Over time, the use of data has increased dramatically. With so much data around, its storage has also become a concern. As a result, companies use storage management tools that monitor, store, and manage data effectively. These tools alert the administrator when existing data exhausts and prevent dissimilar storage of data that makes data use cumbersome.

So, we have compiled a top tools list for you with key features and pricing information. Take a look at them below:

1. Manage Engine OpManager

ManageEngine OpManager is a tool available in three versions- Standard, Professional, and Enterprise. It continuously monitors everything on the network devices such as routers, firewalls, LAN controllers, servers, storage devices, and printers. In case of any system faults, you can track down the root cause and solve the issue before it blows up and affects the entire system.

Key Features:

• You can examine basic dashboards or develop your dashboards with around 200 performance metrics to see your network's functionality at a glance.

• It provides real-time system monitoring by using advanced metrics such as speed, errors, packet loss, and discards to analyze system performance.

Cost:

You can request a quote on their website.

2. PowerAdmin Storage Monitor

The PowerAdmin Storage Monitor program can act as a security system as it keeps track of all servers in the organization. It enables users to schedule reports to be generated automatically at the end of a collection of data cycles and send HTTP reports for viewing in the storage manager software on an internet browser.

Key Features:

• It has a Disk Space Monitor feature that allows users to add components to monitor and then configure the warning level as per their requirements.

• It has a File System Analyzer that inspects volumes of data in system drives and stores information about each file and directory.

Cost:

After one month of a free trial, you will have to pay for the Lite License, Pro License, Ultra License, and Corporate License as per the quantity.

3. NetApp

The NetApp modernizes and simplifies your storage infrastructure with arrays designed for specialized, high-bandwidth areas such as data analytics and disk-based recovery. It also increases the storage capacity of your system.

Key Features:

• It has the most up-to-date technology, including NVME. NVME is storage access and transfer interface for flash and next-generation SSDs offering the maximum and shortest response times for professional setups.

• It is effective in securing sensitive enterprise information and customer data from security breaches and external leaks.

Cost:

You can request a quote on their website.

4. IBM Storage Insights

IBM Storage Insights is a cloud data storage management platform with predictive analysis so that you get cost-effective outcomes. Moreover, it provides rapid responses and a single pane view of the storage environment.

Key Features:

• It provides an easy-to-understand and simple report regarding storage consumption and estimated growth.

• Using analytics-driven insights, save expenditures by 50% by transferring data to the most premium storage tier.

Cost:

You can try the Storage Insights free edition or get the Storage Insights Pro subscription starting from $257.50.

5. Solarwinds Storage Resource Manager (SRM)

The Solarwinds Storage Resource Manager (SRM) includes a user-friendly interface and offers real-time storage monitoring for several vendors. It can manage both physical and virtual storage devices fully. Additionally, it has many customizable pre-configured alarms and monitoring settings that can alert the administrator.

Key Features:

• SRM has a simple user interface and a customizable web portal that lets you see your complete storage system in one go.

• It offers a hotspot detection feature that makes the user aware of the potential threats in advance. Thus, one can analyze the root cause and solve it.

Cost:

The price of the software starts at $1721. However, you can request a quote on their webpage.

6. IBM Spectrum Control

IBM Spectrum Control can manage and control multi-vendor storage on-premises, giving administrators a complete picture of their storage environment. It displays data consumption and critical performance parameters such as cache use and I/O rates.

Key Features:

• Spectrum Control has a load balancing feature that allows an entity to balance storage inside one storage tier based on performance and capability.

• It has a single management platform wherein you can integrate all files, blocks, and objects with just one console.

Cost:

You can book a no-cost consultation with their experts. They will guide you with the next steps.

7. Dell EMC Storage Resource Manager

Dell EMC Storage Resource Manager from Dell EMC allows enterprises to optimize storage across various vendors' physical and virtual resources. SRM keeps track of storage capacity, performance, and configuration, which aids in generating summaries and preventive alarms to avoid system failures.

Key Features:

• For the purpose of performance assessment and workload balancing, the Dell EMC SRM delivers an end-to-end data path dashboard.

• It has an easy installation and management system. So, the centralized system makes it easier to handle all tasks simultaneously, leaving ample time for the employees to focus on critical projects.

Cost:

You can request a quote on their website.

