Credit: Shutterstock photoGlobal information technology company Unisys Corporation ( UIS ) unveiled a new solution that integrates its Forward! platform with NetApp, Inc. ( NTAP ) storage systems. The solution is designed to diminish the risks of virtualizing mission-critical applications while improving efficiency and security.
The solution unites the cost efficiency and flexibility of virtualization with the reliable performance and storage features usually provided by dedicated servers.
Integrated Forward! Platform
The Forward! platform has been devised to run mission-critical Linux and Windows workloads in state-of-the-art fabric architecture designed by Intel Corporation ( INTC ). With Forward!, Unisys and NetApp have framed a converged infrastructure, which integrates and manages computing, networking, storage and application resources as a unified system. This consequently lowers infrastructure costs, in addition to improving performance, reliability and security.
The integrated platform delivered up to 38% better throughput and nearly 122% faster multiple-workload performance in a recent third-party test. Moreover, Forward!'s fabric architecture and clustering abilities are equipped to cater to the expansion needs of firms with the scaling-up feature.
The solution can tackle a broad spectrum of mission-critical applications like big data analytics, cloud computing and ERP modernization. It also has relevance in highly regulated markets with stringent performance standards, like the public sector, financial services and healthcare.
Challenging Trade-Off
Mission critical applications today necessitate a tradeoff between cost efficiency, predictability and security. Businesses are cautious about virtualizing mission-critical applications, like those from SAP SE ( SAP ), as they are apprehensive about security and stability of performance.
Indeed, IT industry experts opine that owing to these concerns, nearly 30% of server-based applications - mainly transaction-intensive, intricate, mission-critical workloads - have not been virtualized. Equipped with NetApp storage systems, Forward! offers such clients an exceptional alternative to standard technologies.
Market Prospects
According to some estimates by industry analysts, the market for converged infrastructure solutions is witnessing a compound annual growth rate of over 20% and is set to cross the $14 billion mark by 2017. Unisys' validated Forward! platform is well-placed to capitalize on the robust growth prospects presented by the industry.
Unisys currently sports a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
