Adaptec Inc. announced that it will be releasing a range of I/O controllers and storage systems that aim to simplify the decision process for companies of all sizes.

With legislation requiring companies to store data for certain periods, local corporates are being forced to implement some sort of storage solution.

However, according to Nilesh Patel, Adaptec sales director for northern Europe, choosing the correct storage technology can be quite a daunting process, especially when it comes to price per byte.

"Previously, smaller companies would have smaller budgets, and thus would go for a cheaper technology. However, a couple of years down the line, the company will realize that its current storage solution is no longer adequate, either in terms of speed or storage space. It will then have to purchase an entirely new storage solution," he says.

However, Adaptec now believes that companies will not have to choose between any one technology. Instead of having to make a decision based on price or performance, Adaptec?s next generation of I/O controllers and storage sub-systems aims to simplify the selection process, by eliminating the need to choose one technology over the other. According to the company, these products will be available in August this year.

"With our new range of open architecture products we believe we will provide companies with the opportunity to incorporate flexible solutions to suit the individual needs of each company," adds Patel.

According to Adaptec, a company will now merely have to plug one of the controllers into the server, and choose the storage technology that best suits it. "What is more, the company will be able to mix older technologies with newer ones," he adds.

Adaptec brings the enterprise home

Patel also believes that more and more enterprise technologies will start filtering their way down to the home. "If you look at the market today, home computers are already equipped with anti-virus software and firewalls - which in the past were typically found in enterprises. Home users have also started implementing things such as routers," he comments.

With Adaptec?s new range of I/O controllers and storage subsystems, it hopes to bring enterprise-class storage solutions into the home. "Home users are already generating a wealth of data in the form of digital photographs and MP3s, and, for most users, this information is as important as an enterprise?s financial statements," he says.

"With our range of solutions we hope to bring the latest technology trends, such as iSCSI and Raid 6, to the home user - at a very affordable price," concludes Patel.