8. Quest Foglight For Storage Management

Quest Foglight for Storage Management is a solid alternative for enterprises wishing to optimize and monitor physical storage assets utilized with virtual machines. The focus on virtualization in the application is a critical distinction, allowing customers to learn better how physical storage hardware supports and affects logical data stores.

Key Features:

• The Quest Foglight aids storage optimization by the platform's actionable insights, which may assist in minimizing storage expenses.

• Among the primary characteristics of Foglight for Storage Management is the ability to analyze and address performance issues linked to physical storage.

Cost:

You can try it for free. Then, request a quote on their website.

9. Nagios

Nagios manages storage systems in detail, including directory size, disc utilization, file sizes, and file count. It lowers the risk of unplanned downtime by detecting probable future faults early on. It detects unsuccessful batch jobs as well as issues with the storage.

Key Features:

• Users can then dive down to specific issues, allowing quicker problem remediation and event linkage across a complete system architecture.

• It offers greater functionality and flexibility to the organization as they can operate the system easily.

Cost:

Nagios offers free trials for all its products. Then, you can buy them from the website starting at $1995.

10. AppDynamics

AppDynamics offers a comprehensive alternative that includes the entire spectrum of network-based monitoring and administration, from applications to servers, nodes, database calls, transactions, services, and remote services. It tracks storage performance patterns over time and analyses and notifies the user.

Key Features:

• AppDynamics APM detects and depicts necessary components and services automatically and connects them directly with ServiceNow, PagerDuty, and Jira for fast alerting.

• It provides real-time correlation of the datasets enabling users to make informed decisions.

Cost:

You get a 15-day free trial. For pricing information, contact the customer support.

11. EG Enterprise

EG Enterprises provides historical trends, baselines, and reports to aid in the measurement of current infrastructure and the expectation of future development. Fiber channel switches, controllers,host ports, physical discs, enclosures, LUNs, and caches are among the storage sub-system components it covers.

Key Features:

• When storage is the reason for a performance slowdown, it is simple to identify and resolve using EG Enterprises software.

• Administrators can use a single web dashboard to monitor all storage devices and correlate storage performance with other tiers.

Cost:

You can chat on the website to find price-related information.

12. SevOne

SevOne provides end-to-end reporting and monitoring for all factors contributing to service delivery over a channel. It increases network element visibility and helps in lowering troubleshooting blind spots. It keeps track of the entire I/O path, allowing it to forecast storage bottlenecks and enhance storage performance.

Key Features:

• SevOne automatically develops baselines of a regular operating storage environment so that it can generate an alert and aid users in resolving issues.

• SevOne provides the option to choose between dark and light mode dashboards to its users. It makes it easier to improve display and communication.

Cost:

You can contact the number given on the website.

13. IntelliMagic Vision For SAN

The Intellimagic Vision For SAN is an AI-driven system that monitors the use of SAN structures to ensure they don't run out of space. The package's AI routines establish regular usage patterns. If there is a rush in data transfers that exceed the usual activity patterns observed, this system generates warnings and alerts.

Key Features:

• The Change Detection feature in the tool works beyond SAN networks and covers a wide range of infrastructural elements.

• This tool aids in the prediction of storage capacity. It can track changes in occupied space and forecast the number of days when extra capacity will be exhausted.

Cost:

You can request pricing information on their website.

14. Paessler PRTG

The Paessler PRTG can monitor SANs, NAS devices, Physical Disks, Logical Disks, and Clustered Disks. PRTG includes four SAN monitoring sensors that an enterprise can use with a wide range of manufacturers' products. PRTG also has several manufacturer-specific SAN sensors and provides the ability to design its sensors using SNMP or a script.

Key Features:

• It can supervise NAS, SAN, Logical, Physical, Volumes Input/Output, Clustered Disks, and Virtual Disk Storage Systems.

• It aims to provide users additional access to various folders and files in the system.

Cost:

For 30 days, you have unlimited access to PRTG. PRTG reverts to the freeware edition after 30 days. At any moment, you can upgrade to a premium license after knowing the price from support.

15. Cisco UCS Manager

Cisco UCS Manager is the centralized management application for all UCS Manager components. You can manage, administer, and monitor network and system resources for every chassis linked to the fabric interconnect using any of the interfaces provided with this management service.

