Hybrid cloud storage

Cloud storage gateways provide also additional benefits, such as accessing cloud object storage through traditional file serving protocols, as well as continued access to cached data during connectivity outages.

[5] A cloud storage gateway usually consists of a physical or virtual appliance that is deployed on-premises, at the edge of the network.

[5] There are many use cases for a cloud storage gateway, such as providing a high-speed cache for frequently accessed data, providing continued access to data during connectivity outages, and reducing bandwidth costs by reducing the need to communicate over wide area networks.

Second, global file systems can improve performance by allowing data to be cached closer to the users who are accessing it.

[6] While most enterprise network attached storage devices support some forms of cloud extension, a Global File System utilizes a fundamentally different architecture.

The use of caching devices reduces the amount of required on-premises storage capacity, and the associated capital expense.