SPARK Matrix™-Primary Storage

1. QKS Group defines SPARK Matrix™: Primary Storage as a foundational storage solution that provides organizations with high-performance, external storage capabilities through hybrid storage arrays consisting of both solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs). These solutions are further strengthened by software-defined storage (SDS) technologies, which abstract storage resources away from the underlying hardware. This abstraction layer enhances flexibility, scalability, and resource allocation, enabling enterprises to utilize a unified storage environment that supports a wide range of workloads and operational demands. Primary storage plays a critical role in modern IT ecosystems by storing data that is actively in use. Whether supporting mission-critical applications, real-time analytics, enterprise databases, virtualization environments, or cloud-native workloads, primary storage systems are designed to deliver low latency, fast read/write operations, and efficient I/O processing. These capabilities make primary storage indispensable in environments where performance, responsiveness, and availability are paramount. One of the defining characteristics of primary storage is its ability to provide rapid data access that supports business continuity and operational efficiency. In an era where digital transformation is accelerating across industries, organizations rely on robust storage systems to manage expanding data volumes and meet stringent performance requirements. As enterprises adopt hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, primary storage solutions help ensure seamless data flow between on-premises environments, edge infrastructures, and cloud platforms. A significant advantage of primary storage systems is their ability to decouple the centralized control plane from hardware-specific architectures. This separation allows organizations to manage data services across a diverse range of infrastructure environments efficiently. It also supports the emergence of Hybrid Infrastructure Platform and Services (HIPS) and storage-as-a-service (STaaS) models. Through these models, organizations can optimize resource usage, modernize data management strategies, and maintain flexible and cost-effective storage footprints without over- provisioning. QKS Group’s market research on the Primary Storage segment delivers an in-depth global analysis of leading vendors, evolving technology trends, and the competitive dynamics shaping the marketplace. The research evaluates product portfolios, core functionalities, architectural strengths, differentiating features, and vendor strategies. This holistic assessment equips technology providers with insights essential for refining product roadmaps and strengthening market positioning. Additionally, enterprise users benefit from the analysis by gaining a clearer understanding of vendor capabilities, competitive advantages, and alignment with their unique performance and scalability requirements.

2. A key component of the research is the SPARK Matrix™ SPARK Matrix™: Primary Storage vendor evaluation, QKS Group’s proprietary assessment and ranking methodology. SPARK Matrix™ provides a strategic snapshot of each vendor’s market impact, technology excellence, and customer value proposition. Through a combination of comprehensive scoring and comparative analysis, the SPARK Matrix™ helps organizations identify leading players, technology innovators, and emerging competitors within the global primary storage landscape. The SPARK Matrix™ evaluation includes a several prominent global vendors such as DDN-Tintri, Dell, Hitachi Vantara, HPE, Huawei, IBM, Infinidat, NetApp, and Pure Storage. These vendors represent a broad spectrum of storage technologies, from all- flash arrays and hybrid storage architectures to next-generation SDS platforms and intelligent, AI-enabled storage systems. Each vendor is assessed across various parameters, including performance optimization, scalability, automation capabilities, integration flexibility, security mechanisms, and cloud readiness. As enterprises continue to generate, store, and process unprecedented volumes of data, the role of primary storage is undergoing a major transformation. According to Arpita Dash, Analyst at QKS Group, primary storage has become a fundamental element in organizational data management strategies. She notes that advancements in digital infrastructure have intensified the demand for faster, more secure, and highly scalable storage systems. As data volumes expand, organizations face increasing pressure to maintain superior performance levels while managing storage costs effectively. Dash emphasizes that companies investing in next-generation primary storage solutions understand that these technologies are not merely addressing present-day operational challenges. Instead, they are laying the foundation for future-focused capabilities that will support advanced workloads such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning, and real-time data analytics. These emerging use cases require extremely low latency, high throughput, and efficient data processing— attributes that modern primary storage systems are increasingly optimized to deliver. The market is also witnessing a growing emphasis on intelligent storage features, including automated tiering, predictive analytics, AI-driven performance optimization, and smart data reduction techniques. These capabilities enhance system efficiency, reduce storage overhead, and streamline resource utilization. As a result, organizations gain improved agility, operational resilience, and long-term cost savings. Furthermore, the shift toward hybrid and multi-cloud environments is influencing the design and deployment of primary storage systems. Enterprises are prioritizing solutions that deliver seamless data mobility, cloud integration, and unified management across distributed infrastructures. SDS plays a pivotal role in this

3. evolution by allowing storage systems to operate beyond traditional hardware limitations, integrating tightly with cloud platforms and enabling flexible consumption models such as STaaS. Dash adds that primary storage will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping data- driven enterprises. As businesses focus on becoming more intelligent, agile, and future- ready, primary storage systems will serve as the backbone supporting data-intensive applications, high-performance computing (HPC), and mission-critical digital operations. She asserts that organizations must not only invest in scalable and high- performance storage technologies but also ensure that their systems are adaptable enough to evolve with rapidly changing technological landscapes and business needs. In conclusion, the QKS Group’s SPARK Matrix™: Primary Storage comprehensive analysis highlights the strategic importance of primary storage in modern digital infrastructures. As the market continues to expand, driven by advanced analytics, rising data complexity, and cloud proliferation, primary storage solutions will remain central to enabling high-speed performance, operational continuity, and forward-looking data strategies. Through the SPARK Matrix™ evaluation, organizations gain valuable insights to make informed investment decisions and select solutions that align with both current and future technological requirements.