Explore how Panzura's cloud-native file services platform helps enterprises tackle data management challenges across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
In an era where enterprises struggle with exponential data growth, rising cybersecurity threats, and increasingly distributed workforces, managing unstructured data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments has become extraordinarily complex. Panzura aims to solve these challenges with its cloud-native file services platform that brings enterprise-grade data management, security, and collaboration capabilities to organizations.
Founded in 2008, Panzura anticipated the shift toward cloud storage and the challenges it would create for file access in distributed environments. The company has evolved its platform to address modern enterprise needs around data visibility, control, resilience, and immediate access. I met them during the 60th IT Press Tour. Here's what I learned:
The Panzura portfolio consists of three main components:
1. CloudFSÂ - A hybrid cloud file system platform that provides:
Global file synchronization with real-time collaboration
Immutable snapshots for ransomware protection
Military-grade encryption
Deduplication and compression
Multi-site data consolidation
2. Symphony - A vendor-neutral data services platform enabling:
Data discovery and assessment
Risk and compliance management
Dynamic data movement orchestration
Large-scale migrations
3. Platform Extensions:
Edge: Secure remote access without VPN
Data Services: Search, audit, and compliance
Detect & Rescue: Ransomware detection and response
A significant advancement is CloudFS 8.5 Adapt, which introduces several key capabilities:
Regional Store allows organizations to create up to four synchronized object stores across cloud regions, optimizing performance for geographically distributed teams by minimizing latency and reducing cloud egress costs.
Instant Node enables rapid recovery and migration of nodes without dedicated high-availability infrastructure, reducing costs while maintaining business continuity. This feature is particularly valuable for organizations migrating from VMware or managing hybrid environments.
The platform also extends RBAC support with OKTA SSO integration and expands storage tier support to Microsoft Azure, complementing existing AWS capabilities.
"Today's enterprise must anticipate and respond to a dynamic state of 'permacrisis' where unpredictability is the new normal," explained Robert Kramer, VP and Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. "With CloudFS 8.5 Adapt, Panzura is taking another leap forward in unstructured data management."
Panzura's approach differs from competitors in several ways:
Architecture: Uses a hub/spoke mesh topology versus traditional hub/spoke
Consistency: Provides immediate consistency versus eventual consistency
Security: Includes native ransomware detection versus requiring third-party tools
Collaboration: Enables real-time global collaboration through distributed file locking
Availability: Offers both local and global high-availability options
The platform is particularly well-suited for organizations dealing with:
Multi-site collaboration on large files
AI/ML workloads requiring fast data access
Stringent compliance and security requirements
Legacy infrastructure modernization
Cloud migration initiatives
Panzura envisions an autonomic future where data infrastructure can self-heal, self-optimize, self-configure, and self-protect. This aligns with growing enterprise needs for simplified management of increasingly complex data environments.
The company's focus on enterprise-grade capabilities is reflected in its recent FIPS 140-3 certification for encryption, making it the first hybrid cloud file platform to achieve this milestone. This certification is significant for organizations working with government contracts or regulated industries.
Panzura delivers its solutions through various channels, including reseller partners (~86% of deals), managed services partners, cloud marketplaces (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform), and direct sales where customers prefer. The platform requires a minimum of 25TB capacity, positioning it firmly in the enterprise market.
Panzura offers a compelling combination of enterprise-grade features, proven security capabilities, and innovative data management tools for IT leaders evaluating cloud-native file services solutions. As organizations grapple with distributed workforces, increasing data volumes, and evolving security threats, platforms that can provide comprehensive data management across hybrid and multi-cloud environments will become increasingly essential.