Virtual NAS Appliance Spurs University to Try Hybrid Cloud Storage

An upfront startup cost of merely $300 was the allure for California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) to take the hybrid cloud storage plunge with a software-based virtual NAS appliance from Nasuni Corp.

CSUCI had a pressing need to store exponentially growing amounts of static data, including large video files, for the library and faculty members. The university purchased three NAS boxes from Dell Inc. for operational data last summer, but state agencies often face challenges getting the necessary approvals to make purchases when money is scarce. Plus, finding the time to take down machines and do the installation work can be burdensome.