Exploring Modern Data Storage Challenges and Changes with Pure Storage’s Ryan Arsenault

DBAs, relational databases, in-memory, all-flash, the cloud. What do all of these things have in common? Change. Rapid change. And yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

On The Pure Report podcast, Ryan Arsenault, Principal Field Solution Architect at Pure Storage, shed light on how organizations are navigating today’s evolving IT landscape. Tackling topics from the cloud to automation, in-memory computing, and the vital role of DBAs, Arsenault shares insights that highlight both the modern data storage challenges and the transformative solutions available to businesses, and why today’s solutions oddly resemble yesterday’s…fast food sandwiches?

The Cloud: A Balancing Act

Organizations are no strangers to the cloud’s promise of agility and scalability. Yet, as Arsenault put it, “The pendulum swung hard—everything to the cloud, all in—but reality brought it back to center.” While cloud adoption offers elasticity and scalability for compute layers, its cost and complexity have forced companies to reevaluate their strategies.

Key takeaways:

• Cloud storage can quickly spiral in cost due to unchecked scalability. “The cloud can be ‘too easy’ to spin something up—that’s what drives up costs,” Arsenault noted.
• Hybrid models, like Pure Cloud Block Store™, help strike a balance by leveraging cloud advantages without sacrificing cost control or agility. Repatriation is far from permanent, and data mobility is the key.
• Protecting and reducing stored data is vital. “At the end of the day, you still have to pay for that data. You still need to persist it,” Arsenault emphasized.

Arsenault’s perspective captures the growing trend toward hybrid IT environments that mix cloud and on-premises solutions to enable innovation while controlling costs.

Automation: Working Smarter, Not Harder

Contrary to fears of automation replacing jobs, Arsenault explained how automation helps DBAs and IT professionals focus on higher-value tasks. “Automation isn’t here to take jobs; it’s here to grow your career,” he stated, pointing out the role automation plays in identifying issues, improving KPIs, and reducing repetitive work.

Highlights:

• Automation allows teams to focus on critical metrics like CPU utilization, query execution times, and overall database health.
• AI-driven tools can now proactively identify performance spikes or potential issues, enabling faster root-cause analysis. As Arsenault succinctly put it: “AI is not solving the issue, but it’s helping you get a jumpstart.”
• By offloading mundane tasks, automation empowers IT teams to embrace modern technologies like AI and advanced analytics.

Investing in automation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about unlocking potential for innovation and professional growth.

All-Flash + In-Memory: The ‘McDLT’ of 2025?

The McDLT was a burger with lettuce, tomato, and mayo that McDonald’s offered as a response to the Whopper. Its advertising campaign was, “Keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool.”

Arsenault introduced the concept of combining all-flash storage and in-memory computing as a game-changer for databases. Calling it the “McDLT of 2025,” he likened the approach to keeping the “hot side hot and the cold side cold,” underscoring its ability to manage performance-critical data while optimizing costs.

Insights:

• The combination of OLTP and OLAP databases into a unified system is becoming more feasible with in-memory computing, although it remains expensive.
• Pure Storage all-flash solutions ensure “fast read times off the storage layer” for seamless performance.
• Tiering data intelligently, rather than avoiding it altogether, is key to balancing cost and performance. “This is how ‘tier’ stops being a four-letter word,” Arsenault remarked.

In short, the ability to blend speed and scalability is driving the adoption of all-flash and in-memory technologies.

The Evolving Role of DBAs

Far from being sidelined, DBAs are stepping into a more strategic role, thanks to advancements in storage technology. As Arsenault pointed out, “It’s not just about storing my data; it’s about helping to manipulate and secure my data.” DBAs, he said, “don’t know what they don’t know.” Tools like snapshots are proving invaluable for data protection and efficiency.

Critical points:

• Encryption and role-based access controls are non-negotiables for protecting storage layers.
• Snapshots are a revelation for DBAs, offering fast, efficient recovery options without replacing traditional backups.
• Database management is no longer just a commodity; it’s an enabler of business innovation and security.

For DBAs, the shift is clear: Storage isn’t just a repository but a dynamic tool for safeguarding and optimizing data.

The Pure Storage Difference: Storage as a Service for Modern Data Storage Challenges

Pure Storage solutions, such as Evergreen//One™ and Pure Cloud Block Store, address the needs of modern businesses by offering scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. As Arsenault explained, these services ensure DBAs can meet their SLAs while adapting to growth without the typical bottlenecks of traditional storage procurement.

Why Pure Storage?

• Evergreen//One offers flexible, as-a-service models that align with evolving IT demands.
• Businesses benefit from scalability without the usual headaches of overprovisioning or downtime.
• DBAs can maintain performance and reliability while scaling capacity seamlessly.

Final Thoughts

Arsenault’s insights highlight the intricate balancing act organizations face today. From leveraging the cloud to embracing automation and all-flash technologies, businesses are finding innovative ways to stay ahead. With Pure Storage solutions, the path forward becomes clearer—enabling IT teams to focus on what truly matters: reducing costs while driving business innovation.

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