Traditional file management platforms use techniques which have their roots in the concept of local storage with limited size requirements. These "block" or "file" systems have served the industry well in local architectures. As our data sets grow in size, and our users need to access them from multiple locations and with multiple applications, a new storage architecture is required.
Colts cloud storage is based on Object Storage, a technology designed specifically for vast scalability and distributed architectures. We use technology from EMC called "Atmos". This not only gives us a robust platform for service, but allows our resellers and customers to choose their application from a large range of applications which have been developed to exploit the Atmos platform. The applications come not only from EMC, but from other brands such a Symantec. Atmos even directly supports many applications which have been developed to work with Amazons S3 interface specification.
Colt has built a network of Atmos platforms throughout its European data centre estate. Atmos is capable of managing the target location of data precisely to user requirements, without the customer application needing to be configured to understand the geography or topology of the service. Finally, Atmos brings absolute scalability. You will never "run out of space", or need a plan to acquire new equipment. The scalability of the Atmos architecture permits Colt's capacity management team to do all of this for you, without your involvement.