CenturyLink, a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions, is offering a software-defined network storage service. At re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, the company has introduced CenturyLink Network Storage, a managed solution that allows businesses to store and manage data anywhere the CenturyLink network can reach. It is a new type of software-defined data storage that extends cloud to the edge.
"CenturyLink Network Storage is a flexible data management solution that delivers storage and transport capabilities closer to where businesses require them, helping improve processing times while also reducing data storage and processing complexity across cloud, data center, and edge environments," said David Shacochis, vice president of product management for IT solutions, CenturyLink.
According to the company, businesses are seeking a better way to access, store and process data closer to where it is being created and consumed. IDC predicts that over the next three years, 70% of enterprises are likely to adopt dynamic software-defined branch and network solutions that deliver security and flexibility across cloud, data center, and edge interactions. CenturyLink Network Storage aims to address this evolving need of businesses.
NetApp worked along with CenturyLink to develop the product. It is built on NetApp’s software-defined storage technology. CenturyLink's Network Storage is available via CenturyLink's 106 edge locations, third-party partners or on customer premises.
In another development at re:Invent conference, Amazon Web Services announced two new edge computing efforts. AWS Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy announced a new configuration of AWS server farms, called Local Zones, designed to cluster Outposts close to big customers. AWS Outposts are Amazon’s new on-premises infrastructure.
AWS also introduced another product called Wavelength, and it is designed to place AWS computing power at the core of 5G wireless service. The pilot service, where AWS provides its computing services for applications that use Verizon’s 5G wireless connectivity, is located inside a Verizon network switching facility in the US. The new AWS Wavelength service will not be limited to Verizon.
