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FAQ

Simplyblock is an intelligent storage optimizer that unifies and orchestrates different storage technologies.

It is the next generation of high-performance data platform and solving the scalability issues for IO-heavy workloads, such as databases, data warehouses, document stores, blockchain storages, and similar data-intensive services. The technology is cloud- and Kubernetes-native, designed to run in all kinds of public and private cloud environments.

Simplyblock is an intelligent storage optimizer that orchestrates and unifies access to different storage technologies. It creates a high-performance storage layer that looks like a standard NVMe disk to your applications while intelligently managing the underlying storage resources. The solution works with cloud storage services like Amazon EBS and S3, as well as local storage options like NVMe SSDs.

Our software is built with a cutting-edge NVMe-first architecture, leveraging NVMe over TCP protocol to deliver exceptional performance. We’ve designed it to optimize your storage resources through intelligent thin provisioning and automatic tiering that seamlessly moves data between hot NVMe, warm block, and cold object storage tiers. You’ll benefit from advanced data management features like copy-on-write snapshots and instant cloning, while our native Kubernetes CSI driver ensures smooth container orchestration.

We prioritize security and isolation with robust multi-tenancy support and per-volume encryption. To maximize your storage efficiency, we’ve implemented transparent compression and erasure coding for enhanced data protection. For business continuity, you can rely on our cross-AZ disaster recovery capabilities and consistent multi-volume snapshots to keep your data safe and accessible.

We’ve built our solution with security at its core, implementing multiple layers of protection for your data. Every volume is protected by unique encryption keys, and all data remains encrypted during transit. To protect against ransomware, we maintain write-protected backup storage. In multi-tenant environments, we enforce strict isolation between tenants, while seamlessly integrating with your cloud provider’s security features. We also utilize erasure coding technology to protect against data loss. These comprehensive security measures ensure your data remains safe and protected at every level.

Simplyblock provides a Container Storage Interface (CSI) driver that enables seamless integration with Kubernetes. This allows users to manage storage through standard Kubernetes StorageClass definitions and persistent volume claims, making it easy to provision and manage storage for containerized workloads.

Our solution delivers exceptional value to a diverse range of organizations, particularly those operating in data-intensive environments. Database-as-a-Service providers and companies running observability platforms find our platform especially beneficial for their high-performance needs. If your organization manages multiple database types or runs intensive analytics workloads, you’ll find our solution particularly advantageous.

We’re also an excellent fit for managed cloud service providers and organizations seeking to optimize their storage costs in Kubernetes environments. Our versatile platform is designed to meet the demanding requirements of these use cases while ensuring cost-effectiveness and peak performance.

Software-defined storage (SDS) is an approach to data storage where the storage software is separated from the hardware, allowing for more flexible and efficient management of storage resources. It enables features like storage pooling, automated tiering, and unified management across different storage types.

Unlike traditional storage that locks you into specific hardware configurations, software-defined storage gives you much more flexibility by separating the software layer from the hardware. This means you can leverage cost-effective commodity hardware while maintaining enterprise-grade capabilities. You’ll have the freedom to scale your storage independently of compute resources, and implement advanced features across different storage types seamlessly.

Our approach enables you to manage your storage more efficiently through automation, while significantly reducing vendor lock-in. This modern architecture provides you with greater control and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional storage solutions.

Storage virtualization transforms how you manage and utilize your storage resources. You’ll see immediate improvements in resource utilization while enjoying significantly simplified storage management. When you need to scale, our virtualized approach gives you the flexibility to expand seamlessly. You’ll also benefit from enhanced disaster recovery capabilities, keeping your data safe and accessible.

By optimizing resource usage, we help reduce your storage costs while making it easier to implement advanced features like snapshots and cloning. This modern approach to storage management delivers both operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness for your organization.

We tackle storage cost inefficiencies head-on through several intelligent features designed to optimize your spending. With our thin provisioning technology, you’ll only pay for the storage you actually use, eliminating costly overprovisioning.

