Storage:

Convenient Traits Prove Advantageous for NAS Markets

Originally considered a niche product and technologically-inefficient solution to the growing demand for storage, the network-attached storage (NAS) market has experienced increased popularity in the storage space over the last six months.

New analysis by Frost & Sullivan, www.frost.com, "European Network Attached Storage Market," reveals this market generated $410 million in 2000, and projects revenues to reach $1.8 billion by 2007.

"The NAS approach is easier to implement, and combined with a low cost of total ownership has proved itself attractive to customers who are managing explosive growth in data within a finite budget," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Andrew Ball. "In this environment, specialized NAS vendors have enjoyed rapid growth, while traditional storage and server vendors have attempted to leverage their expertise to deliver new NAS solutions to the market."

The key to industry success lays in understanding the impact of storage and server vendors. According to Ball, the entrance of storage and server vendors legitimizes the NAS market and raises its profile as a storage solution.

"Those companies best placed to capitalize on this are the dedicated NAS vendors who can draw strength from their years of experience," says Ball.

The United Kingdom, Germany and France are the strongest revenue-generating NAS markets. This is because NAS is a new technology and participants have understandably chosen to focus their resources on the most favorable regions.

"The UK has a disproportionate share of the market," says Ball. "This is a reflection of the close affinity with the United States and the fact that NAS has been developed and implemented by U.S. companies."

Frost & Sullivan presents the 2001 Marketing Engineering Awards to companies that have worked diligently to make a positive contribution to the network attached storage industry. These market specific awards are presented to: BlueArc and Quantum/Snap Appliances.

Frost & Sullivan is a global leader in strategic market consulting and training. Frost & Sullivan also offers custom consulting to a variety of national and international companies.

Contact Frost & Sullivan, In Europe: Kristina Menzefricke, +44-0-207-343-8376, kristina.menzefricke@fs-europe.com or In North America: Chad Blomberg, 210-247-3830, cblomberg@frost.com.