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Three types of digital storage are direct-attached storage (DAS), network-attached storage (NAS), and storage area network (SAN). Direct-Attached Storage is the internal or physically attached device that can store, protect, and manage data. Network Attached Storage is one or more storage devices within a server that resides on Local Area Network (LAN) that offloads the responsibility from other servers and makes the data available over the network (Newton’s, 2008, p 640). A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high speed network designed to transport large amount of data in a database. Network dedicated database storage that allow for users to get fast response and manage networking traffic. SAN applications include disk mirroring, data backup and restoration, data archival and retrieval, data transfer between storage devices, and data sharing between servers (Newton’s, p 812).

The industry leaders of digital storage technology include EMC Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Hitachi Data Systems, and IBM Corporation. Of the four industry leaders, the IBM Corporation is the oldest as it was founded back in late 1880’s. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is an information technology company. IBM Corporation’s major operations include a Global Technology Services segment, a Global Business Services segment, Systems and Technology segment, a Software segment and a Global Financing segment. In 1910, Hitachi Works was a Japanese-founded electronic repair shop and now it has become a world leader in technology. Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., was founded in 1939 as an electronics company. In the area of digital storage, the youngest of the industry leaders is EMC Corporation which was established in 1979. The ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Corporation provides technology and tools to companies that address their needs to store, protect, and manage vital data.

Global spending on information technology has exceeded one trillion dollars this year. The amount of data that is generated just this year surpasses six hundred exabytes of data. Organizations need digital storage technology to protect and manage all of their information in an effective and efficient manner. The need for information technology to run and automate the business processes that put this information to work to create new sources of that will minimize the cost and risk. Even after the 2008 stock market turmoil the economies all over the world are suffering, but digital media and technologies markets are still in high demand.
IBM Corporation states that the most common information management challenges that organizations of all sizes confront each day include managing the relentless growth of information, improving the security and protection of information, automating and simplifying information and infrastructure management, and achieving the highest levels of business continuity. IBM and other competitors are forecasting significant growth within the next ten years as a result of innovative opportunities, international markets and sustainability within the organizations. Web 2.0 technologies and applications that are now being utilized within companies and small businesses involve investments into information technology, business continuity, and disaster recovery for leading in innovation. There are many international opportunities in countries like China and India in the information technology field because of their large population growth and development. Sustainability methods are being adopted within digital storage organizations involving green environmental methods, global diversification of their workforce, and being proactive with communities around their businesses.
What solutions or benefits does IBM offer over their competitors? IBM has proven solutions to address real world business and technology challenges that exist today and that are made to adapt to future needs. The main goal of IBM is to reduce their client IT cost, which could be possible with reduced time, equipment lifecycle, and utilizing virtualization to maximize storage space. IBM Corporation has an established global presence and capital expenditures available for desired acquisition and development that makes the company a dependable investment opportunity for venture capitalists like Searching Out Great Investments (SOGI).
IBM Corporation follows a six step process to assist client’s digital media storage health assessment. These six steps include providing assessment, designing solutions, deploying, managing, and securing backup, and monitoring future infrastructure needs. As stated by Pete Heles, president of Framework IT, LLC, “Over ninety-five percent of small businesses do not have business continuity or a disaster recovery plan.” Data storage backup is extremely important in DAS, NAS, and SAN environments with offsite backup system solutions being in place as well. IBM works with clients in establishing the hardware and software solutions necessary for reliable backup opportunities at real time rate. All of these factors allow for IBM to be an industry leader in digital storage solution with competitors like EMC, HP, and Hitachi.
IBM Corporation’s success comes after a century of business experience and a well established plan to consult with clients on designing, developing, deploying and managing digital media storage solutions. IBM consultants work with clients to optimize digital infrastructure during the assessment process. The planning and designing services will assist clients in filtering through their data and will provide a proposal for managing the organization’s future expansion. The IBM team will work through the installation, configuration, testing and implementation processes that were previously determined in past processes. The final step of the process is the management aspect of digital storage and that provides scalability, capacity, retrieval method and backup strategies execution.

After reviewing IBM, HP, EMC and Hitachi and their digital storage technologies and business strategies, I would propose that the IBM Corporation addresses Searching Out Great Investments (SOGI) desires. IBM supports industry ranging from small business to Fortune 500 companies with file system archiving, database servers, SQL server solutions, remote and local backup servers, and Microsoft exchange servers. The projected global growth of information technology and data growth makes IBM a more disciplined and focused company. IBM provides a well documented business continuity and disaster recovery plan that is available online to clients and investors. With the economies around the world being in their current state, investing must be carefully selected and risk analysis assessment should be conducted before ventures are made. These ventures should also only occur after reviewing what digital storage is, comparing industry leaders, looking at what is offered by select companies, and then doing a risk assessment after a financial review.