We consolidate partially used storage volumes into shared pools, significantly reducing waste in your environment. Your infrequently accessed data is automatically moved to more cost-effective storage tiers like Amazon S3, while our built-in compression and deduplication features minimize your storage footprint.

Through intelligent storage pooling, we ensure you get the most out of your resources, helping you achieve maximum cost efficiency without compromising performance.

Simplyblock tackles performance challenges by leveraging NVMe over TCP technology, providing significantly lower latency compared to traditional iSCSI connections. It can utilize local instance storage either as a primary tier or cache layer for frequently accessed data, dramatically improving read performance. For metadata-heavy workloads, Simplyblock’s architecture accelerates operations like indexing, lookups, and schema management, ensuring consistently fast response times even under heavy loads.

We’ve designed our disaster recovery solution to provide you with maximum protection and minimal data loss. You’ll achieve near-zero RPO across availability zones, while our consistent snapshot technology ensures your multi-volume and database backups remain perfectly synchronized. For granular recovery options, we stream write-ahead logs to protected storage like S3, enabling precise point-in-time recovery when needed. After any catastrophic event, you can quickly restore your systems and data, minimizing downtime. With our cross-AZ replication support, you can maintain business continuity even in the face of major disruptions. This comprehensive approach ensures your data remains safe and readily recoverable in any scenario.

Simplyblock provides comprehensive security solutions through per-volume encryption with unique keys for each logical volume, ensuring data-at-rest protection. It maintains complete tenant isolation in multi-tenant environments, crucial for organizations managing multiple clients or departments with varying security requirements. The platform’s consistent snapshot capability across systems facilitates easier auditing and compliance reporting, while encrypted communication channels protect data in transit.

We simplify your database management experience through our unified interface, allowing you to manage multiple database types effortlessly. When you need to set up testing or development environments, our instant database cloning feature lets you create copies quickly and efficiently.

You’ll appreciate our consistent backup system that works seamlessly across your different database platforms, while our optimized I/O performance ensures your database workloads run at peak efficiency. For development teams, we support efficient database branching and versioning capabilities, making it easier to manage multiple database versions and iterations.

We’ve designed our platform to handle your growth seamlessly, eliminating common scaling headaches. You’ll benefit from dynamic scaling that doesn’t require pre-allocation of resources, while our system automatically expands storage pools as your needs grow.

In multi-tenant environments, we efficiently distribute resources to ensure optimal performance for all users. When you need more capacity, you can expand without any service interruption, keeping your operations running smoothly. Our intelligent storage orchestration manages unpredictable growth patterns, adapting to your changing needs automatically. This flexible approach ensures your storage infrastructure grows efficiently alongside your business.

Simplyblock significantly reduces operational complexity by automating many routine storage management tasks. It eliminates the need for manual storage provisioning, reduces the time spent on capacity planning, and simplifies backup and recovery procedures. The platform’s unified management interface and intelligent automation capabilities mean fewer resources are needed for day-to-day storage operations, allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Technology Companies & SaaS Providers: Helps manage complex infrastructure with multiple databases and storage systems while optimizing costs and performance
Financial Institutions & FinTech: Delivers ultra-low latency storage crucial for trading systems and financial analytics, with enhanced security features
Database Operators & DBaaS Providers: Enables efficient management of multi-tenant databases with simplified scaling and consistent backups
Enterprise Organizations: Streamlines storage management and reduces costs across large-scale infrastructure
Media & Gaming Companies: Provides high-performance storage for content delivery and real-time gaming data
AI/ML Teams: Offers efficient storage solutions for large datasets and model training

Key roles that benefit include:

CISOs/Security Teams: Through enhanced encryption and security features
CTOs/CIOs: With simplified infrastructure management and cost optimization
Platform Architects: Through flexible storage orchestration and integration capabilities
Site Reliability Engineers: With improved system reliability and simplified management
FinOps Teams: Through significant cost optimization and resource efficiency
DevOps Teams: With streamlined deployment and management processes

Check our glossary for more information

Ready to think about your application and not your storage?

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