Key Features:

• Cisco UCS B-Series Blade and C-Series Rack Servers, and the S3260 storage server, Cisco UCS Mini, and Cisco HyperFlex hyper-converged infrastructure, are all supported.

• It can automatically discover, evaluate, manage, and provide new or altered system components.

Cost:

Locate a Cisco partner on the website to know about the pricing information.

16. AWS Storage Gateway

AWS Storage Gateway allows on-premises applications to access cloud-based storage while supporting user and application processes, ensuring minute disruption to your business. It helps you comply with regulations by providing critical features like confidentiality, auditing logs, and write-once, read-many (WORM) storage.

Key Features:

• The local gateway appliance keeps a cache of recently created or viewed data so that your apps can access data stored in AWS with low latency.

• AWS will recover most service outages immediately within 60 seconds. It guards against hardware and network failures.

Cost:

The file storage gateway pricing starts from $0.01 per GB.

17. Arcserve Backup

Arcserve Backup performs tape backup differently, with proprietary technologies that provide very long retention periods, lower storage costs and merge sophisticated duplication into your current backup system, enhancing information protection.

Key Features:

• With UNIX and Linux data movers for SAN-based backups, it enables faster, more reliable backup systems and restoration.

• With backup to disc, backup to tape, disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T), and disk-to-disk-to-cloud, it meets application-specific requirements of users.

Cost:

You can request a quote on their website.

18. CyberDuck

Cyberduck is an open-source cloud storage browser that lets you upload and download files. This software is an FTP client that provides SFTP, FTP/TLS, and WebDAV. Further, it integrates with other well-known cloud storage services. With its simple-to-use user interface, this client is ideal for delivering data.

Key Features:

• It's easier to share files because you only have to open and copy the correct URLs in your web browser.

• It also works with Mountain Duck, which allows you to connect your webserver and cloud storage as a local drive disk.

Cost:

Cyberduck is a free software which costs a minimum $10 to receive a registration key.

19. Micro Focus Storage Manager

Micro Focus Storage Manager is a storage management system for businesses. Micro Focus' solution makes it simple to create, manage, and archive user home directories while also providing storage for all persons and joint retrieval for teams. Micro Focus Storage Manager is ideal for data migration since it assures that when users relocate, their data follows them.

Key Features:

• User groups, home folder provisioning, rights settings, disc quota settings, and home folder rename can all be automatic.

• It uses pre existing provisioning and IAM mechanisms with authentication and role-based policies to ensure users only see the files they're permitted to see.

Cost:

Contact them through the website and get the pricing information.

20. Paragon Hard Disk Manager

Paragon Hard Disk Manager can create, format, delete/undelete, hide/unhide, activate, assign/remove drive letters, and modify volume labels. It can also split/merge files, redistribute free space and cluster size, convert to logical/primary mode, and edit sectors.

Key Features:

• You can have the application send you an email when operations are accomplished or failed.

• It contains a Boot Corrector feature that can rectify issues caused by logical mistakes, hardware glitches, or breakdowns.

Cost:

The Paragon software is available for $79.95 for Windows users.

21. Panzura CloudFS

Panzura CloudFS is a cloud application file system developed from the source to accommodate enterprise-scale cloud deployments and allow distant teams to share work information CloudFS provides a global cloud file solution with unrivaled scalability and effectiveness in data storage.

Key Features:

• It may combine data from various sources into a single authoritative data collection that can be duplicated, compressed, and is ransomware-proof.

• Even if your primary cloud goes down, local high availability and cloud replication keep the data accessible.

Cost:

You can check the price with Channel Partner, Channel Team, or Cloud Vendor Marketplace.

22. Rocket Servergraph

Rocket Servergraph tracks and anticipates storage utilization across more than 30 distinct data protection regimes and storage devices, including VTLs and schedulers. A centralized console provides end-to-end storage metrics reporting.

Key Features:

• You can easily construct graphs and tables by drag & drop, or you can design widgets to include content from outside Servergraph.

• By creating on-demand dashboards, you can substantially shorten the time it takes to respond to audit queries.

Cost:

You can request a quote on their website.

23. Hitachi Command Suite

Hitachi Command Suite creates a unified management framework for virtualized storage and server environments. This architecture helps IT businesses with a Hitachi-powered Continuous Cloud Infrastructure to manage their expanding storage needs and meet application service levels.

