AT&T Announces Cloud-Based "Storage as a Service"

AT&T is launching a cloud-based, storage-on-demand service for enterprise customers. from any location, anytime, using any Web-enabled device. AT&T has selected EMC Corporation as its technology provider for the underlying AT&T Synaptic Storage as a Service platform. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop and market the service.


AT&T Synaptic Storage as a Service provides a business-class storage service that lets customers use the AT&T network cloud to store, distribute and retrieve data as needed to meet their business or legal requirements. The service is self-configurable through a Web-based customer portal. The service automatically scales storage capacity up or down as needed, and users pay only for the amount they use. Using EMC Atmos technology, a policy-based information management platform, the AT&T Synaptic Storage as a Service gives users the flexibility to store, distribute and retrieve data through the Internet or directly from the AT&T network cloud via a virtual private network or other transport service, enabling customers to create a "virtual private storage cloud" protected by AT&T's network-based security services.


A controlled rollout is happening this month. The service is deployed in AT&T Internet data centers (IDCs) in the U.S. and will be accessible by customers connecting to the Web anywhere. In time, AT&T plans to add the service to select global IDCs to meet customer demand internationally.


"The demand for data storage continues to grow at a staggering rate, driven by companies' need for 24x7 access to business critical data," said Roman Pacewicz, senior vice president of strategy and application services, AT&T Business Solutions. "AT&T Synaptic Storage helps enterprises get a handle on these increasingly complex storage environments, while controlling costs and improving service levels."http://www.att.com/synaptic