What is tiering?
In an IT context, “tiering” means that resources are divided into different levels (tiers) and classified based on specific criteria such as performance, cost, or access frequency. The goal is to organize data or processes in such a way that the most suitable and economically viable level is used in each case. For example, frequently used data is stored on fast but expensive storage media (e.g., SSDs), while rarely used data is stored on cheaper, slower media (e.g., HDDs or cloud archives). Another example is the classification of support or service levels according to priority or quality. Architectures, applications, or networks can also be classified using tiering.
What is storage tiering?
Storage tiering refers to the structured classification and use of storage media of different performance and cost classes for data with different requirements. Data that is used frequently, often referred to as “hot data,” is stored on very fast but often expensive primary storage devices. Typical examples of this are SSDs and NVMe. Data that is used less frequently, known as “cold data,” is stored on less expensive storage media - in addition to HDDs, this also includes tape or archive solutions.
Why is storage tiering useful for companies?
Storage tiering offers companies considerable advantages. On the one hand, it significantly optimizes costs. Data is stored on storage media with different performance levels according to its frequency of use and importance, so that companies do not have to pay for high-performance storage when it is not needed.
Second, storage tiering improves the efficiency of the IT infrastructure by outsourcing less critical data. This reduces the load on high-performance primary storage, allowing it to be used specifically for business-critical applications and data. This not only increases performance for “everything important,” but also avoids oversizing the storage.
Another aspect concerns scalability and future-proofing. In many companies, data volumes are growing rapidly. Tiering offers a means of structuring storage. The company can dynamically decide which data belongs on which storage device. This makes growth more manageable.
Conclusion
In today's business environment, storage tiering is a sensible strategy for managing or even optimizing performance, costs, and scalability. By strategically distributing data across storage classes with different performance and cost structures, this approach makes it possible to provide the right information to the right medium at the right time. Companies can reduce infrastructure costs, increase relevant performance, and use resources more efficiently. It is important to have a clear strategy combined with the right technologies and expertise.
Our tip: DTS Managed Storage Tiering
With our transparent, flexible, and automated Tiering as a Service, data outsourcing is controlled on a policy basis. The result: quickly available systems for critical data, cost-efficient storage for rarely used data, less data volume, less storage requirements, and smaller environments for disaster recovery, as well as shorter backup windows, fast recovery of relevant data, lower costs for storage and licenses – GDPR-compliant, encrypted, and secure. Thanks to our experience and renowned DTS expertise, storage tiering can be implemented easily, securely, and with a view to the future, with clearly predictable relief and support.