Key Features:

• It allows for the quick implementation of new business applications and technological advancements.

• With Command Suite, you can manage more data and resources with a single set of tools.

Cost:

You can contact the support for price details.

24. Lustre

Lustre is a distributed file system that uses a parallel file system. It divides files into data blocks and distributes file data across numerous storage servers, allowing for concurrent written-to and read-from files.

Key Features:

• All features provided by Lustre have immense functionality.

• The software is adaptable, and we can arrange our data into distinct categories for simple access.

Cost:

You can check the website for the price.

25. Weka.IO

Weka.IO speeds up large-scale data pipelines with shortened epoch times, the fastest inferencing, and the best imaging benchmarks. The unique part is that it supports high I/O, low latency, data mobility, mixed workloads, and compact files.

Key Features:

• You can run it on any hardware you want without any hassle.

• NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage, NFS, SMB, and S3 data access are compatible.

Cost:

Contact the sales for pricing information.

26. NEC HYDRALock

NEC HYDRAlock makes storage administration easier by protecting the integrity of vital data and maintaining the data's chain of evidence by preventing unintended or intentional data deletion or duplication.

Key Features:

• It's made to keep healthcare, legal, and financial firms compliant.

• It's a replacement for WORM devices, which may become outdated soon.

Cost:

You can request a demo and know about pricing after contacting them.

27. StoneFly SCVM

StoneFly SCVM is a Software Defined Storage (SDS) solution, which means it is not dependent on any one vendor. It can create and configure NAS virtual networks on servers and cloud.

Key Features:

• It is compatible with a large number of servers. Thus, it is more flexible than other storage management tools.

• It has Erasure Coding across system nodes to reduce data redundancy and fault-tolerance.

Cost:

The Cloud storage starts at a minimum $50 per month.

28. Visual Storage Intelligence

Visual Storage Intelligence allows you to get the most out of your storage and cloud settings while also increasing the capacity of your hardware. Its intelligent reporting features assist you in identifying hidden space, preventing data duplication, and balancing your workloads appropriately.

Key Features:

• By identifying fragmented and unproductive storage and unused free space, you may enhance your efficiency levels in minutes.

• It shows your backup schedules, last backup date and time, unsuccessful jobs, and total protected data.

Cost:

You can contact them for pricing information.

29. Vaultastic

Ediscovery is used by Vaultastic to search, view, retrieve, and act on active email data. It also has an administration console for managing vaults, security, or regulations and a Dashboard for tracking access and usage.

Key Features:

• It reduces risk by using multilayered security and industry compliance methods.

• It uses mail properties, keywords, and boolean structures to quickly access data in emails.

Cost:

You can contact the Sales for a pricing proposal.

30. Commvault File Storage Optimization

Commvault File Storage Optimization is a storage management solution that helps you manage data risks while increasing storage efficiency. Its goal is to reduce the cost and danger of data storage, migration, consolidation, and the risk of cyberattack.

Key Features:

• It clarifies critical data ownership and rights, and manages backup and live information silos on a big scale through a single window.

• It stores data effectively, thereby reducing massive costs for the company.

Cost:

You can request pricing information, demo, and free trial on their website.

31. Quest Netvault Backup

Quest Netvault Backup supports many server and application platforms in physical and virtual environments. As a result, you can protect your mission-critical systems, applications, and data. It also makes data protection easier, increases security management, and speeds up backups and recovery.

Key Features:

• With features like unaltered data backup, an immutable backup recycle bin, and data encryption, NetVault will increase your protection against malware and other breaches.

• It speeds up backups, lowers storage requirements and expenses, and allows for faster and safer cloud replication for preserving and incident management.

Cost:

You may also request a quote for products and/or services by providing your business email ID.

32. Qumulo Core

Qumulo Core manages petabytes of unorganized data in the cloud by enabling higher workloads to fuel the apps. It has intelligent data services and simple transfer of workloads between on-premises and cloud environments without restructuring.

Key Features:

• While ensuring data integrity and management, Qumulo Core offers worldwide cloud regions.

• You may effortlessly link 3rd party software and cloud-native solutions to create AI, ML, and IoT applications.

Cost:

You can take a free demo and contact support numbers for pricing information.

33. Qlik Replicate

Qlik Replicate is an open SaaS framework with cloud and hybrid deployment options, giving you the most flexibility and choice in how and where you distribute, store, and analyze data across one or several clouds.

