, integration with public cloud, data protection, scalability, and version control along with fast file access.

The DCIG Enterprise and Rising Vendor editions on this topic highlight the solutions that best position organizations to achieve these objectives.

Here are links to the 2 DCIG TOP 5 reports that DCIG published on this topic:

• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise Multi-site File Collaboration Solutions Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Rising Vendor Multi-site File Collaboration Solutions Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.

 #3: The 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Cyber Secure Backup Targets Reports
Coming in at #3, DCIG published 4 TOP 5 reports in the 1H of 2024 focused on cyber secure backup targets. The interest in these 4 reports stems, in part, from how organizations increasingly rely upon cyber secure backup targets as a defense vs. ransomware events.

Organizations historically measured backup targets based on how well they minimally deliver on the following 3 features: backup throughput speeds, data reduction, and economy. Ransomware threats and attacks have forced organizations to add at least one more core feature to this list: cyber security.

Only recently have storage providers, as a group, begun positioning their NAS solutions as backup targets. Prior to that, few storage providers formally marketed their NAS systems as backup targets. While NAS systems could serve in this role, providers downplayed this functionality. Today, few providers exhibit any concerns about their NAS solutions being used in this role.

While many storage systems support multiple storage protocols, these reports focus on solutions with file protocol support. These support either the Network File System (NFS), the Common Internet File System (CIFS), or both.

Here are links to the 4 DCIG TOP 5 reports that DCIG published on this topic:

• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Sub-2PB Cyber Secure Backup Targets Global Edition Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Sub-2PB Cyber Secure Backup Targets US Edition Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 2PB+ Cyber Secure Backup Targets Global Edition Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 2PB+ Cyber Secure Backup Targets US Edition Report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.

 #2: The 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Cyber Secure High-end All-flash Arrays Global Edition Report
Coming in at #2, DCIG published this report in Q2 of 2024 that focused on cyber secure high-end AFAs. The interest in this report, as the reports that came in at #3 also illustrate, stems, in part, from how organizations need cyber security implemented across their entire IT infrastructure.Cybercrimes and data breaches have become an everyday threat for IT professionals. More than 330 publicly disclosed data breaches and cyber-attacks occurred in just the first 2 months of 2024. These developments highlight the need for organizations, especially those that provide criti­cal infrastructure services, to detect and thwart cyber-attacks and ensure cyber resiliency- the ability to continue operations after falling victim to an attack.

Many companies with crucial business and customer data depend on high-end storage arrays to provide uninter­rupted access to their data. These high-end storage arrays require built-in cyber resilience to keep that data safe and enable quick recovery if data is compromised.

DCIG believes it is only a matter of time before a cyberattack successfully breaches any organization’s security defenses. Storage arrays and their providers have a role to play in preventing, mitigating, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.

Every enterprise storage vendor is addressing customer concerns around data security and cyber resilience, especially the threat of ransomware. Most high-end storage arrays have improved their security posture by implementing multiple technologies, including FIPS 140, T10 PI, and multi-factor authentication.

Get the full 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 Cyber Secure High-End All Flash Arrays – Global Edition report at no charge with registration.

#1: The 2024-25 DCIG TOP 5 vSphere Alternatives Reports
These three DCIG TOP 5 reports in Q3 of 2024 that focused on vSphere Alternatives came in as the most downloaded reports in 2024. The high level of interest in these three reports probably comes as no surprise to anyone close to the enterprise IT space.

Broadcom’s formal announcement of the scope of the changes to VMware’s software licensing in December 2023 sent shockwaves through many organizations.

Many organizations expected Broadcom to fully adopt subscription-based software licensing once it completed its acquisition of VMware. However, few organizations, if any, had insight into the breadth of these changes or how they might impact them.

What caught many organizations off guard was Broadcom’s decision to reduce the number of VMware software licensing options. Many software features that organizations could once license individually could now only obtain as part of a software bundle. This announcement coupled with follow-on announcements about Broadcom’s updated pricing prompted all size enterprises to reevaluate their virtualization platform.

Alternative server virtualization solutions vary in features, software licensing methods, and technical support options. Some providers also partner with hardware OEMs so that enterprises may order appliances from their preferred OEM. A few providers even make infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) available as an option. If electing to use IaaS, the provider manages its software after it an enterprise deploys it. These and other options all factor into selecting an appropriate vSphere Standard alternative.

Here are links to the 3 DCIG TOP 5 reports that DCIG published on this topic:

• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP Enterprise vSphere Alternatives – US Edition report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP Enterprise vSphere Alternatives – Global Edition report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.
• The full 2024-25 DCIG TOP SMB/Edge vSphere Alternatives report is available for download on DCIG’s site with registration.

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