Netgear Launches Hybrid Cloud Storage

Netgear moved to beef up its hybrid cloud offerings Thursday with three products that make it easier for users to choose between storing their data on-premises or outsourced.

The firm's ReadyNAS storage platforms are now available in two configurations -- a 100-GB online archiving product, and a business-class offering that can support a cloud file server option capable of seamlessly sharing files between local and offsite users. The third offering includes portals that simplify service billing and management for Netgear channel partners.

Netgear has been promoting hybrid storage models that offer pay-on-demand cloud services while onsite data is preserved.

"Netgear's hybrid cloud services get businesses of all sizes into hosted architectures," said Mark Song, the company's storage product line manager, in a statement. "The hybrid model enables IT departments to smooth budget cycles and improve service levels with minimal risk. Our channel partners can now deliver these managed services without their own investment in storage capacity or cloud infrastructure."

Noting that its ReadyNAS Vault pioneered embedded online archive storage, Netgear said the ReadyNAS platforms not only include hybrid archive capacity, but also disaster recovery features.

Netgear said Egnyte's Office Local Cloud service is utilized to deliver hybrid file sharing on business-class ReadyNAS systems. "This solution," said Netgear, "combines the fast performance of local storage with the simplicity of cloud access for remote and mobile workers. The Egnyte service runs directly on the ReadyNAS and plans start under $70 a month."

A single web-based interface for maintaining locations and monitoring accounts includes web portals for both ReadyNAS Vault and the Egnyte Office Local Cloud.

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