Key Features:

• Smart data alerting notifies users of any unexpected changes or anomalies in their data, allowing them to take action quickly.

• It features the most interactive dashboards on the market, with options for discovery learning, free-form research, and inquiry.

Cost:

Qlik Replicate offers a free trial. You can contact sales for pricing.

34. Zadara

Zadara offers file, block, and object storage facilities. You will select protocol, throughput, capacity, location, and any sophisticated data management solutions you wish to include in the tool.

Key Features:

• It provides enterprises with consumption-based pricing models as storage capacity demands in an organization change periodically.

• They provide 24X7 expert storage management so that the enterprise can focus on core issues.

Cost:

Zadara offers a free 14-day trial. After that, you can fill out a form and submit your price query on their website. A Zadara agent will contact you.

35. Backblaze

Backblaze is an online backup application for Windows and Mac that allows users to back up their information to a remote data center. Backblaze supports AES encryption, data compression, and bandwidth throttling for the users. It helps users backup data automatically or manually when the machine is idle.

Key Features:

• It is apt for newcomers as it offers endless backup storage for a single computer and is easy-to-use.

• It gives predictability of the dataset regardless of the size or the frequency of uploads and downloads.

Cost:

The pricing for Backblaze costs $5 per TB per month with no hidden costs.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Storage Management Tool

Speed and Performance

Different Storage Management Solutions might provide varying data return rates. You may not need the quickest Storage Management Solution if the data you will be storing is for seldom usage or just a backup database. This knowledge could help you save money in the long term.

Scalability

Scalability determines how much storage management tools should expand to manage the increased database in the future. When you find you have no option for a needed expansion, out-of-date concepts can cause your plan to implode. If you have a large user base, scalable applications suit your needs.

Reliability

The most crucial factor when choosing a storage management tool is that it is reliable in handling the database. It should be able to understand the challenges and offer feasible solutions. Besides that, it should have a secure data backup feature. Otherwise, you will jump from one tool to another after a few months.

Conclusion

This article should have provided a basic overview of storage management tools and apps. You can now choose the best storage management tools for your requirements.

FAQs

What Is Storage Management?

Storage management refers to the software and practices that help data storage resources function better. Storage management includes network virtualization, duplication, mirroring, protection, data reduction, data migration, process automation, storage provisioning, and memory management.

What Are Storage Management Tools?

The storage management tools assist enterprises in storing more data on existing hardware, increasing data retrieval rate, minimizing data loss, achieving data retention standards, and cutting IT costs.

It aims to improve and maximize data storage operational efficiencies. Storage management tools can manage local or external storage, such as SAN, NAS, USBs, SDDs, HDDs, and the Cloud.

As there are slight changes in the organization, storage management tools make changes to allow more databases into the system.

When Should You Consider Using Storage Management Tools?

You can consider using storage management tools in the following cases:

1. Mergers: When businesses merge, the storage management tools combine the data of the existing firm with the new firm or office. Since different firms have their challenges, extracting the data from each office is not a simple job without storage management tools.

2. Future Loss Mitigation: One should consider storage management tools to prevent future losses and safeguard data. Data and apps that are critical to business operations should be maintained so that the company can retrieve them swiftly in the event of internal malfunctions or privacy violations.

3. Compliance Purposes: Some government rules have regulations regarding data privacy. For example, you cannot share any person's medical health record with others. Thus, the data must be secure. If your data comes under any such regulations, a data storage management tool is crucial for your organization.

What Are The Advantages Of Storage Management?

The advantages of storage management are:

1. Time Saving

Professionals may not only organize their data, but storage management also improves transfer speeds, allowing information to load and download more rapidly. It becomes increasingly critical as data sets grow in size, as large files might take a prolonged time to upload.

2. Minimizes Costs

Organizations can substantially limit the storage space they require by employing appropriate storage management tools. If companies implement these tools effectively, they may have a deeper understanding of their space requirements and spend on what is unavoidable. Ultimately, all of it reduces their costs.

3. Enhances Security Of Database

Organizations can ensure that sensitive data is stored in the appropriate locations and protect it from external parties by implementing a storage management strategy. Storage management also usually entails creating a data recovery plan, which safeguards data in the event of system failures and viruses.