Simplyblock Named to 2026 CRN® Storage 100 List in Software-Defined Storage Category
Teltow, Germany, April 13, 2026 — Simplyblock, the NVMe-first software-defined storage platform for Red Hat® OpenShift® and Kubernetes, announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has included simplyblock on its prestigious annual Storage 100 list in the Software-Defined Storage category.
The CRN Storage 100 spotlights storage vendors advancing innovation, delivering cutting-edge technology and supporting high-impact strategic partnerships. Selected by the CRN editorial team, each company on the list was chosen for its dedication to bringing best-in-class storage offerings to the channel.
The Storage 100 list serves as a valuable resource for solution providers looking to optimize their portfolios with critical storage technology in areas such as software-defined storage; data recovery, observability and resilience; and components.
Simplyblock was recognized for its innovative approach to software-defined block storage, combining NVMe over TCP and NVMe over RDMA with SPDK acceleration to deliver enterprise-grade performance without proprietary hardware. The platform enables solution providers and platform engineering teams to deploy high-performance, Kubernetes-native storage for OpenShift, VMware-exit migrations, and stateful workloads — including databases, AI/ML pipelines, and real-time analytics. With features such as instant copy-on-write snapshots, erasure coding, thin provisioning, and multi-tenant QoS, simplyblock gives channel partners a compelling alternative to legacy SAN and hyperconverged storage that can be deployed on standard hardware in under 30 minutes.
“Being named to the CRN Storage 100 is a meaningful recognition as we expand our channel reach,” said Rob Pankow, CEO of simplyblock. “Platform engineering teams are under real pressure to modernize storage alongside OpenShift adoptions and VMware exits — without sacrificing performance or operational simplicity. This recognition reflects our commitment to giving solution providers a storage platform that’s both technically differentiated and straightforward to deploy and support for their customers.”
“We’re proud to recognize the companies on this year’s Storage 100 for their deep commitment to partnering with the channel to deliver truly transformative storage solutions,” said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, Executive Editor at CRN, The Channel Company. “These vendors continue to push meaningful innovation in storage while evolving partner strategies that drive success across the entire channel ecosystem.”
View simplyblock’s full listing on The 50 Coolest Software-Defined Storage Vendors: The 2026 Storage 100.
About simplyblock
Simplyblock is an NVMe-first software-defined storage platform built for Red Hat® OpenShift®, Kubernetes, and modern stateful workloads. By combining NVMe over TCP and NVMe over RDMA with SPDK acceleration, simplyblock delivers enterprise-grade block storage performance without proprietary hardware or vendor lock-in. The platform supports hyperconverged and disaggregated deployment models and includes copy-on-write snapshots, erasure coding, thin provisioning, multi-tenant QoS, and a Kubernetes CSI driver. Simplyblock is available on AWS Marketplace and supports environments including Red Hat® OpenShift®, Talos Linux, Proxmox VE, and major cloud providers. For more information, visit www.simplyblock.io.
Media Contact: press [at] simplyblock.io
About The Channel Company
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