Confusing people since the early 2000’s, HCI or Hyperconverged Infrastructure is not a term an IT layman would rattle off. Years of marketing terminology and hype have obscured it’s meaning for all but those with in-depth industry knowledge. A brief search of hyperconverged infrastructure vs. converged infrastructure vs. cloud computing is a melting pot of complex terms only the most savvy could wade through. Let’s get back to basics.
What is HCI?
Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) combines your IT storage, computing and networking into a single system. This simplifies complex IT systems, makes the entire IT infrastructure more efficient and allows for easy scalability as your business grows. What does this look like in the simplest of terms? Racks upon racks of complicated hardware and tangled wires are replaced by decks, roughly the size and shape of an extra-large pizza box and a single pane-of-glass management console.
Why use HCI over my current technology?
HCI is most often used by businesses hoping to streamline and simplify the network, storage and computing processes, for those using a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and to connect remote or branch offices or locations to a central HQ. HCI operation is simple, plug-and-play, with minimal manual operation required, meaning businesses without the resources for IT administrators and specialists often go in the HCI direction to save money on staffing. In addition, without the need for the excessive power, cooling and space required by traditional IT infrastructure (the racks of hardware and tangled wires), many have seen a 70% reduction in overall OPEX.
How complex is HCI and what benefits will I get from it?
If you go for an HCI product like Sangfor’s aCloud, you get 1 integrated software stack, a what-you-draw-is-what-you-get function which allows you to drag and drop resources where they are needed, and the engineers and after-sales support to install it, set it up and teach you to use it. If your business uses applications, they can be protected and managed through the aCloud console. Continuous data protection (CDP) and disaster recovery (DR) can also be integrated, ensuring the availability of your data in any situation. The idea behind this product is simplifying most tasks down to a single click on a single screen.
What are the market size, trends of forecasts of HCI?
The global HCI market is protected to reach over $7 billion in 2019 with further growth predicted in 2020. Gartner Inc. recently released their HCI Magic Quadrant listings, predicting substantial growth of over 35% by 2023. In the future we can expect to see more automated features and better backup and disaster recovery. Gartner also predicts 5G being the catalyst for massive growth in fringe locations using HCI to connect seamlessly with the home office of HQ. Wherever you go, it seems HCI is there or will be there soon.
Back to Basics
Yes, HCI is a complex concept. But partnering with the right vendor makes all the difference. You want a vendor who will work closely with your company to design the right HCI solution for you, and be there past the installation process. A vendor with localized knowledge who speaks your language, literally and figuratively. Sangfor aCloud is an APAC-developed HCI solution which, after resounding success in the Chinese market, has gone global. With partners and locations across the APAC region, speaking Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, English, Thai, Pakistani, Italian and more, the support services are in your language.
Sangfor Technologies
The Gartner Magic Quadrant yearly review of notable vendors in the global HCI market has recognized Sangfor HCI (aCloud) as a vendor to watch, distinguishing Sangfor as the only APAC-developed HCI solution to enter the Garner MQ in 2019. Founded in 2000 and a publicly traded company as of 2018, Sangfor Technologies is an APAC-based, global leading vendor of IT infrastructure solutions specializing in Network Security and Cloud Computing. Visit us at www.sangfor.com to learn more about Sangfor’s HCI options, and let Sangfor make your IT simpler, more secure and more valuable.
