However, Dixon points out, the EMC/McData equipment was the state of the art two years ago -- and the SAN is a constantly evolving entity that needs to incorporate new elements as the organization's needs change. Thus, NetCentrics chose the Hitachi Lightning system, rather than another EMC Symmetrix, because it wants to accommodate the growing stream of data it expects the Army to generate in the next 12 months.
Other equipment attached to the Army's SAN include Compaq StorageWorks arrays, IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) Shark storage systems, and tape libraries from Advanced Digital Information Corp. (Nasdaq: ADIC) and Quantum Corp. (NYSE: DSS).
Dixon says NetCentrics remains convinced it has made the right decision to go with EMC and McData as strategic partners. Specifically, he mentions McData's recent acquisition of Nishan Systems, an IP storage switch startup (see McData Sweeps Up Nishan, Sanera and McCrafty).
Last month NetCentrics purchased three of the Nishan-developed IPS 3300 switches, which extend Fibre Channel over IP networks. These will be used to replicate the data on the EMC boxes -- using Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF) -- from the Pentagon to two off-site locations (the whereabouts of which Dixon would not disclose).
"That's one of the requirements we had: a vendor who can implement a new technology," Dixon says.
By combining resources and expertise, the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium will offer a blueprint for how industries can adapt to an AI-dominated future.
IT leaders should heed the guidance of cybersecurity insurance providers who think businesses should prioritize security education, incident preparedness, regular internal audits, and ongoing vulnerability scanning and patching.
There are many network courses that can address your present job's priorities and help you gain the needed skills to keep pace with industry changes and new technologies.
